Homes, all over the world, are made of available materials. Throughout Africa, small villager's use mud, sticks and tree branches to build their shelters. For instance, when water is available, a circular trench is be dug. Water is added to the half of the loose soil in the trench and the villager's stomp around in it to make mud. Then they 'plant' wooden poles into the drying mud and weave vines and grasses between the poles.

Next, branches are tied together at one end and fanned out on the other to make a cone. More branches are lashed to the open end of the cone to hold the shape. Then with more vines, the roof is tied onto the circular wall of the house. After that, they cover the inside and outside with more mud made from the left-over dirt that was first dug out of the trough. From beginning to end, the job is done by the entire tribe and even the kids help. The whole day is a celebration of singing and and taking turns dancing in the mud.

Finally, they might paint the outside to distinguish one family from another. Colorful designs are often indicative of the tribe; such as the Ndebele tribe.