Read the passage below carefully:
In the village of Tiébélé in southern Burkina Faso, the architectural tradition of the Kasena people relies heavily on a seasonal cycle of construction and ornamentation. While men build the thick-walled earthen compounds using clay, straw, and cow dung, structural maintenance and artistic decoration are exclusively entrusted to the women's collective during the dry season. The intricate geometric patterns painted onto exterior walls—utilizing natural pigments derived from volcanic rock, graphite, and laterite—are not merely aesthetic expressions. Each motif serves a functional purpose: the burnishing process using smooth pebbles compacts the outer mud layer, creating a water-resistant facade essential for surviving the torrential monsoon rains. Furthermore, the allocation of specific patterns correlates directly with household lineage and social status, acting as a visual registry of community governance. However, the recent influx of synthetic acrylic paints, introduced by commercial vendors as a labor-saving alternative, has led to unintended structural consequences. Although acrylics reduce preparation time, they form an impermeable seal that traps moisture within the clay core, causing the inner walls to deteriorate silently during the rainy season.
Based on the passage, what can be inferred about the traditional decorative practices of Kasena women?
- They functioned simultaneously as a mechanism for environmental protection and a medium for recording social hierarchy.Answer
- BThey were gradually abandoned because natural pigments like volcanic rock and graphite proved ineffective against monsoon rains.
- CThey granted the women's collective ultimate political authority over the structural building of compounds.
- DThey focused primarily on superficial artistic decoration rather than practical structural upkeep.