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What was the purpose of a Dogon togu na meeting house?
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African architecture
The Great Zimbabwe complex, near Masvingo, south-central Zimbabwe.
Among the Dogon people of Mali, the togu naāalso known as the "House of Words"āserves as a men's meeting house.12
Constructed as a low structure featuring a stacked millet roof supported by structural posts, the togu na functions as a vital communal space for discussion and decision-making. Its design, characterized by a low ceiling, is intentionally built to prevent individuals from standing up abruptly, thereby encouraging a calm and measured atmosphere during debates and the exchange of ideas.12