Blier illuminates the extraordinary architecture of the Batammaliba people of Western Africa, revealing these buildings as texts through which we can read the beliefs, psychology, traditions, and social concerns of their inhabitants. In doing so, she explores the role of vernacular architecture as an expression of culture.

Illustrations Linguistic Note Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction Ch. 1: Imagines Mundi: Narrative, Ritual, and Architectural Exemplars of Cosmogony Ch. 2: Architectural Archetypes: Reflections on Housing in "Paradise" Ch. 3: House Temples: Architecture for the Gods Ch. 4: Houses Are Human: Architectural Self-images Ch. 5: At Home: The Complementarity of House, Family, and Tomb Ch. 6: The Power of Architecture: Politics, Protection, and Jurisprudence in House Design and Use Ch. 7: "The Dance of Drums": Notes on the Architecture and Staging of Funeral Performances Conclusions: Architectural Exegesis: On Building Ontology, Metaphor, and Multiplexity Notes Bibliography