The word is applied to the wall itself as well as the elite living spaces within it for the ruler of the tata and his court.
[2] The term 'tata' derives from the Mandinka language but has used across a wide area, roughly corresponding to the former Mali Empire, since at least the 16th century.
[4] Tata ruins, such as that of Maba Diakhou Bâ near Nioro du Rip in Senegal, generally date from the 19th century, though some are older.
The construction materials used make them vulnerable to erosion and degradation if not maintained regularly.
The tata of northern Togo and Benin are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.