Learn about the History of the Ewe People and Post Slavery Prosperity

The Ewe people, referred to as Eʋeawó in their native language, constitute a vibrant Gbe-speaking ethnic group whose cultural heritage extends across the coastal regions of West Africa. With a predominant population in Ghana, numbering approximately 6.0 million, and the second-largest presence in Togo, with around 3.1 million, the Ewe people share a rich heritage intertwined with various Gbe-speaking communities, including the Fon, Gen, Phla Phera, Gun, Maxi, and the Aja people of Togo, Benin, and southwestern Nigeria.

Language and Connection

Central to their identity is the Ewe language (Ewe: Eʋegbe), a member of the Gbe language family. This linguistic affinity establishes close bonds with other Gbe speakers, fostering a cultural connection that transcends geographical boundaries. The Ewe people’s linguistic ties unite them with communities like the Fon, Gen, Phla Phera, Gun, Maxi, and the Aja people, creating a mosaic of shared linguistic and cultural elements.

Demographic Spread

Geographically, the Ewe people predominantly inhabit the coastal regions of West Africa, stretching from the area south and east of the Volta River to the Mono River at the Togo-Benin border. They also have a significant presence in the southwestern part of Nigeria, near the Atlantic Ocean. Key population centers include the Volta Region in southeastern Ghana, southern Togo, and the southwestern region of Benin. A smaller Ewe population resides in the southwestern part of Nigeria, mainly concentrated in Badagry.

Diverse Groups within Ewe

The Ewe community displays diversity, encompassing several groups distinguished by dialectical variations and geographic concentrations. Prominent subgroups include the Anlo Ewe, Ʋedome (Danyi), and Tongu or Tɔŋu. Among these, the Anlo sub-branch holds particular prominence, serving as the literary language preserving the cultural and historical narratives of the Ewe people.

Roots and Migrations

The historical roots of the Ewe people are entwined with migrations and cultural evolution. Formerly known as the Dogbo, their ancient history lacks recorded documentation. Oral traditions suggest a migration from a location called Ketu or Amedzofe (Amejofe), situated in the Republic of Benin near the border with Nigeria. The 17th century witnessed invasions and wars, compelling the Ewe people to migrate from their original locations to their present homelands.

Archaeological evidence reveals their presence in the region, indicating a dynamic existence dating back to at least the 13th century. However, this period was marked by challenges, particularly during the rule of Yoruba warriors from the Oyo Empire. The oral tradition recounts the reign of King Agɔ Akɔli (or Agor Akorli) of Notsie, a walled town in Togo, in the 17th century. His authoritarian rule led to the dispersal of the Ewe people to their current locations.

Shared History with Gbe Speakers

The Ewe people share historical connections with speakers of Gbe languages, occupying the region between Akan land and Yorubaland. While some historians attempted to associate them with Akan and Yoruba ethnic groups, contemporary studies assert the distinctiveness of the Ewe people, influenced by but not belonging to either Akan or Yoruba cultures.

Relations with Europeans and Colonial Era

Before the slave trade and the colonial era, the Ewe people maintained positive relations with Europeans. However, conflicts arose in 1784 with Danish colonial interests seeking coastal forts in Ewe and Yoruba regions. Positioned between powerful slave-trading kingdoms like Asante, Dahomey, and Oyo, the Ewes experienced the dual fate of being victims of slave raiding and trade while also participating in the sale of war captives to European powers.

Post-Slavery Prosperity and Colonial Division

Following the abolition of slavery and the end of the slave trade, the Ewe people thrived in economic activities such as cotton and rice farming, palm oil and copra production, and exports. However, their region became a geopolitical chessboard, divided among colonial powers. Initially shared between German and British colonies, further divisions occurred after World War I, leading to the establishment of British and British-French joint protectorates. Post-World War I, British Togoland and French Togoland emerged, with the former later joining independent Ghana through a United Nations-supervised plebiscite. On April 27, 1960, French Togoland became the Republic of Togo, gaining independence from France.

Unification Efforts and Contemporary Challenges

Throughout the colonial and post-colonial periods, attempts have been made to unify the Ewe people into a single country. While various post-colonial leaders have occasionally supported this cause, none have succeeded in achieving unification.