The Somba were also once famous for their nudity but most wear clothes now. They still hunt with bows and arrows and I seriously considering buying some as souvenirs...then thought about the problems going through airport security with a bow and arrows slung over my back...
Their architecture
was very unique with castle-like adobe dwellings. the Sombas began to build these fortress-like houses to protect themselves from the slave raid of the Dan-Homey warriors. They are small, round huts with the ground floor reserved for animals. The kitchen in on the next level and then the sleeping level and terrace is on the top.
Somba village
Somba village in middle of field
The tops of these conical houses were so picturesque...a duck on the top of one along with a pot ....View image...the way the tops popped off for storing grain in their granaries...
granary
and the round holes used as an exit to the terrace...
inside looking out in Somba village
The women were busy drying and grinding grain as well as pounding up some sort of concoction....View image... Whenever I saw a woman pounding away with a baby slung on her back - its little head bobbing up and down, I always thought of baby whiplash..but I guess that never happens...
grinding grain
grain drying
Our Benin visits over, we were going to head up into Northern Togo and from there, Northern Ghana.
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Published by Sheila Simkin on January 6, 2007 03:49 PM
