Togu na, Dogon men's meeting house. Ireli, Mali

"The togu na is a basic element in the Dogon village, not just a physical building but as an associated reference point to the whole village. The togu na is a meeting place, a place for teaching and working, for rest and conversation. The considerable modifications in the type of togu na as well as in the close relationship of the building with the outside, correspond largely to the three areas of the Dogon land: the highland area, the rocky belt, and the plain. Only the roof remains unchangeable as far as its material is concerned and the way it is built which suggests a ritual involving the whole community." [Spini T. and S., 1977: Togu Na. The African Dogon House of Men, House of Words. Rizzoli International Publications]. A village like Ireli, one of the larger ones along the cliffs, comprises eight wards: Nattaye, Oro, Bara, Dama, Toro, Ida, Niene and Ganie. The village at the foot of the Bandiagara escarpment is approximately one kilometer long and is divided by a steep-walled gorge accessible only by foot. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.