After having conquered our fears at the Crocodile Pond in Paga, we felt like a more soothing experience, so wandered over to the nearby chief's palace, which has been set up as a touristic primer to the housing style of the Kassena people, a tribe of about 160,000 people, found along the border between Ghana and Burkina Faso. We were met at the gate by a guide who brought us into the labyrinthine complex.
It might be called a "palace", but once inside, we realized this was really more like a massive living space for an extended family. Mud walls brightly decorated with geometric patterns separate the various living quarters, all connected by paths. The houses themselves vary between the classic clay constructions we've seen elsewhere around Northern Ghana and more modern buildings.
Our tour started at the village burial pit, where the Kassena dig straight down into the earth to lay their dead ones to rest. Before a burial, someone has to crawl down into the pit and push the old bones toward the back, to make space for the new arrival. Some members of the tribe get their own special burial spot, and we saw little mounds throughout the complex marking them, but most are interred here.
We continued into one of the old sleeping quarters, needing to get down on all fours to crawl through the small entrance. Our guide explained that this was a protective measure against slavers -- this was an area which saw a lot of kidnapping. The locals would flee their would-be captors and jump quickly into one of these structures, where a machete would be waiting by the door. Because the slaver would have to enter slowly on his knees, the Kassena had ample time to strike.
The living quarter was separated into two rooms, the first was for the men, was the second was set further back, to better protect the women and children. Today, the people have moved into more modern quarters, and the only things living in this place were dozens of bats. We headed back out into the daylight and followed our guide up a flight of stairs, onto the roof. The houses are all constructed with flat roofs, and then used to both dry grain and to sleep outdoors, during the hot summer nights.
Ready to Blog & Earn?
With TravelFeed, easily start your own travel blog and earn as you go. It's the smart platform for travelers who want to profit from their passion. Create a free account
Don't Forget: Get Travel Health Insurance!
To make your trip a worry-free experience, TravelFeed recommends SafetyWing Nomad Insurance. It provides comprehensive health coverage while you travel, so you can focus on exploring, not the unexpected. Get a quote here
Learn more about our travel project on Steemit by clicking on the banner above and join our community on Discord
Travel Resources for your trip to Ghana
Recommended by TravelFeed
Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Ghana.
Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Ghana on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.
Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.
Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.
Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!
Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.
Travel Planner: Need a hand planning? Our free travel planner chatbot is your personal guide to Ghana. Chat now.
Disclosure: Posts on TravelFeed may contain affiliate links. See affiliate disclosure.
