​​​ Lost Paradises - Africa 

TOGO - Tamberma valley -

around  Koutoumakou

The Taberma (or Somba or Batammariba) live in the adjoining areas of Benin and Togo and occupy the chain of Atakora Mountains. The site was added to the list of World Patrimony Sites of UNESCO in 2004. The Batammariba are farmers and hunters and live in houses constructed of a material which is basically mud but reinforced by other materials. These houses resemble a minute French château. These buildings are called “ TATAs “, and conform to very special architectural design. The central element of Batammariba religious beliefs is based on animalism. The fetiches which they worship are those they place at the entrance to their Tatas, and have a variety of forms.