Community & Architecture

Activity 1: Design Your Own Royal Palace
Individual Activity
Grades four and above

The Bamum are a group of people who have lived for centuries in the Grassfields region of western Cameroon. Before European colonialization, the Bamum had their own kingdom; today, they are citizens of the republic of Cameroon.

The Bamum still have a fon or king, but rather than being a political leader, the Bamum king is now a spiritual leader.

In 1913, King Njoya of the Bamum ordered construction of a new palace. The new palace brought together elements from all of the king's favorite buildings. He combined the yellow brick of German colonial buildings, the rounded cone-topped coloumns of traditional Bamum buildings and the geometric designs of Islam. Over the doorway he placed a carving of the double-headed snake, an ancient symbol of strength.

Materials:
Handout, colored pens or crayons.

Select this text and choose print from the file menu to print the handout. Use the back button to return to this page.

Directions:

1. Introduce the Bamum people to the class.

2. Provide each student with a copy of the handout.

3. Tell the students that they have been asked by the king to design a new palace. Ask the students to use architectural elements found on buildings in their own neighborhoods. Each student should choose an animal to be the symbol of the kingdom and that animal should be included in the drawing.

Here are a few African symbols that can also be included:

Double-headed Serpent/snakes	The double-headed serpent reminds the Bamum people of Cameroon that their king once fought his enemies on two fronts and won. The Edo people of Benin City believe that snakes consume and destroy illness.
Crocodiles	The Edo people of Benin City believe that the crocodile symbolizes power. The king or Oba is able to crush opposition like crocodile crushes its prey.
Roosters	The Edo people of Benin City believe that the rooster symbolizes power and authority. The queen mother rules over the king's wives like a rooster rules the hens.
Chevrons	Chevrons symbolize rain or water to the Dogon of Mali.
Bird	To the Edo people of Benin, the bird symbolizes the king's power to overcome false prophets and fortunetellers.
Stool	To the Dogon peoples of Mali, the stool symbolizes dignity and authority.
Navel	The people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) believe that the navel is a focus and release point of strong emotions.
Bared teeth	Bared teeth generally symbolize ferocity and aggression
Round hollow Eyes	Round hollow eyes symbolize the ability to project penetrating inner powers.
Half-closed eyes	Half-closed eyes symbolize contemplation.

3. When the drawings are finished, ask each student to present his or her drawing to the class and explain the significance of the symbols.

Activity 2: Design Your Own Royal Palace
Group Activity
Grades four and above

Materials:
Paper, colored pens or crayons.

Select this text and choose print from the file menu to print the handout of the palace. Use the back button to return to this page.

Directions:

1. Introduce the Bamum people to the class.

2. Divide the class in groups of 4 to 8 students. Tell each group that they have been asked by the king to design and draw a new palace. Ask the students to use architectural elements found on buildings in their own neighborhoods. Each group should choose an animal to be the symbol of the kingdom and that animal should be included in the drawing.

Students can also include African symbols in their drawings. A few symbols are provided in Activity 1.

3. When the drawings are finished, ask each group of students to pick a spokesperson. The spokesperson should present his or her group's drawing to the class and explain the significance of the symbols.

Material on this page was contibuted by the Field Museum of Natural History.

Activity developed by Jim Angus.