Oualata Design
Oualata, Mauritania 2005
The English have a phrase: “house proud”. The people of Oualata seem to be house proud. Not only do the Moorish women decorate the interior with scrolling filigree designs but the exteriors have complex geometric medallions, silver and copper studded doors, staircases outlined with white, red or indigo and, in this home, a ladder (propped in the right hand corner) that is a work of art.
Exterior of Oualata Home
The exterior of this home is unadorned, but well maintained. Perhaps the owner’s wife hasn’t had time to decorate the outer walls, but we can be sure she has furnished the interior walls with her art.
Oualata was founded in the 7th Century and was a main caravan market between Morocco and the southern savannahs of Africa until the 16th century. Because it is difficult to reach Oualata, (it took us four days of driving through the Sahara to reach the settlement) the town has maintained much of its authentic character.