Ati ɖeka me wɔ na ave o. (A single tree cannot make a forest). A single tree refers to an influential, prominent, elderly or rich person in society e.g., a King, President or Chief. The forest also refers to an institution, family or community. The proverb therefore depicts that a rich or prominent person alone…
Category: Ewe History
Why Volta Region Is Called Number 9?
The Ashantis go by the accolade Kotoko (the porcupine). They gained this accolade due to their military power and effective strategy in fighting wars since 1701. Their assertive claim that if a thousand Ashantis are annihilated in war, a thousand more will come to replace those decapitated (wokum apem a, apem beba), likened the Ashantis…
CHILD NAMING IN ANLO
In ancient times, the birth of a child was followed by a payment from the child’s father, known as ‘vidzinu’. This consisted of several items including mosquito net, clothing for the baby, a half piece garment for carrying the baby and one kɛtɛ (kente) cloth for the same purpose. Vidzinu must be given at every…
THE STORY BEHIND TƆKƆ ATƆLIA (THE FIFTH LANDING STAGE)
In order to preserve virtue among boys and girls, there existed two customs for the punishment of wrong-doers. (a) Banishment by slavery (b) The Nyikɔ custom The chief evils of those days were (in order of gravity) 1. Taking away one’s life through witchcraft or the practice of black-magic art. 2. Stealing 3. Meddling with…
LAST WORDS OF TOGBI SRI I (AWOMEFIA OF THE ANLOS IN THE 16TH CENTURY) .
My children, Do Not Ever Forget these words: Criminals are nation wreckers! Counsel your children And raise them on the path of absolute righteousness; For theirs is the nation tomorrow, Only today belongs to us as we are no more tomorrow Guide them into the right path So that the nation will grow In strength,…
Group to declare ‘Volta region’ independence on May 9, 2017
The Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), a group based in Ho in the Volta Region agitating for the restoration of so called Western Togoland as a state is to declare independence for Western Togoland on May 9, 2017. According to the group, Western Togoland existed and was not part of Ghana as at the time…
Background information: Ewe migration stories and the Hogbetsotso celebration
Ewe migration stories “The story is told in oral tradition of the Ewes in Ghana that in their migratory journeys to their present homes, probably the most important single step they took into the future had to be done walking backward. It is said again and again that to escape from tyranny of king Agokoli and…
Hogbetsotso Festival
The Anlo people of Ghana celebrated the Hogbetsotso Festival in November at Anloga, the traditional and ritual capital of the Anlostate. It was a day that unfolds Ewe history and brought a replay of memories of the legendary exodus and heroic acts of men of valourand mystical powers who liberated the Ewe-Dogbo people from the…
How Your Village Name Came About.
Ewe is spoken in south-east Ghana as far west as the River Volta and as far north as Hohoe. Perhaps the simplest type of place name to be found in the land of the Ewe people is that based on the name of a founder. The Ewe word kɔƒe is variously translated as cottage, hamlet or…
How Some Villages Got Their Name.
Abutia The traditions of the Abutia people name a number of places not now to be seen on maps where they attempted to settle after leaving Notsie. One account (Dugbazah) lists “Ketu, Tovledu and Agbenutodzi” among their temporary settlements, another (KY-SA) stating that Tovledu was near present-day Bator, and that the direction of travel was…
The Voice of Inspiration. 