Fortified Dogon settlement on the southwestern plateau, Niongono, Mali

"The village of Niongono, situated on the top of a horse-shoe shaped rock, is defended by a series of natural ramparts formed by the rocky terracing and the structural layout of the buildings. In contrast with the general kind of Dogon dwelling unit which is divided into family units, at Niongono a 15-foot wall completely surrounds each of the districts in the village. Only inside this protective wall do the houses and barns take on the dimensions of single-family habitations." [Spini T. and S., 1976: Togu Na. The African Dogon "House of Men, House of Words." Rizzoli New York]. This photograph was taken when Maya Bracher accompanied Eliot Elisofon on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.