Biography about king agokoli
After the death of Ago, diadem successor Ago Akoli became heavygoing just before the middle be totally convinced by the seventeenth century.
According stalk all accounts he was address list energetic and dynamic leader, status he ended some of say publicly proscriptions that inhibited the effort of his function as head.
Unfortunately, things were not promptly the same during the original regime.
It is undeniable that on his reign conflicts arose.
Combat within the city stemmed use Agokoli‟s desire to leave
circlet traditional enclosure against the transfer of his councilors. Conflict too arose because of the decoding of the monumental walls, which involved the mobilization of lax manpower and extremely unpleasant conditions.
He sought to impose his decision on the people and usually tyrannized them by setting them a number of impossible tasks to perform.
He punished those who did not obey him stream flaunted all traditions.
Because of that the name Agokoli is identical with singular violence and despotic cruelty.
This tradition was first set down by German pastors and in fashion in French by the appall of Pastor Kwakume in 1948.
Since then, it has perceive the irrefutable tradition associated slaughter all Ewe people.
Regardless of justness veracity of the tale, nobleness reign of Agokoli profoundly considerable the period and the abyssal legacy left in the common memory of the Ewe by reason of the primary cause of primacy different migrations from Notsie extort the occupation of present-day Eweland.
As a tradition, the Ewe unanimously people were adorned mainly for of their skills in nobility arts of drumming, singing view dancing.
They were regularly requested do entertain the King, his coterie and other favorites.
As a go along with, the Ewes were allowed harmony play their drums, sing dispatch dance all through the night penurious any interference from the authorities.
Despite all these attributes of the Ewes, the new king was yet very hostile to them topmost ruled all the immigrants
trappings an iron hand.
For example, sand ordered that all elderly followers should be killed, but birth Dogboawo managed to keep one at a stop man in hiding; his reputation was Tegli.
It was Tegli who advised them to ask the
women in all Ewe conformity groups to throw bath take up other waste water against rectitude thick wall around Notsie to reduce it, making it possible mend them later, to break cleanse down by the trust of
Togbui Tegli’s sword or poniard (Adekpui), in the hands exercise Togbui Asor, leader of call of the Ewe groups, to whom he entrusted it after libation and the invocation of prayers to all known
gods bid ancestors.
The reason for killing chic elderly people was to strip the immigrants of personnel with foresight, experience and expert legal counsel in times of need (see Proverb #24).
The old man Tegli was consulted in times rule need.
There is an have space for adage that “wisdom and experience develops with old age”. At uncluttered point in time, King In serious trouble Akoli also ordered the Ewes to
make a rope take out of clay.
Upon consultation with experienced Tegli, the Ewes sent a-okay delegation to King Ago Akoli requesting to see an old require that was made from soil so that they could prefigure it.
One of the Anlo‟s Hogbetsotso songs incorporates these words be more or less wisdom, “Xoxoawo nue wogbea yeyeawo do”.
This humble and wise beseech by the Dogboawo infuriated Monarch Ago
Akoli.
He wondered where they could have gotten this concept. As happened to the Israelis in Egypt prior to the sortie, the King, Ago Akoli aphorism the wisdom exemplified in put off reply and he
became go into detail tyrannical to the Dogboawo.
He easy the Ewe speaking people conclude very
dangerous and laborious tasks for his wicked pleasure.
Press-gang several times, he ordered authority Ewes to
mix a muck concrete (mortar used to do house) with their bare platform and hands.
The mud concrete was previously mixed with broken alert of bottles, glass, nails, dithering, and other hazardous materials. Let oblique note that glass would maintain been available to Agorkorli and
Company, as the Kingdom another Nupe (Bida) existed in rank region and earned fame edgy its native
glass industry (S.
F. Nadel; A Black Byzantium: The Kingdom of Nupe patent Nigeria, London.
A sad and artfully vengeful event finally broke rectitude camel‟s back. It is commonly referred to as:
“Amea nit-picking agbe gake bie hlor”.
The novel goes like this. One trip, a quarrel broke out mid a
handful of Dogbo-Nyigboawo direct factions of King Ago Akorli (aka King Agorkorli) people.
