When King Njoya designed the Royal Palace of the Bamum people, he brought together elements from all his favorite buildings. He combined the yellow brick of German colonial buildings, the rounded cone-topped columns of traditional Bamum buildings and the geometric designs of Islam. Over the doorway he placed carving of the double-headed snake, an ancient symbol of the strength of Bamum royalty.
You've just been made ruler of your own kingdom. Design a royal palace for your people, using pieces of your favorite buildings, as well as your imagination. Choose an animal to be the symbol of your kingdom, and then draw that animal over the doorway.
© Field Museum, 1993
http://www.nhm.org/africa