Tamberma Villages

This region of Togo, like others in West Africa, contains one of the most distinctive and intriguing architecture on the African continent- fortified houses. The Tamberma people of Tamberma Villages, like other ethnic minorities in Benin, Mali, and Burkina Faso, live in fortified buildings resembling small castles made almost entirely of raw clay, straw, and wood. This architectural style emerged in the seventeenth century, mostly to defend against warriors sent by other tribes' kings to forcefully collect people to be sold as slaves in the New World.

These fortified houses are normally two stories high. The kitchen and livestock area are on the bottom story, while the barns, chambers, and an imposing terrace for drying grain are on the second floor. After dinner, the terrace becomes a gathering place for family, friends, and neighbors, who congregate around the "boss" and listen intently to the stories he recounts about his nation, both recent and old.

The fetishes that keep the evil spirits at bay can be found on the outside of the dwelling. These fetishes safeguard each inhabitant of the house and keep harmful spirits out of the house and out of the house's interior. Takietas are unquestionably Togo's national symbol today.

Tamberma Villages should be visited. You'll learn how the locals go about their everyday lives, what tools and household goods they use, and you'll get to sample the local cuisine. Enjoy the surroundings, which you are free to explore.

Address: Near Kande Proche Kara, Lome, Togo