Traveling blogger Olga Stavrakis and photographer Rita Willaert gained entry into the isolated West African village of Burkina Faso, where they documented an extraordinary people living in a habitat like no other. The obscure village of Lies Tiebele is home to the Kassena people. First settled in the 15th century, Lies Tiebele covers 1.2 hectares and is located at the base of a hill, facing toward the vast savannah. The Kassena people are among the most organized and oldest ethnic groups in Burkina Faso, their ancestors dating back many centuries. Remarkably, much of the village is completely subsumed by art—from the structures, to the painted motifs covering the walls. Most notably, the royal residences of the village, consisting of uniquely-shaped clay dwellings, are adorned with lively and intricate hand-painted geometric patters, which distinguish them from the more common houses. The painted decorum has social significance, indicating a resident’s importance in the village; the more highly …