Traditional Hausa urban compounds, Katsina, Nigeria

"The Hausa, with their use of reinforced mud construction, have developed a sophisticated, almost modular, architectural technology (Moughtin). The house consists of rooms within or surrounding a courtyard or forming two or more courtyards. The complex is demarcated by a wall giving privacy and security to the family. The compound so formed contains the main social and economic unit, the simple or extended family. The form of the Hausa house has also been adapted to suit the privacy requirements of Islam. It is surrounded by a 3-4 m mud wall entered through one gateway. The central part of the facade is generally a well-balanced composition of the entrance, the windows, pilasters and a frieze with phallic elements. A monumental facade indicates the status and position of the man as the head of the extended family and manager of a trade network that could extend to all Northern africa." [Oliver P., 1998: Vernacular Architecture of the World. The Savanna Grasslands. Cambridge University Press]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.