Inside the Beautifully Graphic Painted Ndebele Homes in South Africa

Photographer Francois Visser traveled to the town of Middelburg, South Africa, to document the beautifully vibrant and geometric way the Ndebele people paint their homes. The tradition, which reportedly dates back to the 18th century, is more than just decorative: The arrangement of painted symbols can express numerous things, from prayers to announcements of marriage, familial values, and emotion. Here, some architectural highlights from Visser’s journey through the town.