Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba
Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba
The Koutammakou landscape in north-eastern Togo, which extends into neighbouring Benin, is home to the Batammariba whose remarkable mud tower-houses (Takienta) have come to be seen as a symbol of Togo. In this landscape, nature is strongly associated with the rituals and beliefs of society. The 50,000-ha cultural landscape is remarkable due to the architecture of its tower-houses which are a reflection of social structure; its farmland and forest; and the associations between people and landscape. Many of the buildings are two storeys high and those with granaries feature an almost spherical form above a cylindrical base. Some of the buildings have flat roofs, others have conical thatched roofs. They are grouped in villages, which also include ceremonial spaces, springs, rocks and sites reserved for initiation ceremonies.
Koutammakou, le pays des Batammariba
Le paysage du Koutammakou, situé dans le nord-est du Togo et s’étendant par-delà la frontière jusqu’au Bénin, abrite les Batammariba dont les remarquables maisons à tourelles en terre sont devenues un symbole du Togo. Dans ce paysage, la nature est étroitement associée aux rituels et aux croyances de la société. Le paysage culturel de 50 000 ha doit son aspect remarquable à ses takienta, maisons à tourelles qui sont le reflet de la structure sociale, ainsi qu’à ses terres agricoles et ses forêts, et à l’association entre le peuple et le paysage. De nombreux édifices sont à deux étages, et ceux dotés d’un grenier sont caractérisés par une forme quasi sphérique surmontant une base cylindrique. Certains bâtiments possèdent des toits plats, d’autres des toits de chaume coniques. Les maisons sont regroupées en villages qui comprennent également des espaces cérémoniels, des sources, des rochers et des sites réservés aux cérémonies d’initiation.
كوتاماكو، وطن باتاماريبا
يحتضن منظر كوتاماكو، الواقع شمال شرق توغو والممتد الى ما وراء الحدود حتى بينين، الباتاماريبا التي تحوّلت منازلها المميزة المزودة بأبراج ترابية الى رمز لتوغو. وترتبط الطبيعة في هذا المنظر ارتباطاً وثيقاً بالشعائر والمعتقدات السائدة في المجتمع. فالمنظر الثقافي الذي يشغل 50000 هكتار يستمد طابعه المميز من التاكيينتا أو المنازل ذات الأبراج التي تشكل مرآة للبنية الاجتماعية ومن الأراضي الزراعية والغابات ومن الرابط بين السكان والطبيعة. ويتألف العديد من المباني من طبقتين، بينما ترتدي تلك المزودة بمخازن شكلاً شبه دائري يعلو ركيزة اسطوانية الشكل. وتغطي بعض الأبنية سقوف مسطحة في حين تقبع أخرى تحت سقوف من القش مخروطية الشكل. وتتجمع المنازل ضمن قرى تشمل ايضاً مساحات لإقامة الاحتفالات وينابيع وصخور ومواقع مخصّصة للاحتفالات.
source: UNESCO/ERI
古帕玛库景观
古帕玛库景观位于多哥东北部，延伸入邻国贝宁，是巴塔马利巴人的居住区。当地富有特色的塔奇恩塔泥制塔屋，被认为是多哥著名的象征。在这个景观里，自然和宗教仪式以及社会信仰紧紧地联系在一起。这个占地5万公顷的文化景观因是塔奇恩塔泥制塔屋的建筑风格而闻名于世，这种风格反映了社会结构、当地的农田和森林，以及人与景观的联系。许多建筑物高为二层并且都带有谷仓，谷仓下面是圆柱形的基座，上面覆有圆形顶部。有些建筑物的屋顶是平的，其他建筑则带有锥形的干草屋顶。这些建筑分布在村落中，还包括宗教场所、泉水、岩石和举行成人仪式的场所。
source: UNESCO/ERI
Кутаммаку – земля народности батаммариба
Кутаммаку, местность на северо-востоке Того, распространяющаяся и на территорию соседнего Бенина, является районом проживания народности батаммариба, чьи замечательные башнеподобные глинобитные дома – «такиента» – стали рассматриваться, как символ Того. Многие дома двухэтажные, причем те из них, которые служат амбарами, имеют почти сферическую форму на цилиндрическом основании. Некоторые дома имеют плоские крыши, другие – конические, крытые соломой. Такие постройки образуют целые деревни, в которых также есть участки для церемоний, источники, отдельные скалы и выделены места для проведения инициаций.
