The aqal is one of the many structures where people gather in Africa. Visit and enjoy the vibrant stories of what we make in Africa today.
✿
The aqal is a Somali thatched hut that is often adorned by weavings, making it a live-in gallery. You can read how Muhubo Suleiman recreated the aqal of her childhood in a Melbourne high-rise apartment. Our stories from Africa often involve these traditional spaces, like the boma or makan or kraal.
Explore the many beautiful and inspiring objects kept alive in Africa today.
✿
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Lauren-Downton-Skeletendril-2023-porcelain-8-x-12-x-31cm-photo-by-James-Field-1024x536.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bubu-auntie-design-studieo-tex-wrkshp-1-1024x536.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_9891-2-1024x683.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/53_Otobong-Nkanga.-Anhelo-de-luz-del-sur-©-Miguel-Lorenzo-IVAM-1024x683.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Garland-Van-Roode-clove-necklace-1024x819.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Manza-xylophone-of-Azande-chief-Guga-in-Bondo-MO.0.0.14308-RMCA-Tervuren.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_4760-1024x801.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AndileDyalvane_TelAviv_Tablets2022.11.1501-1.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Kevin-Diallo-You-Cant-Tell-a-Black-Man-Not-To-Wear-Jordans-2020-Painted-Cyanotype-on-Original-Dutch-Wax-Fabric-57cm-x-97.5cm.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_0703-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-05-28-14.20.37-1024x629.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ancient-Redgum-Assegai-Pendant-01-1024x536.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/MadodaFani_iQweqwe_2021_BMWX7_Cr.GregBeadleBMWSGuild.22.HR_-1024x683.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/9-1024x536.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/58f554138d057e0345bc0577c70d4490.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Arif-Satar-A-and-A-SATAR-Image-3-front-1024x684.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/4.-L-R-Teresa-Pecanino-Donate-ChenaziElizabet-Albeno-Pascoa-Joao-Sebastiana-Costa-Vasco-Santa-Fe-1024x536.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1573094911627.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Hamza-El-Fasiki_VAWAA_1-1024x536.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Figure-3.-KhayaMola-quilt-by-Linda-Butcher-2019-Photographed-by-Les-Harvey-882x1024.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/7c2982405bdc1d7c54cba9c878a0fd5faf082bab14d20cac02e79a49d4ac7f21.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/AndileDyalvane_iThongo_2020_EasternCape_Cr.AdriaanLouwSGuildFriedmanBenda.76.LR_-1024x684.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Paula-DP-Aug-19-5-719x1024.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Caitro-Soto-on-a-cajon-632x1024.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_3508-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/07-Festival-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/05_ENSEMBLE_BALAFON_PLAYERS_01-1024x576.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/02_Dzapasi-Mbira-Group-plays-Bhuka-Tiende-2016.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IMG_4837.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRINCE-EJYK_02-e1594349262699.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/101753941_1918838828248296_7728708724763656192_n.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/19424497_1493137600743892_7061076227599099784_n.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_6590-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Clipboard-Image-1024x512.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Jenan-Taylor-Moffat-Takadiwa-The-Occupation-of-Land-2019-computer-keys-toothbrush-heads-plastic-bottle-tops-PHOTO-Nicodim-Gallery-Los-Angeles-1024x874.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-05-28-14.20.37-1024x629.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_20200601_203201-990x1024.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/14-Neckpiece-Nespresso-neckace-with-return-ticket-to-Munich-Nespresso-Capsules-wire-airticket-858x1024.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Paul_Basu_Nsukka_exhibition_0292_1620x1080-1024x683.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Garland-AFWME-2.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/82454548_261071451527717_6874035757850296320_o-1024x619.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/babatree.com06-e1590816840209.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/49980AD7-8CA8-402F-93E6-A31A9C8B7907-1024x686.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/02_BOUBACARDOUMBIA-X-REBECCAHOYES_BOGALAN-SAMPLE_MUD_2013_photoDavid-Crookes_-1024x683.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Figure-3.-Lara-Landsberg-A-Deeper-Dive-2019-Perspex-Emroidery-Thread-Enamel-925-Silver-22x17x2-photo.-2-1024x818.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Figure-4-Joani-Groenewald.-Skipping-Stones-2.-2019.-Pendant.-Silver-Glass-Plastic-resin-Soil-waxed-cotton-cord.-Dimentions-45-x-40-x-18mm.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Group-e1590733769270.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IMG-20191028-WA0012.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Joseph-Sega-NDIONE-Fake-Lions-group-with-the-late-famous-drummer-Vieux-Sing-FAYE-center-1-1024x581.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Jenan-Taylor-Moffat-TakadiwaThe-Tengwe-Farms-2019-a-plastic-bottle-tops-scale-PHOTO-Nicodim-Gallery-Los-Angeles-1024x686.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/4-2-1024x685.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Photo-30-04-2020-5-23-40-pm-1024x665.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Photo-07-03-2020-1-55-19-pm-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KL-CC-1024x759.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/82170657_2962246320462002_7275354413907050496_n-1024x683.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/The-necklace-I-received-as-present.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ethiopian-basketry-3-1024x685.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/100-bols-1034-1024x683.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cave-ropes-string-1200x808-1024x689.jpg)
![](https://garlandmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FOTO-SR-MILAGROS-16-24-950x633.jpg)
✿
Go back to the Garden.