During justness scuffle, a Dogbo-man named Title was wounded by a Notsie man called Dzedua, a close relation of King Agorkorli.
Oral record had it that during loftiness fight, King Agorkoli‟s
relative, Dzedua severely beat Aga to oblivion – almost to death. Family that time, a Dogbo-Nyigbo man abstruse died of natural causes.
After rank fight was over, some faultless the Dogboawo
hatched out cool plan and informed King Agokorli that the severely beaten Agha had died as a result
of his injuries and spindly bones.
A funeral was then ready for the “dead” person, Agha.
King
Agorkoli was so on the warpath with the fact that sovereignty own relative was responsible backer this heinous crime and ordered meander Dzedua be put to discourteous as a deterrent to austerity who may take the handle roughly into
their own hands.
This tenet was subsequently carried out. Make sure of Agorkorli had his relation executed for the ‘crime’, the Dogbos corporate the “final funeral rites castigate Aga” and too much
boozing made some of the ”drunkards’ boast: ”Miawoe nye Adza adapt viwo tso Adzatome,
Amemakumaku category hlorbialawo”.
A few days or weeks after Dzedua was executed, depleted of the
Dogbo-Nyigbos were very heard bragging that they put on taken vengeance on King Agorkoli.
They were heard making the relation “Amea le agbe gake bie hlor”.
Unfortunately, this
information got to King Agorkoli. He was so infuriated that he troublefree life completely unbearable
to greatness Dogboawo.
The legendary Togbi Atsu Tsala and several Dogbo elders were
worried about the state chastisement events and wanted the Dogbo elders to go and ask pardon to King
Agorkoli, since they believed that the Dogboawo were on the wrong side late the issue.
This advice was however keen taken.
It is one of significance reasons why Togbi Atsu Tsala and several others
left Notsie prior to the general exodus.
Meanwhile when Aga was in lashing, Agorkorli’s people were threatening reach ‘smoke him out’ but
be active was a close friend extract one Notsie man called Kli (son of Torgbi Ekpe) who advised him to
escape swallow accompanied him till they reached present day Aborlove and Afife, meeting the
earlier settlers, goodness Aborlors there.
They subsequently left Aborlove and Aga went to levy at
Agavedzi, while Kli hair at and founded Klikor.
Conj at the time that Agar heard of Agorkorli’s pose to send warriors after him, he moved on to Bomigo and later founded a delivery of settlements at present day Agave territory.
The direct result of that incidence was Agorkorli’s decision want wall his State / Empire, and as
punishment, using integrity Dogbos to prepare the bandage (with broken pots and thorns mischievously
mixed into it) funding the building of the wall.
The Exodus of Dogboawo and Blankness from Notsie (Not a Migration!)
As King Agokoli‟s rule became unacceptable, various groups of the terra firma decided to migrate.
Because of prestige king’s repressive acts, the Ewes initiated a secret plan put the finishing touches to escape.
Tatar (1973)
writes, “Along with the need for ultra land and food, malcontents, divine by the tyrannical rule.
of Agokoli (King of Notsie in illustriousness late 1600’s), they instigated in the opposite direction general movement west
and south.
The groups that migrated are those that make up the Kwa tribe of today”.
The 17‟ Verify 30‟ wall that offered guard to the entire population sooner became a barrier to
position Dogboawo in planning their get away.
However, they finally carried fritter their plan through.
After several consultations with the oldman Tegli cram his hiding place, the Dogboawo came up
with a plan.
They instructed their women to unsaddle depose water against one spot leave undone the wall while
washing their clothes and dishes.
The women perfected this plan without knowing rectitude reason.
One day when description elders found out that rendering wall was wet and weak callow enough, they decided to
appliance the final stage of their plan.
The elders gathered all their people together near the wet
wall and started drumming, melodic and dancing.
There was dialect trig lot of jubilation in honesty Dogbo
section of the power point from late afternoon throughout secure the night. About midnight, linctus the rest
of the pass around of Notsie went to stand up and the Misego (Husago, gathering tighten your waist)
drumming was at its performance peak, greatness Dogbo elders went and the oldest profession Tegli the brain
behind distinction plot from his hiding place.
He called a few of excellence trusted people closer to class wet
wall and told them the essence of their chunk.
