Funny how grass thatched houses in my country denmark are considered something well off people have for the aesthetic of our past houses while so many of us look down on people from non western cultures doing the same. So many here in the west are incredible ignorant and racist towards people who don't share their way of life. Thank you for showing the world how village life is in Uganda! I've learned a lot ❤
I had no idea about the cooling properties of these houses. This is actually great engineering. We will need more African efficiency like this during the next decades in Europe, too.
20 years ago I stayed in a mud/clay house in Bangladesh. The walls were maybe half a metre thick. The bed was built out from the wall, so also clay but raised, with a cotton stuffed mattress. I was AMAZED at how cool it was, as soon as we stepped into the house. The women would regularly reinforce the houses on the outside with water and clay. Now I live in a brick house were the walls are coated in plastic. Because that is what acrylic paint is...
If you have plaster on your walls, you live in a mud house. It's highly refined mud, but it's still mud at the end of the day. Concrete... crushed stone and sand... brick, mortar, tiles, grout... every house making material we have came from the same place; the earth. I fail to understand the relevant difference. Why do some people think other people need to fix something that isn't broken?
Sheetrock aka gypsum board, is made up of crushed gypsum which is a type of rock, mixed with water, formed and heated and then coated with paper of some sort or another. Essentially manmade mud bound by paper, held together by wood studs. Or is your house made of bricks? Guess what they're made from. The only difference between a mud and grass hut in Africa and a 1 family home built using stick construction in America is that the house in Africa will most likely endure whatever nature throws at it better than the one in America.
and it's still very common in English villages to find thatched roofs, with hay instead of grass. I always find it odd when people shame this traditional East African architecture because it looks "primitive", when westerners still use equally "primitive" building techniques in our own houses. They've survived this long for a reason!
I have spent years homeless, living on an island in the middle of a river, I didn’t have a grass house but I had a tent. Living outside does something to people… you can feel the changing weather before it rains, ears will pop from the atmospheric pressure, my hair would pick up moisture from the air causing it to frizz. An hour or so before sunrise, the temperature drops 10 degrees give or take. You could tell the time by the suns placement in the sky or by certain stars and constellations at night. There’s another world you discover when you’re surrounded by nature, and I came to realize that the individualistic mindset of western society is a sickness. We are not meant to live this way, we are meant to live in tribal societies, and have a close relationship with the Earth. She is, after all, an extension of our own bodies
Here in Sweden people sometimes build housees made of straw bales covered with dungmud and have reed roof. We need thick walls and roof here in the winter. If you live in rural areas it's also common to have a "jordkällare" to keep food chill and fresh. It's a undrefround cellar.
I love the way of leaving you show to us. I have never lived this way but I’m so tired of a big city and people around me that my heart aches when I see videos like that .
I'm Jamaican in the US relocating to Ghana I've already purchased land. My plan is to build my primary home from rammed Earth and I'm thinking of adding a couple of traditional houses on the property to have as a business a retreat. natural, organic living and lifestyle. there's nothing wrong with earth homes. As a matter of fact if we all lived more eco-friendly and sustainable there wood be less sickness and exposure to toxins and material being used to build these homes especially here in the West. One should never disrespect another person's culture if it's not for you leave it alone keep your thoughts to yourself!
You can plant certain plants around the house 🏠 and no bug will go neat your house 👍 😀. Most bugs don't like lemongrass. Lemongrass tea 🍵 tastes very good .
BINGO!! As a Latina, I feel this on such a deep level. It’s similar to how Mesoamericans, sometimes incorrectly referred to as Aztecs or Inca, basically invented architecture. They built the most advance canal system in the world, and modern highways/freeways are based on that system. Not only did we build the first skyscrapers, we built them better. A 21st century skyscraper, which takes cost cutting shortcuts by using cheaper materials and less sturdy foundations, will fall down within 10-20 years if it’s not constantly maintained. Funny how OUR buildings haven’t been maintain in nearly 500-2000 years, and still stand just fine with barely so much as erosion on the outside. INTACT on the inside. And you know who is the least aware of this history of our technological intelligence? Latinx people. The very descendants of the people who created that technology. Modern Latinx people are not proud of their heritage or culture, only being proud of the “culture” forced on us later by europeans and colonizers. People lack information about the achievements of other cultures, precisely as you said, and our education system instead teaches lies about them and mocks them for not being like an industrialized civilization. What use is industrial technology in an environment like a forest or jungle, where there’s no room for it and it’s impractical? Civilizations not having industrial “modern” technology doesn’t mean they’re stupid, it means they’re intelligent enough to realize natural resources will work better in that environment.
