The Royal Court of Tiébélé, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern Burkina Faso, is facing an alarming threat from climate change. Famed for its wavy-walled, hand-painted houses adorned with geometric patterns, the village reflects the culture, spirituality, and history of the Kassena people. Yet these intricately decorated structures are now deteriorating under the pressure of erratic weather and environmental degradation.
Traditionally built using natural materials like laterite, clay, straw, and cow dung, and painted by Kassena women using native pigments, the houses require dry conditions for maintenance. However, increasing unpredictability in rainfall patterns has disrupted restoration efforts.
“Rain comes during periods it didn’t before,” says Abdou Anè, a resident, adding that the once-reliable “mango rain” has been replaced by frequent, unseasonal downpours that threaten both the structures and the cultural practices behind them.
Climate crisis harming world heritage painted houses in Burkina Faso, say residents https://t.co/nuhrDeYDiT
— Mohammed BELLO (@Pastoralist1) August 15, 2025
Years of conflict, including the 2015 coup attempt and ongoing jihadist violence, have also driven away tourism, once vital for local income. Security concerns now make visiting Tiébélé risky, further isolating the community.
Architect Francis Kéré, inspired by Kassena architecture, praises the community’s sustainable building practices. Yet residents like Anè worry that increasing reliance on cement and metal roofs, driven by resource scarcity, could erase centuries-old traditions.
Despite contributing just 1% to global emissions, Sahel countries like Burkina Faso face severe climate impacts. Without urgent support, the artistic and cultural legacy of Tiébélé may vanish, an irreplaceable loss not only to Burkina Faso but to global heritage.
