TOGO ~ Tamberma Valley - UNESCO ~

... Another little African "gem" to add to my collection... my second card from Togo and a great UNESCO site... according to tourism-related descriptions the hardest and least populated part of the country to get to... this amazing valley is home to a unique collection of fortified villages with houses like mini fortresses....the constructions create a surreal place... Big Thanks Maick (once more♥) for helping me to get this "unique" postcard!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ➜  A Journey of Postcards

Togo is a small West African country surrounded by Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Atlantic Ocean. The only port and capital city is  Lomé.

These villages were built in the 17th century by people fleeing the slave trade in Benin and remained isolated until very recently. The local Batammariba people are skilled builders and have put together these castle-like structures using only clay, wood and straw, and no tools. The look they created was to help ward off invasions by neighboring tribes and served as a scaring tactic.

A typical house is called a Tata and consists of a series of towers connected by a thick wall with a single entry point meant to trap an enemy should the house be invaded. A hole in the ceiling of the first chamber would allow the house occupants on the roof to shower the enemy with arrows from above.

Stamps:

Bella Bellow Commemoration, 1945-1973
(Issued 1999)

The 36th Summit of the Organization of African Unity or OAU, Lome
(Issued 03-07-2000)