Slaves, Housing of

Africa and the Caribbean

While African housing types are diverse, those described by Europeans in West and Central Africa during the 17th and 18th centuries show some consistent features. They were small by European standards, often less than 300 square feet, and had thatched roofs and earthen floors. Walls were made of cane or matting. Household activities, ranging from food preparation to eating to communal activities, were performed outside in a yard area. Dwellings were typically used only for sleeping and for protection against the elements. Traditional communities consisted of several small dwellings closely arranged. One scholar of African housing commented that it wasn't the space that was important as much as it was the relationship of those living in these small hamlets and the social interaction that the housing promoted.

These architectural features can be seen in descriptions of African slave housing in the Caribbean. On many of these islands, enslaved Africans composed almost 95% of the population, and African roots were clearly visible in a variety of daily activities. Slave villages were described as “picturesque” and were often located in secluded areas. This seclusion provided the slaves with privacy, allowing for traditional cultural practices to continue without intrusion by White owners and managers. In fact, many of the owners showed little interest in the housing of their slaves, and the enslaved Africans were allowed considerable autonomy to practice their African culture. Many of the slave villages exhibited no clear arrangement; rather, houses were scattered irregularly with no distinct patterning. One type of house reported from Jamaica consisted of an open “hall” between two structures, similar to what became known as a dogtrot house among Whites in the southern United States. The open breezeway or hall was used by the slaves (and Whites) as a communal area, taking advantage of its passage ventilation.

Jamaican slave houses were typically made of wattle and daub, often whitewashed. The roofs were thatched and floors were usually dirt, although at least one author notes that clay was used because of its longevity and ease in cleaning.

In addition, we find other architectural transference from Africa, including fence styles, clustering of structures on the basis of kinship, the importance of yards and open air activities, and even accounts of the winding, narrow paths to slave villages.

Historical Accounts of Coastal Carolina Slave Houses

Surprisingly, few 18th- and 19th-century observers commented on the lifeways—or housing—of the area's African slaves. Many that did comment provide tantalizing but incomplete accounts. There is a 1740 account of a structure covered in bark; perhaps a reference to the use of palmetto fronds, since no South Carolina tree produces bark suitable for use as a covering. This practice actually continued well into the 1930s among coastal African Americans.

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