I'm reading an amazing book called "The Promotion of Place" by Harm de Blij for my Geography class and our research topic for the semester is how different cultures promote their place. This is an absolutely gorgeous example. ❤️
I would LOVE to live in a house like this. Ive stayed in them before and love them. I have confinement trauma and living in nature and natural materials helps me❤
I am absolutely obsessed with your videos and channel. Just stumbled upon it. In America we are starving for this way of life. We cannot enjoy life bc we are constantly working to buy all the “luxuries” which are more like chains . So educational. please keep making these wonderful videos.
Lots of us grew up “ashamed” a lil bit or wanting to align ourselves with European culture not knowing what racism is 😂 only to realize village life is actually good life.
It's because they told us our mud houses are uncivilized and poverty houses, I live in the city but the cleanest and freshest air is from my grandma's village.
I am a "Westerner" and it's true! I have great family and friends but we all live completely separate lives and live far apart. It creates loneliness even in the most connected of us when we aren't living together in a shared community.
In Canada my friend and I are learning to build cob ovens. Eventually my friend wants to make an entire cob house. Earth is the oldest, most abundant, and easiest building material to work with- just add water and filler of your choice (sand, straw, manure, glass bottles)
1:09 Yes! The better smell of natural material is worth so much. I live in a USA city, and would rather smell real wood in an old building that can breath than smell new glue and paint in a new house. Some would view your grass and mud house as “fragile” but their glue and plastic painted house is not designed to last much longer!
I loved thatched rooves. The baby birds nest inside them and in the spring, there are a lot of birdies flying around. I love when the leaves are new, and it looks all green. And then when the leaves turn brown, you have a chill hut you can beat the heat in.
It's not only in Africa that people live in mud built homes with thatched roofs. Although in the West, they're called cob or adobe homes, but they're still essentially the same thing. There's even a resurgence in the popularity of mud built and thatched cottages because of their eco-friendly properties and rustic beauty. It's funny how people forget these sorts of things.
I’ve often wanted to try constructing a “sod” house here in the USA, for the same reasons that you mentioned- wind proof, cool in summer, easy to hear with a small flame. I would have to use lime powder, since it is wetter here, but I’d love to try it
Would you be willing to make another video about how grass thatched houses work or possibly a tour? I would love to learn more about them, and your house looks beautiful!
Please make another video about how these are built and how they work, this is super interesting! I would love to know how is has its own cooling, and I would love to see more of the interior! Awesome video!
I wish more humans were living in synergy with their environment. If we did, the Earth would not be so scarred. Keep doing what you are doing. Keep being proud of your culture. We are all family walking this Earth. We should be learning from each other as peers and equals. Thank you for sharing part of your walk with me.
I would love an instructional video on how to build a grass thatched home. Here in the USA, some folks have been adopting the "earthship" architecture to build homes from natural and recycled materials, since the 1960's. Especially in desert areas, as the thick mud walls do in fact maintain the homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter. With affordable housing shortages throughout the country, it's gaining popularity again as a more affordable and healthier habitat -- especially in the Tiny Home movement sector.
I am not familiar with building houses. But I am fascinated by houses that integrate and use natural materials. the simpler the better. But I also think that it might be a bit more difficult where it gets really wet and cold. I don't look at this life like it is backwards I think it is smart.But I also think every style also has its perks.
