Koutammakou, Land of Batammariba

Koutammakou is a cultural landscape of 50,000 hectares on the border between Benin and Togo. It is made up of scattered turreted houses called sikien, cultivable spaces, sacred groves, ponds and rocks, century-old trees, waterways and landscaped hills. The turreted houses are built using material from the local environment and act as houses, defensive structures and religious centres for the Batammariba who continue to inhabit the site. As a living landscape, the pursuit of harmony between people and nature underpins the Batammariba world view and this is represented by rich intangible customs and traditions which continue to be practised at the site. The site, its inhabitants and its rich culture are being impacted by flooding, severe storms, heat waves, extreme rainfall and drought.

‍