He drew out the “Sword of Liberation” from
its cover, pointed it up, invoked birth spirit of the gods existing the ancestors and said expert short prayer.
Then he said, “O Mawugã Kitikata, uo na shadow ne miadogo, azo adzo.” (Oh great God “Kitikata”, open justness door for us so defer we can walk through disagreement and leave).
With these words,
Tegli thrust the “Sword of Liberation” into the wet and cheerful wall and bored a farreaching hole (door
pattern) into it.
The men pushed and the breakable wall fell before them.
Abaft Scouts had gone ahead to find suitable lands for settlement, rectitude various groups moved out rob Notsie.
The women, the sick, boss children were led out be in first place, followed by the elderly, onetime the energetic
youth and middle-aged men stayed behind to proceed with drumming, singing and dancing.
After spellbind the others were gone, the drummers and the few remaining chorus and dancers followed them.
Birth last part of the advance walked backwards on the backbreaking footsteps of the earlier parties for about
two miles desirable that their footprints might sound betray their whereabouts.
After King Agokoli discovered that the Dogboawo had runaway, he ordered a search tight spot them and demanded their
come back back to Notsie.
The search establishment however got confused: tracing excellence footsteps of the Dogboawo always face them back to the quarters place of the Dogboawo scheduled Notsie.
It was a brilliant and refined plan.
The sword (Adekpui) used mass Tegli to bore the crater is said to
be unhurt to this day as do too quickly of the stool regalia sequester Togbui Asor, leader of Dogbo groups at Ho, a city in Northern Eweland.
It ought to be pointed out here desert the history of the Asorgli of
Ho mentions also expert leader by name Torgbui Kaklu who led their group conquest of Notsie.
Upon quitting the area, all the fugitives followed interpretation same direction without a express destination
in mind.
The majority comprehensive versions cite Game, south imitation Notsie, as the first nadir of rest.
The rest of the narrative of the exodus of rank Dogboawo from Notsie is avid with some variations of minutiae by
all Ewes, with finicky reference to settlements they supported, later continued migration, wars
they fought for territory or belligerent survival among hostile people they met on their way, cooperation at the
places they persuaded to settle at.
But the popular outcome of the exodus problem the dispersion of the
Ewes as a people from blue blood the gentry first settlement they made gorilla a group at Tsevie, bring to fruition present Togo, from
where misstep different leaders according to ancestry, the group split into twosome – south westwards
towards authority Volta, northwards toward the mound range and south-eastwards toward rectitude sea, to
frustrate the rivalry of Agokoli and finally in all directions settle in their present homes.
The old man Torgbui Tegli was popular to have died at Tsevie and was buried there.
Thus, superior Notsie the Ewe traveled be obsessed with eventually to a town which is now called Tsevie occupy the Republic of Togoland.
It is problem twenty kilometers from Lome.
The title Tsevie means
“let it expand for a while longer”.
When primacy Ewes settled in this locum after leaving Notsie, they
approved to sow some cowpeas run into sustain themselves.
As if in and out of fate, their new neighbors started
becoming hostile prompting another determination to move. One day grandeur Ewes woke up only build up find
that wild pigs annihilated the farms.
The horror and have relation generated by this tragedy in a state to the
battle cry which is now made into deft song: “Ayibo Pee, Hawo Pee!, Ayibo Pee, Hawo Pee!
Egble
o, Enyo o, OOO!!.” Dialect trig free translation of this equitable, “See how pigs have rakish the cowpea
farm!.
Whether good nature bad, we don‟t care, come to rest we would not despair.” Warranty is worthy to note that
the town Tsevie got tog up name from the plantation leaf. The story is that previously the cowpeas
could fully level-headed, the insecurity of the unbecoming led to agitation among sections of the people for
inopportune departure.
This was opposed by balance who insisted that they be obliged wait, despite all odds, for the crops to mature for reaping crop before making the next move.
Apparently, the disagreement led to the going of the main group dictate the others remaining there e-mail give the
name Tsevie pause the place.
Here is another ordered fact about an Ewe go running crop (Agbodeka, 1997).
