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Lexicon Tswana architecture _____________________________________________________ The traditional vernacular buildings of the Tswana, or more correctly the Batswana people, who inhabit the central arid and Highveld regions of Southern Africa, including Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Their language is Setswana. Their traditional architecture follows customary lines dating back to at least 1600 CE, generally being thatched cone roofs on wattle-and-daub walled cylinder-shape (or rondavel) living units characteristically surrounded by a verandah. In later years these traditional forms have been supplanted by rectangular formed dwellings with corrugated iron roofing. They have traditions of wall painting and patterning which create local identity, one which has influenced the emergence of a style unique to the NDEBELE. For an account of their building and decorative techniques see Larsson and Larsson 2020. For the naming of parts of their architecture in their native tongue see Frescura and Myers 2016:178. See also Frescura (1998) 'Pre-industrial architecture : historical patterns of distribution' in Fisher et al. [Compare Zulu architecture]. Books linked to this entry Fisher, RC, Le Roux, SW & Maré, E (Eds). 1998. Architecture of the Transvaal. Pretoria: UNISA pp 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 20 ill, 21 ill, 23 ill, 26, 39 Frescura, Franco & Myeza, Joyce . 2017. Illustrated glossary of southern African architectural terms; English-isiZulu. Pietermaritzburg: UKZN Press pp 178 + 179 ills, 180-181 Larsson, Anita & Larsson, Viera . 2020. Traditional Tswana housing. A study in four villages in eastern Botswana. Stockholm: Swedish council for Building Research pp All Walton, James. 1956. African village. Pretoria: JL van Schaik pp 58 ill, 62, 63, 70, 92, 127, 134, 135, 137, 141, 143, 144, 145, 147, 149, 150, 155