"The traditional dwellings of the Batammariba people in Koutammakou, on the border of Togo and Benin in West Africa, are at once 'a work of art, a home, and a place of worship'. These striking mud structures, called takienta, have been built by the Batammariba since the 17th century, allowing residents to centralise many of their daily activities, from food production to worship to rest."
"Directed by the Ethiopian American filmmaker Sosena Solomon, this short documentary features takienta experts and inhabitants who detail the social and spiritual meanings of these dwellings, which the Batammariba view as an extension of both their bodies and the earth. It also highlights ongoing efforts to conserve the takienta tradition, which demands active maintenance and intergenerational knowledge. The film is part of the short documentary series Africa's Cultural Landmarks, produced by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in collaboration with the World Monuments Fund."
Takienta are mud dwellings of the Batammariba in Koutammakou on the Togo–Benin border, constructed since the 17th century. They function as artful homes, sacred spaces, and practical centers that centralize food production, worship, social life, and rest. The Batammariba consider takienta extensions of both human bodies and the earth, embedding spiritual and social meanings into architectural form. The tradition depends on active maintenance, manual building techniques, and intergenerational transmission of knowledge. Conservation efforts aim to sustain the living practices and communal roles connected to takienta and to protect the cultural landscape where these structures remain integral to daily life.
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