Is it an igloo? Is it a dome? Can people live in it? These are probably some of the most common questions people would ask themselves when seeing an elephant house for the first time. Its curvaceous yet solid walls, high ceilings and arched windows make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Some may even find it a bit eerie but the fact is there are a few of these structures still standing tall today.
Two years ago, The Sunday Times featured one of these peculiarly-shaped houses, found in Raiwaqa, which was said to have been built in the early 1950s. And a few weeks ago, this newspaper visited Naililili Parish in the province to Rewa to find out a bit more about the dilapidated remains of its elephant houses. Iosevo Avimeleki Qionitoga of Waivou village in Rewa is someone who grew up hearing a bit of history about these buildings.
He is no stranger when it comes to sharing history and folklore as he often guides tourists who visit Naililili. According to the former chairman of Naililili’s church committee, the unique-looking elephant houses at Naililili have been vacant for years. Iosevo said by the time he attended primary school some 30 years ago, the elephant houses were virtually empty but they were previously occupied by priests and bishops.
“It was probably constrcuted by Marist Brothers who served in Naililili and helped in educating children in the area,” he said. Iosevo said there were two elephant houses built in Naililili. “The bishop lived in the bi.