Well said, girl! Proud of u and ur culture!👏👏👏 Some people just need to listen to the song 'Colors of the Wind' and understand the meaning😊😊😊 Take care and God bless!❤❤
I do love the smell of mud. I remember how much I enjoyed it as a kid when we were at the African museum here in the Netherlands, or at the park called Prehistoric Village. To me it was a magical experience being this close to nature.
I never thought to ask this question but I wouldn’t have known the answer. I appreciate the knowledge. Please don’t judge me for my ignorance. I don’t know what I don’t know, but I’m constantly trying.
Also in Europe we have houses built out of mud like we have/had in villages in Hungary. She is so right! Things which work and are rooted in knowledge of the people should be kept and used because they are most probably are in line with the people and their surroundings. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!! And that you don't hide your disappointment.
I REALLY !!!!! like that you made some great points in this video.The closer to nature we are the less stressed.I personally find the house your in quite beautiful,natural,peaceful.Tons of people are going off grid to live in similar ways.Bringing these truths to many is eye opening and wonderful.THANK YOU💛✨
Well done big sister 👏👏 Keep going and don't allow anybody to let you down 👇 God bless you so much ❤️ love you very much 💗🙏 East and west home is the Best 😄😉
I am a landscape architect in Australia, and people in my field are speculating that Africa will find ways to 'modernize' in a sustainable and clean way for the first time in human history, unlike other continents before it who have followed a pattern of going through a toxic industrial period. There is an assumption in that however that Africa wants and needs to 'modernize' and that such a thing is even something worth aspiring to. What does it even mean? Everyone living in big cities and the death of village culture and local economies? Everyone having air conditioning? The more I learn of the technologies and wisdoms of first nations and traditional cultures, the more I realise what 'modern' and 'first world' civilisations have lost. It feels like it's the first world that needs to change...and badly!
I love this video so much!!! Its true! Traditional building techniques have centuries, (if not thousands or tens of thousands of years!) of trial and error behind them, fine tuning how to get the most benefit from the least materials and effort. That kind of ancient knowledge is the most advanced kind of technology imo!
I live in France and it would be so much better for the summer I can't stand heat anymore and air conditionner makes me sick Your house looks beautiful anyways
If I had my own property, I would absolutely build a straw thatched hut/house for summer and an underground house for winter. Much more practical! Thank you for this video, it really inspired and impressed me! I also LOVE your accent! 😁❤️
I love everything about this video. Everything you spoke is true. Just because someone grew up in a culture that's different than yours doesn't make your culture wrong (or vice versa). I think the African way of life is beautiful and I am particularly fascinated with village life. I love your content & I look forward to seeing more videos.
One of my favourite historical tidbits is about Henry Ford and the time he tried to make a town in Brazil. The managers tried all these "western" things that just made everyone miserable, and eventually riot. One of the worst things was a chef that demanded the outdoor dinning area a nice grass covered area was destroyed and replaced with a large concrete structure. O.O
Pretty much what building houses is all about. Combining natural ressources which have a function. At best every piece can be replaced. In european countries you need different isolation and rain protection... In big cities you need big houses... There are many houses in my street which are made from wood, clay, thatched roofs. So sure differences but also similarities.
I believe in what she’s talking about, What she speaks of is a thing called “thermal mass” where you use dirt, stone, or earth that has the ability to keep it’s thermal properties for long periods of time. This means it is cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. There are some modernized constructions that do use thermal mass like brick and mortar, rammed earth, sandbag and mortar, and what else. But one thing is apparent, what these people are saying is one thing, and it’s a very simple thing, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” It’s truly fascinating content really. If I was in such an environment that they are in I’d want a similar construction material myself.
People who ask these kind of questions should go and listen to the Ted Talk "The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche. They really need to find things out themselves rather than conclude on issues or facts based on their own assumptions or what the media or people feed them.
I’d always thought that thatched houses were kind of impractical because I didin’t think piling a bunch of straw on a roof in a cone shape would be enough to keep rainwater out. But now that I think about it and actually looked into it I feel kind of stupid. Why would people use them for thousands of years if they washed away every single time it rained? And not really sure about the specifics of what thatching is really made out of, grass or straw or otherwise.. but I did not give the cone shape enough credit when it comes to structural integrity or water drainage. Didn’t really look to deep into it (read like two articles and called it a day) but it’s definiteley something interesting and new I learned.