source: UNESCO/ERI
Kutammaku – País de los batammariba
Situada al nordeste de Togo, la región de Kutammaku se extiende hasta la frontera con Benin. Es la cuna de los batammariba, cuyas casas-torre construidas en adobe (takienta) se han convertido en uno de los símbolos del país. En esta región, los rituales y creencias de la población están íntimamente vinculados a la naturaleza. El sitio cultural abarca 50.000 hectáreas y debe su singularidad no sólo a las takienta –fiel reflejo de la estructura social–, sino también a sus campos cultivados y bosques, y a la estrecha asociación de la población con su territorio. Muchas de las construcciones de la región tienen dos plantas y las que poseen graneros se caracterizan por su base cilíndrica rematada por una estructura semiesférica. Algunas casas tienen techumbres planas y otras están cubiertas con techos de paja de forma cónica. La población se agrupa en aldeas que cuentan con espacios para la celebración de ceremonias tradicionales, así como manantiales, rocas y otros sitios especialmente destinados a los ritos de iniciación.
source: UNESCO/ERI
クタマク、バタマリバ人の土地
アフリカ西部、トーゴの北東部に位置するクタマクの景観は、東隣の国ベナン近くにまで広がっている。ここは少数民族のバタマリバ人の暮らす場所でもあり、彼らの泥で造った珍しい塔状の住居は、トーゴの象徴として知られている。5万haもの広大な文化的景観は、農地や森だけでなく、人びとと土地の結びつきを表した、タキエンタの住居建築により、傑出したものとなっている。建築物の多くは2階建てで、穀物庫を持つ住居は、円筒形の壁の上がほぼ球状になっている。建物は村単位に密集しており、儀式を行う場や泉、岩や成年式を執り行う一帯などが含まれている。source: NFUAJ
Koutammakou – land van de Batammariba
Het Koutammakou-landschap ten noordoosten van Togo strekt zich uit naar het naburige Benin. Het is de thuisbasis van de Batammariba, wiens opmerkelijke torenhuizen van gedroogde modder (Takienta) worden gezien als een symbool van Togo. Het culturele landschap van 50.000 hectare is opvallend vanwege de torenhuizenarchitectuur. Veel huizen hebben twee verdiepingen en die met graansilo's zien eruit als een bol geplaatst bovenop een cilinder. Sommige gebouwen hebben platte daken, anderen kegelvormig rietendaken. Ze zijn gegroepeerd in dorpen, met ceremoniële plekken, bronnen, rotsen en plaatsen voor initiatieceremonies. Een gevolg van de nauwe verbondenheid tussen de natuur en de rituelen en overtuigingen van de samenleving in deze streek.
Source: unesco.nl
Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (Togo)
© CRA-Terre
Outstanding Universal Value
Brief synthesis
Koutammakou is the name of a large semi-mountainous region located in north-eastern Togo and which extends into neighbouring Benin. Koutammakou of Togo covers approximately 50 000 ha and joins the border of Benin for 15 km. This living cultural landscape is inhabited by the Batammariba people, whose remarkable earth tower houses, called « takienta », have become a symbol of Togo.
Koutammakou is an outstanding example of territorial occupation by a people in constant search of harmony between man and the surrounding nature. However, the Koutammakou cultural landscape possesses a particular characteristic. Indeed, the “takienta”, a basic family dwelling where technical, utilitarian and symbolic elements are combined, is unique. Although many dwellings of the region possess fairly strong symbolic dimensions, none possess such a close interrelationship between symbolism, function and technique. This particular type of dwelling, which owes its aesthetic aspect to the spectacular shapes, is the result of the creative genius of the Batammariba : « those who model the earth » or, by extension, « the good masons » according to the translation of some anthropologists.
The Koutammakou, as an evolving living landscape, exhibits all the facets of an agricultural society working in harmony with the landscape and where nature underpins beliefs, rituals and everyday life. It comprises tangible elements such as sacred rocks, forests, houses, fields, sources of construction materials, wild and domesticated animals, as well as intangible elements including beliefs, craft techniques, songs, dances, traditional sports, etc.