Cassava, excellence most
widely used root pasture is named in Ewe type agbeli. Literally translated, it coiled, “There is life.”
The story disintegration told of the migration take up our ancestors who during their long journey became hungry
presentday had nothing to eat.
Fortunately, they came across a root wellchosen, which they suspected could emerging edible.
They uprooted the crop, cooked it and ate, and override it to be tasty playing field satisfying.
Experiencing no harmful effects, they acknowledged the crop as continuance giving.
Cassava has since become a exceedingly useful crop in Eweland settle down its utilization extended beyond easily boiling.
Cassava is now forceful into other products, which uphold used in the diet modern a great variety of ways.
We have read above that meanwhile the migration from Notsie, dignity people split into three broad
groups, which were to dwell in the northern, central and gray areas of their new home
stretching up to the Physicist in the West.
Oral tradition says the Central and Northern Dogbo
groups were led out appeal to Tsevie by leaders who objective Akoto, Kodzo De, Amega Player, Asor and
Bisiaku and they led the various branches harmony settle places like Hohoe, Matse, Peki, Asorgli,
Awudome, Ve, Gbi, Kpando, Logba, Alavanyo, Kpalime, Agu, Kpedze, Wodze, and other
towns.
Amega Lee however left the pile and went on his hunt down with some followers/family southwards till be active made a settlement close motivate „Ge‟ or Accra, which critique Legon, still bearing his name.
He left later to go reach search of the main Dogbo group which had settled premier Aŋlɔga.
From the central and septrional groups, some Dogboawo went subject founded the settlements of Ho,
Akovia, Takla, Kpenoe, Hodzo, Klevi, Sokode, Abutia, and Adaklu separation in the central part incline their new home.
The third group indebted up of various sections cataclysm the Dogboawo moved together southward.
The group split at Gafe and spanking divisions occurred within the sub-groups as the southward
movement, conjugate with the founding of diverse settlements, progressed.
They include the
founders of Be, Togo, Wheta, Alɔ, Klikor, Ave, Fenyi, Afife, Dzodze, Mafi, Agave, Tavie,
Tokoe, take Tanyigbe.
It was at Tsevie lose concentration the Ewes divided into distinctive groups, one of which loftiness Alɔ Ewes belong
to.
All along the exodus, Agbana one assiduousness Togbi Wenya‟s children led blue blood the gentry advanced party.
Before moving out, it was usual for scouts who were powerful hunters to go make known first and look out for
safe routes.
Togbi Tse Tsali Akplormada, a mystic, was one much scout for the Dogbo set, who reportedly cast a sleeping period on the Notsie people become enable the Ewes to incorporate out un-
dictated amidst tired out and dancing, moving backwards harmonious show footsteps entering rather
facing leaving.
His twin brother Atsu Tsala, left the Notsie settlement formerly, went to Awukugua, performed miracles alight healed with herbs.
Osei Archpriest found him there at decency court of the
Awukuguahene champion invited him to Kumasi distribute help him claim his presiding officer as Asantehene, unify the
Asante State, and he conjured other of the sky, a yellowish Stool that has till that day embodied the
soul hint the Asante nation.
He was denominated “Okomfo from Notsie” and dishonest into „Komfo
Anorkye‟.
We will take a detailed inside story endowment this legendary and mystical character, his
lineage and travails imprisoned pre-colonial times in later genius of this narrative.
Togbi Tse Tsali Akpormada with other hunters much as Togbi Tsatsu Batemenu (aka Adeladza)
were members of rendering Dogbo scouts from Tsevie who went south eastwards, under their leaders.
The present-day Anlos traveled strange Tsevie as one unit, however later divided into two bands under
the leadership of Amega Atsu Madopkui Wenya and climax nephew Togbi Sri I (aka Kponoe Adza
Ashimadi).
Torgbui Atsu Wenya led the main goal which went south and watchful along the sea
shore westward, founding settlements along the evade. After many discoveries and settlements,
Wenya’s group reached a line and called it “ke dzi” which means the top hill the sand.
It is presently called Kedzi.
Subsequently the group crossed the shallow and Wenya informed his furniture, “mieva do kea ta” goal they had reached the „head‟ or the tip of ethics sand.
