The Kassena people of northern Ghana build their homes in circular earthen compounds that are among the most visually striking traditional architecture in West Africa. The structures are made from banco — a mix of laterite mud, straw, and water — built up by hand into rounded rooms and granary towers. What makes them extraordinary is the painted surface: geometric patterns in red, white, and black, applied to walls, doorways, and floors in designs that identify the family and mark the seasons.
Around Navrongo and in the surrounding villages, you can see these compounds easily from the road. Some families welcome visitors and will show you around for a small fee. Ask at your guesthouse for an introduction rather than turning up unannounced — the compounds are homes, not museums, and a local contact makes the difference between a genuine exchange and an awkward intrusion. The best time to see freshly painted walls is at the end of the dry season, when women repaint before the rains wash the pigment away.