What is "toguna"

A toguna (or palaver hut) is a public building erected by the Dogon people in the West African country of Mali. Togunas are usually located in the center of the village.

Togunas are built with a very low roof, with the express purpose of forcing visitors to sit rather than stand. They are used by the village elders to discuss problems of the community, but can also serve as a place for customary law.

In practice, the toguna is used as a general gathering spot in the center of the village, offering shade and relief from the midday heat, where the village elders spend the hottest hours of the day talking with each other.