Foto: The Tata castle houses of the Tamberma tribes (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Togo - We continue toward a genuine Tamberma village with Tata houses. Antoin, the tribal chief, officially welcomes us, after which his son Josef guides us through the village. Soon, we are approached by villagers wanting to sell small souvenirs—women, men, and children alike. Josef leads us to one of the Tata houses. Through a narrow passage, we reach the ritual offering site. The livestock can also be kept here in case of an enemy attack. Using a small step, I enter the primitive kitchen. A woman of the house is cooking, creating a beautiful scene with sunlight streaming into the smoke-filled kitchen. She does not want to be photographed, which I respect. I climb another step to the roof of the Tata house, where the sleeping quarters are, grain is stored in silos, and beans dry on the roof. I wonder if the roof is strong enough for a group of Westerners and tread carefully along the edge. A man shows the grain silo, inviting me to look inside using a wooden log with carved steps. From above, I see that the silo has multiple compartments. I am amazed that these houses have been built this way for about two hundred years and that they offered sufficient protection against attacks. We walk further through the village, past different Tata houses. It is striking that all Tata houses are built identically, likely because everyone helps each other when a house needs thorough maintenance every ten years.
Fetish Market of Lome
Togo - After lunch at a local restaurant, we drive to the Fetish Market, a few kilometers from the Grand Market. There is much activity on the streets along the way. I am amazed. “Fetish,” derived from the French word fétiche, is part of the animist belief. ...