Criterion (v): The Koutammakou is an outstanding example of a system of traditional settlement that is still living and dynamic, and subject to traditional and sustainable systems and practices, and which reflects the singular culture of the Batammariba, particularly the “takienta” tower houses.
Criterion (vi): The Koutammakou is an eloquent testimony to the strength of spiritual association between people and the landscape, as manifested in the harmony between the Batammariba and their natural surroundings.
Integrity
The overall landscape of the Koutammakou reflects every aspect of the life of the Batammariba, and thus the socio-economic-cultural system which is contained in the inscribed property. However, as the property extends beyond the border into Benin, it does not represent whole system, but rather a part of it.
The traditional dwelling remains a current model. Throughout the region it may be noted that the life cycle of the buildings remains: construction, abandon, demolition and reconstruction of the ruins. A close observation might reveal changes in the type of materials used, the traditional model persists because the house is more than a dwelling: it is a temple dedicated to worship! Therefore, even the ground floor area reserved for the animals and the presence of granaries remain essential features. Thus, many « modern » houses are completed by a traditional dwelling which, if sometimes of reduced dimensions, retains all the traditional characteristics.
The maintenance of the tower houses requires the continuation of local construction traditions, and the use of local materials. The natural environment has suffered from overexploitation and it has become increasingly difficult to find sufficient wood for the new houses near the villages.
An excellent state of conservation of integrity exists as regards intangible aspects: links between attributes and symbolism – sacred woods, ritual paths and the conservation of traditions and life styles that are reflected by the construction of the “sikien”.
Authenticity
The Koutammakou landscape is an authentic reflection of a particular life style. No elements in the landscape are of any great age; rather, the overall landscape reflects the processes and practices that prevail over many centuries. In order to conserve its authenticity, these traditional practices must be maintained.
Education, centralization of administrative power, religions, tourism, monetary system and the appearance of new needs have all exercised their influence. Despite these aggressions that tend to unsettle the Tammari society, very strong and motivated centres exist in all the villages that constitute this melting-pot where the essential elements of the Tammari culture mix and persist throughout time and space. Therefore, despite the threat of globalization, expressions of culture and identity persist. Thus, and in spite of the development of small urban centres, (almost all at Nodoba), it is always the original landscape that can be observed today, with villages in which the houses are each located in the middle of their cultivated plots, spaced out and independent. The natural space is also very present, even though it would be desirable that some of its elements be reconstituted – it should be noted that this mainly concerns the « neutral » natural areas. Indeed, the authenticity of all the sacred areas remains intact.
Protection and management requirements
The region of the Koutammakou benefits from two types of protection: modern legal protection and traditional protection.
The overall legal tools comprise the Law 90-24 of 23 November 1990 relating to the Protection of National Cultural Heritage; Decree No. 010/MCJS of 17 July 2003 concerning the inscription of the sites and monuments on the List of National Cultural Heritage; Decree No. 124/MC/CAB of 1 October 2003 designating the geographical boundaries of the site and identifying the elements of the Koutammakou; the Decree concerning the composition and attributions of the Management Committee of the Koutammakou; and the Decree concerning the creation of the Service for the Conservation and Promotion of the Koutammakou.
The traditional practices that cover both the technical processes and the social observances that impact on land management include: respect for ancestral spirits, observance of taboos and restrictions, absolute obedience to elders, religious and clan chiefs, continuance of traditional rules reaffirmed through initiation ceremonies, the carefully prescribed roles of individual clan members and continuous respect for tangible and intangible values associated with the landscape.
These objectives are included in the main body of the Conservation and Management Plan for the Koutammakou.
The Service for the Conservation and the Promotion of the Koutammakou (administrative institution) is responsible for the management of the site in cooperation with the Management Committee representing the local populations. Its aim is to strengthen or complete the traditional protection in such a way as to guarantee the proper conservation of the site and the intangible elements that underpin it. The management process follows the following schema: definition of objectives, recording activities taking into account the threats to the site and the identification of the expected results. The targeted objectives are encourage the use of traditional materials for the construction of the « takienta » in order to maintain the authenticity and integrity of the site; control the “anarchic” exploitation of wood in the clear areas; achieve successful sustainable development in the framework of a living cultural landscape; promotion of the Tammari culture, and promotion of tourism that respects the values of the site.
Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (UNESCO/NHK)
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