While women are preparing the grass bundles for the roof of a new hut, men work on the walls. I've seen two ways in which walls are built: using mud, and using bricks made out of mud. The mud used is kind of like clay, it is very hard when it dries.
This picture shows the basic process for making non-brick mud walls: preparation (foreground) and wall building (back left).
The man preparing the mud mixes the sandy soil with water, initially using a hoe. The mud needs to be a certain consistency, not too wet, not too dry.
Next, the mud is "kneaded" and patted into balls that can easily be carried over to the building site.
The fellow building the walls breaks off pieces of the mud balls and applies them, layer by layer. You can see the lighter layer at the base of the wall. He let that dry for a day or two before adding another layer.
When I took the pictures he was working on the sides of the wall.
I also shot the following video footage of both of these men working. (The giggles and voices you'll hear in the first part are those of some kids who had gathered around me--it's hard to pull out my camera and not attract at least a few onlookers!)
By the way, this photo shows the finished walls that were being built above. The family ended up not putting a thatched roof on the hut, probably for lack of ability (finances, or time and energy) to get the wood and grass required.
They made a roof using a tarp covered with grass mats, with a few wooden supports and bamboo matting on the ends for additional support.
To make walls of brick, the Dinka mix mud and put it into wooden molds to shape it (unfortunately I don't have any photos of this process). The wet bricks are then laid out on the ground to dry. The photo below shows dried bricks stacked up waiting to be used, and the base of the walls begun.
Men laying bricks. The bricks are not always laid in the most careful, level way. However, the walls will be covered with a layer of mud to add durability so the uneven layers won't show.
Below, another example of walls-in-progress. These ones have been done with much more precision.
This picture shows the basic process for making non-brick mud walls: preparation (foreground) and wall building (back left).
The man preparing the mud mixes the sandy soil with water, initially using a hoe. The mud needs to be a certain consistency, not too wet, not too dry.
Next, the mud is "kneaded" and patted into balls that can easily be carried over to the building site.
The fellow building the walls breaks off pieces of the mud balls and applies them, layer by layer. You can see the lighter layer at the base of the wall. He let that dry for a day or two before adding another layer.
When I took the pictures he was working on the sides of the wall.
They made a roof using a tarp covered with grass mats, with a few wooden supports and bamboo matting on the ends for additional support.
To make walls of brick, the Dinka mix mud and put it into wooden molds to shape it (unfortunately I don't have any photos of this process). The wet bricks are then laid out on the ground to dry. The photo below shows dried bricks stacked up waiting to be used, and the base of the walls begun.
Men laying bricks. The bricks are not always laid in the most careful, level way. However, the walls will be covered with a layer of mud to add durability so the uneven layers won't show.
Below, another example of walls-in-progress. These ones have been done with much more precision.
Interesting! Why are the finished huts we see round, and the new ones being constructed rectangular? Inquiring minds want to know...
ReplyDeleteGood question! Although the huts I've shown under construction in this post just happen to be rectangular, round ones are still being built too. I'm not sure which type is actually more popular. I'll try to ask about that once I get back to SS later this month.
ReplyDelete