There is a place on our planet where you cannot wear anything red and where there is no civilization - this is the colorful village of Thiebel

I really like to travel away from the well-known tourist trails. I like to visit places that are not described in every guidebook, but which are of great interest, cause delight and a feeling of happiness from touching a world treasure.

Of course, there are fewer and fewer such objects. But they are. I recently learned about one of the incredibly mysterious places, where no ordinary tourist has ever set foot. About the village of Tiebel, which is located in a remote West African region, in the country of Burkina Faso.

What makes the village of Thiebel so special?

In this village, each house is different from the neighboring one and is a real miracle of human imagination and local architecture. These houses are hand-sculpted from clay and painted with designs and patterns that reflect local folklore. Even the roofs of the houses are clay and painted. People of the Kassena people, an ancient ethnic group of this country, live in clay houses.

It turns out that every family lives in a clay pot, which is cool even in the heat.

This is especially interesting in the sense that even on the territory of Russia, where there is a mass of diverse cultures and architectural styles, there is nothing like this. This is precisely the African, inimitable, unique system of building houses.

Why did few people see this miracle?

Getting to Thiebel is very difficult due to the lack of communication with the outside world, strict isolation and the unwillingness of local elders to communicate with outsiders.

Burkina Faso is generally not the most hospitable country. Its leadership is committed to preserving local traditions, art and way of life from the influence of civilization.

And here I completely agree with the policy of the authorities. How many places are left where there is no transport, electricity, Internet? Where are the souls of people preserved untouched by the world's filth? But the residents of Tiebel are probably completely happy, not knowing that there is a race for money, prestige, things? That there is no need to fight for power, democracy and tolerance.

Who lives in the village

The fact is that Thiebel is the capital of the kingdom of the Kassena people. And this country is ruled solely by its king. In addition, his office and his courtyard are also located here.

The king of Kassena was first mentioned in the 15th century, since then this family has not been interrupted, it is still alive today.

Representatives of the royal dynasty can be recognized by the presence of red items and sun umbrellas in their clothes. No one else who comes or lives in this village has the right to wear red and use an umbrella.

If suddenly some people come from the world to this village, they are strictly warned about this tradition. After all, a violation of etiquette can turn out in the most unpleasant way.

Castle

The king's residence differs from other houses in a particularly exquisite pattern. It is called the Palace of Cours Royale. The palace is the same clay, it consists of several communicating buildings.

Those who attended the king's reception were sure to try the local treats. Kassena is eaten mainly by vegetables and grains - cassava, corn, sweet potatoes. The traditional dish is thick porridge with a spicy vegetable sauce and pepper.

That is, this simplicity also has a certain happiness - people of this nationality do not know what food is, which you need to chase after and which it is prestigious to have on the table. The king eats what his subjects eat. This is true democracy.

Who draws patterns on houses

Only women paint at home. They make paint from natural pigments, paint the wall, and then coat it with the oily sap of the parkia tree that grows in the savannah surrounding the village. Parkia oil makes the drawing bright and protects the clay from getting wet during the rainy season.

Most of all, I was upset that in recent years the authorities have been thinking about opening a tourist route to Thiebel. Of course, at the suggestion of large travel agencies. They justify this by the fact that residents could make money on tourists. But, on the other hand, civilization will undoubtedly destroy the unique way of life and identity of these people, who are not yet concerned with the problems of the “big world”.