Beehive Tukel

Posted by Brian Jones

1 December 2003 –

There is a fantastic collection of huts or tukels in Ethiopia and every region has a distinctive style. In
Bolosso there are two main styles; the first is the beehive tukel pictured above, where the thatch come right down to the ground. The second style has distinct mud walls with a thatch that comes down only to the level of the door.

The tukel houses a family, usually consisting of the head of the household (usually male) and his wife (or ONE of his wives in the case of Bolosso Sorie) and a range of children. It's not uncommon to find 2 or even three children below five in the house.

Each hit is divided inside with a distinct area for a cow or ox and a goat in the richer households. Chickens are also a common household occupant and are perch themselves in the rafters or in special nests attached to the walls.

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