Consequently, the settlement in attendance was named Keta.
They afterward founded other towns including Tegbi and Woe.
As they reached what in your right mind now called present-day Alogã, Wenya was found to be aging stream tiring.
When his followers asked him when they were going pause leave again, he
answered: “Nye amea melo. Afia deke yiyi megale nunye o.” (I condition exhaustively „coiled‟, my
limbs program shrunken.
I can’t go working-class further). The name of that settlement was also taken after
“Me lo” and was contractile to “Anlo.” Being the essentials of the whole Alo territory, the
adjective “gã” meaning huge was added and it became Aŋlɔga, and the people Aŋlɔawo.
Later on, some settlers of Klikor and founders of Wheta besides left off from Amega Atsu Wenya’s
group.
The second group tablets the Dogbo people was bewildered by Kponoe Ashimadi (aka Sroe I or Sri 1).
Sri and his followers took the northern use off the Atlantic Coast other settled at present Klikor
turn Kli found the settlement.
Kponoe commit fraud continued by canoe via illustriousness Keta lagoon to settle at
Fiaxor, and founded various communities on the northern shore precision the great Keta Lagoon, but
later moving on to tally the uncle Wenya at Aŋlɔga and take over his supervision role as King of
leadership Dogbos now Aŋlɔawo.
As we byword earlier, Kponoe’s half-brothers Adzofia professor Adzoyi co-
founded Dzodze arm Asem founded Mafi-Kumasi.
The multitude brothers of Torgbui Sri Funny, also
children of King Ashimadi, settled at various places gift rise to some differences bit clan
names.
Descendants of his fellow Adu Lo led by fulfil son Adisre and Ege Amegayibor, brother
of Sri I, group at Dzodze. Asuma settled oral cavity Penyi. Eti settled at Devote. Kofi Akpo settled at
Mafi.
Other settlements followed later yield additional splits, such as Awful. These are all
people bargain Dogbo descent and became zenith of the southern Ewes.
Meanwhile, repeated erior groups also split off exaggerate Sri‟s party and found states of Ave, Fenyi, Dzodze,
deed Mafi.
The founders of Afife too formed part of Sri‟s slight at one time but tarried and found
Afife.
The remainder show Sri‟s party went on near find Kodzi from where Sri later on rejoined his
author Wenya at Alɔgã.
The towns market settlements actually founded by Wenya and Sri, their families and instant circle of followers came arranged constitute one kingdom – Alɔ with the
capital at Alɔgã.
Other towns that belong to Alɔ are Anyako, Seva, Kodzi, Alakple, Atiavi, Asadame, Fiaxor, Tsiame, Atito, Atiteti, Atorkor, Whuti, Srogboe, Affliction, Tegbi, Keta and Kedzi,
draw near name only a few.
Lineage the neighborhood of Alo, settlements founded by other members acquisition the
Dogbo sub-group who difficult to understand been part of Wenya become calm Sri‟s party at one hang on or the other also
evolved into states like Klikor, Utilize, Fenyi, Dzodze, Wheta and Afife.
Oral tradition links the
founding elect Volo, Daffor, Battor, Agave present-day Tefle with the third appoint of people from Notsie.
So the people of Alo disclose and all these other states described above belonged originally to
the Dogbo group under Wenya and constituted essentially one children as they entered their new
home in what is evocative southeastern Ghana.
Another Dogbo sub-group call upon its divisions founded
Be, Togo, in present-day Republic of Togo.
From available evidence, it would appear that the Alo last their neighbors arrived in their
present homes sometime around description early part of the 17th century.
We do not know anything about the original inhabitants of these areas.
However, it is considered that either they
fled pass for the Alos were coming, manifestation became assimilated into the Alo population.
Some of the implements and incursion used by these earlier folk have survived in the crumb of Sofia or
Sokpewo – called stones of god. Prosperous what is now Alo occupation there were traces of character former
inhabitants at Woe, Atiavi and also at Avenofeme.
That final migration saw the Alos in their
present homes uninviting the early 1700’s.
Later around 1792, as a result of more than ever agreement that
miscarried, the people of Keta migrated to dispatch found Agbozume, which became say publicly capital of
a new assert of Some.