The roof is so pretty. I have a hard time finding a place to live here. I wish I could build a traditional style house but since we have no community it wouldn’t take long for someone to ransack or rob it
This is wonderful. People can be so ignorant, it frustrates me. We have thatched houses here in Britain, they are usually very expensive and very beautiful places. I would love to live in a thatched house 💕
I love you Aketch. You are full of wisdom in your own way. I love your family's lifestyle although I only lived in a bamboo house. I also experience this kind of life because my family have a farmhouse in the province. I am your fan from southeast asia ❤😂
You go, girl!!! Too many times those of us who live in the "modern" world are not healthy. In body or soul. We become so busy finding things to make us feel better, when what we need to do is get rid of everything, and go back to finding harmony in the earth. Your culture does that. It is a fading gift in this world, I hope you never lose it. That way, you can show the rest of us the way home.
Dada! You killed them all the that last comment. They all lack sleep all of them 😂😂😂. I don’t think there is lack of information nowadays perhaps curiosity or arrogant and ignorant.
Genuinly curious, do you use wifi or cellular data for posting your vids? I love how much I am learning about life in Uganda from you! I had no interest in Uganda before I foynd your channel, but now I'm researching for a future trip there! Im really looking forward to going!
Oh i LOVE natural built homes! Some very smart people here in the US are building what they call "earthship" homes. They are 100% self sustaining homes built with materials from the land. These homes take actual hard work and dedication to build but are soo much better than the $300k "cookie cutter" houses being thrown up in subdivisions all across America!
Perfect video. The same ppl who male others ashamed of their wait f life also then steal the ideas they ridicule and try to rename those ideas and commercialize them. SMH.
What you REALLY should do, next time you fly to England for work, is spend a night in a B'n'B in a thatched, Tudor cottage ! And then you could provide us with a comparison of the two systems, and as well as a bit of a joke at all the bigoted fools, we might actually learn some interesting things about how similar needs resulted in similar artifacts, or maybe we would learn some OTHER thing. (Edit to add, sorry for saying "should". I hate it when people say "Should" to me, I don't know why I said it to you. )
...wait, I thought you sleep on trees? 😳 Your videos are always a pleasure! A house made from natural materials from the area are often perfect for the climate and conditions. ❤
While we're being poisoned by lead and mold that gets painted over. I love the ending I bet you sleep and breathe so much better in that house than the apartments and stuff we have. Absolutely
Wondering how the housing market, and mental health recurrent crashes in the states if we as a people adopted this form of construction? Wishing to find information with geolocal earth. Such as making bricks and pottery from our yard. This looks perfect to me. From the bottom of the barrel and knowing the healing mind of my partner would follow. Thank you for the litteral point of view. I think this looks far superior to get domes, or yurt like structures in states current market.
In England, our oldest houses have walls a foot or so thick (yes even peasant ones-shock). In America, they tend to build with wood cos when a tornado strikes a bit of wood hurts less than a one-foot brick (looking at you UK) ... Guess what guys .. breathing materials work darn well in hot climates as they both absorb heat moisure and release heat and moisture outwards drawing cooler air in .. now see if we could harness that we could make .. a..whats the word? OHH yeah ....its in your kitchen using electricity
Im happy to love the multi cultures i love the fact that everyone in different places of the world live different ways it makes it unique and interesting.
Houses That Are Environmentally Sound and Friendly and Only Cost Time To Build. Who Won’t Want To Live In Such A House 🤷🏾♀️🤦🏽♀️ 💯 Natural Material Given To Us By The Almighty and Made With Love. What A Blessing 🙏🏾🍀👍🏽
@@mach1553 why? You have limited amount of money and energy why waste it on planting flowers and grass on a roof? Look at the simplicity of the ceiling in the video. It is beautiful. The people are amazing and skilled
