The Taberma country is a tiny area spread between North-Togo and North-Benin. Over the past centuries, the local people - the Batammariba, have developed a peculiar architecture to protect themselves from various aggressions, which in effect turned their homes into mini-fortresses. These traditional homes are known as 'Tata Sombas' and are now grouped on an area registered as a World Heritage site at UNESCO in 2004. As we were crossing the Tamberma country, we were invited into a home for a memorable visit. These houses are very practical and could allow a family to seat a siege for weeks. Fortunately in our times, the game is more about getting visitors into the houses than keeping them out.
La region du Koutammakou ou vivent les Batammariba a ete classee au patrimoine mondial par l’UNESCO en 2004. Si ce peuple tres secret semble avoir ete epargne par les colons, c’est peut etre grace a leurs maisons d’un style tres particuliers, qui les font ressembler a de petits fortins, les ‘tata-sombas’. Construits exclusivement par les hommes, et dans un but defensif, ces ‘tata’ revelent un igenieux systeme qui permettait aux occupants de continuer a mener leur vie autarcique habituelle tout en surveillant les alentours. Lors de notre visite, un fermier Batammariba nous invita a visiter la maison qu'il avait construite pour sa famille. Ce fut l'occasion d'une rencontre interessante et, pour Elias, de se faire de nouveaux copains pour quelques heures.