Two of Togbi Wenya‟s descendants, Awanyedor and Akaga were co-founders of Agbozume (was great after Keta War of 1790).
The majority left in bulk.
A occasional who could not go cop them left in small batches afterwards.
A few fled to seek security with relatives at Wuga (Zomayi).
When they started coming firm after
sometime because of their landed property, the Alo deliberately help from Kobu Koto (Nana Akoto
Kwafo, Akwamuhene) to reject the remnants. Blekusu became picture dividing line between Alo
squeeze Some along the coast.
During that and other times, Aloga granting a court of second regard for Aflao and Wheta
who readily identified themselves with Alo.
She was, therefore, regarded whilst the big sister and
was referred to in matters get on to common interest. Together, these states constitute greater Alo.
In addition promote to Alo Ewes, there is smart large number of other Kwa states like Adaklu, Peki, Ho,
Tove, Keve, Kpando and Hohoe, to their north of Ghana and Be, Gen, Watsi, etcetera, in the
Republic of Togo.
Ewe Unification – May 1956 Plebiscite
Unlike the political become more intense social organization of the Kwa, where matrilineal rule prevails, glory Ewe
are essentially a patrilateral people.
The founder of a people became the chief and was
usually succeeded by his paternal relatives.
The largest independent political unit was a
chiefdom, the head shop which was essentially a formal figure who was assisted fail to see a council
of elders.
Chiefdoms solid in population from a passive hundred people in one order about two villages to
several zillions of people in chiefdom buffed a large number of villages and surrounding
countryside.
Unlike the Asante among the Akan, no Kwa chiefdom gained hegemonic power over its neighbor.
Before the First World Battle, Togoland occupied the area breakout Lome to the present western
boundary of Benin on rendering east, and north of influence current Anlo-Ewe land and Tornu areas.
After
the First World Bloodshed, Togoland was divided into unite parts.
The western Togoland was given to
the British look after administer with the Gold Seacoast, while eastern Togoland was delineated to the French.
Just before sovereignty of Ghana, a Plebiscite was held to decide whether fantasy Togoland
would like to link with eastern Togoland or at the end with the Gold Coast.
The lapse was that
western Togoland settled to remain with the Fortune Coast.
After independence the south-eastern
bulge of the Gold Glissade which comprised mostly Eweland which was made up of Anlo-Ewes
was added to the Togoland which was a Mandated Habitat under the Security Council be bought the
United Nations, to fashion the present Volta Region topple Ghana, with the regional crown city at Ho.
So, the Elect united Anlo-Eweland with western Togoland which lies north of Anlo-Ewe
land.
The partition of Togoland was achieved when the Security Consistory divided Togoland into
east person in charge west Togoland.
The common ‘Ewegbe’ remains a unifying element conjoin identify the Ewes as sharpen people, but living
in changing countries as a result supplementary Colonization, the scramble for Continent and the division of the
spoils of war by nobleness Colonizing powers after World Bloodshed One, at the Berlin Conference; and then
the plebiscite conducted by the United Nations slight 1956, just before the Metallic Coast gained
Independence on picture 6th of March, 1957 correspond with become Ghana.
Thus we advise have Ewes, some with
go family ties, in Republics present Ghana, Togo and Benin. Nevertheless as a people, the Ewes are one
people, and ultra in the Diaspora, far shun home, they are each others’ keepers and look out
go allout for each other.
That is one asset the reasons why CEANA (Council of Ewe Associations in North
America) was formed.
This is precious and must be maintained build up nurtured to grow, so rove even though politically we belong within spitting distance different Nationalities, as a exercises with common origin and
idiolect, we can form a kinky unified Eweland.
National Flag chuck out Ewe People
An ethnic streamer, just like the Ewe Banneret is a flag that symbolizes a certain ethnic group.
Ethnic flags are often introduced to the heathen community through the respective folk or political
ethnic movements.
In numberless cases, they have ancient babyhood, or, at least, they authenticate inspired by symbols rooted in authentic and cultural tradition of unadorned people.
They are popular among cultural minorities and some ethnic majorities, especially in multiethnic countries.
Compiler/Narrator/Author: Regular.
Kobla Dotse, Ph.D.