Why are African huts cylindrical? Traditional African settlements in different parts of the continent have one thing in common, they are round or cylindrical. Why is this so? African architectural philosophy evolved on the basis of temporary human existence and life in harmony with nature rather than against it. In that regard, Africans deviated from building homes that stand in the way of natural elements like air, wind, water and earth itself. As the air blows against the hut, it circumvents the cylindrical structure and continues flowing. If the water comes, it finds its way around.
And if the earth expands and or contracts, the rounder structure remains intact. How did Africans arrive at this conclusion? Well, legend has it that many centuries ago, there was a catastrophe that caused the once flourishing continent to be inhabitable. houses every 80 to 130 kilometers, but those homes were destroyed by strong winds, heavy downpour, and earth movements. This forced them to migrate another 90 miles or more to try again.
Settlements could not be established as the cuboid structures men built continued to collapse. Consequently, the highly superstitious ancients consulted the Oracle for the reason for the problem. The Oracle responded with a teaching that the natural forces that are destroying the structures
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