jigine roof

I was in the right place at the right time to witness the attachment of a jigine (grainery/silo) roof.  It made me think of a good old fashioned barn raising where all the neighbors would show up and pitch in to get a big job done quickly together.  They had rolls of straw that went around a wooden frame.  There were 2 guys inside to help "sew" the thatch on with strips of tree bark.  They bound the top tight, and then it was time to pick it up.  The 2 guys inside played a joke and hung on to the inside frame when the outside guys were trying to pick the roof up, so it seemed awfully heavy until the 2 pranksters let go.  The jigine will be filled with a crop come harvest time - maybe millet, corn, or beans.  It doesn't have a regular door, usually just a smallish hole kind of high up.  This prevents rats from getting in, but a child can get in to retrieve some of the food.  I asked and was told that a roof like this can last for several years.