TOGO according to Maurice PIRAUX (1975)

In EWE "TO" means river; "GO" means riverbank; so "TOGO" means "by the river".

In fact, a small village called Togo, was located by a lagoon near the gulf of Benin. This small village, which was composed of just a few huts, suddenly became by the end of the 19th century, the scene of a historical event: the signature of a treaty which is in fact the birth certificate of a country since then called "Togo".

However, before dealing with this event, there is the need to look back into the past. What happened on the land of the present Togo before it has actually appeared as such in history?

The natives and especially the migrants

Up to now, there is no pre-historical vestige as such. Perhaps some megaliths from the regions of Lama-Kara, Sokodé, Kpalimé; stone hatchets, punched stones, rupestrian carvings near to Dapaong, Lama-Kara, Agou. All of these things do not allow us to draw unquestionable conclusions.

Some tribes claim to be real Togolese "since ancient times" declaring that their ancestors either descended from the sky on a rope or came the entrails of the earth. Ethnologists are not so sure. They report that people fleeing from wars at the east and the west came to take refuge in the mountains of Togo, since these mountains were safer than plains.

Nothing was certain before the end of the XVth or XVIth century in the south and before the XVIIth or even the XVIIIth century in the inner country.

There are good reasons to believe that the Kabye and Lamba were the first ones to settle, surely between the VIIth and XIIth centuries, and that the TAMBERMA, the AKPOSSO, and some of the BASSARI also settled quite early.

In fact, for centuries populations moved around coming from everywhere, except from the ocean.

It seems that the village of Tado, located by the river Mono, became during the XVIth century a commercial highway and an important centre with a culture the influence of which went beyond the present boundaries. There were Adja-Ewé people who came from the south-west of the present Nigeria via Kétou, in the present Benin.

By the end of the XVIth century, two Ewé groups probably left Tado. One group went to a site which later became the actual Atakpamé and the other, a larger group, went to a grove of "ihouas" (nettés), hence we have "ihouas-tché" meaning "stay in the nettés", expression which turned into Nouatché, then Notsé.

To flee from Agokoli?

A king named Agokoli reigned over Notsé. He built a thick wall of clay around Notsé to reinforce his authority and prevent invaders from entering the town and, for example, take away people to serve as slaves.

Various versions are related to the Ewé people who left Notsé and went into various directions.

According to the first version, probably containing a legend, the Ewé people rebelled against their king Agokoli who turned into a tyrant, and this rebellion marked a new period of change. The people used laundry and dish-washing water to soften the wall and a lot of them were able to escape during the night. The last group of those who escaped left behind millet grains for pigeons to peck and cover their tracks by doing so.
Other historians said that the Ewé people started being too numerous and, using the same method, went into various directions: some went to Kpalimé, others went to the coast and some others went to Ho (a city in of the present Ghana. Those who went to the coast founded Alomé, which, later on became Lomé.

In the XVIIIth century, the Guin came from the present Ghana. During the same century, the Tchokossi arrived from the present Côte d'Ivoire via Ghana. The Moba of the the North came from Haute Volta, the present Burkina Faso. In the XIXth century, the present Togo, located between the military Fon at the East and the Ashanti at the West, was the scene of military engagements and a land of refuge. Thus, the site of Atakpamé which has welcomed a group of Ewé people, was also occupied by tribes led by Atakpa who gave his name to the town. This leader was finally overcome by the armies of the powerful king of Abomey.

The Akposso also had problems with the armies of Koumassi which is presently one of the largest cities in Ghana.

A sinister European trade

While there were mutations in the region, mutations which some times were warlike, European traders, namely Portuguese started invading the coast. The Togo littoral, which lacked natural shelter and which was hardly accessible, was less suitable to the establishment of trading posts than the Ghanaian coast which was even more attractive because the country was rich in gold.

However, contacts were established at Petit-Popo. In the XVIIth century, the Slave Coast included the beach side, and Petit-Popo played the role of trade post for the slave traders who easily invaded the inner country and the mountains populated by the Kabyè and the Kabou to supply themselves with "ebony wood".

During the XVIIIth century, still via Petit-Popo, the Danish came in: the came from Christianborg, the present Accra, where they had built a fort. Their goal was to develop the trade eastward. In a 1785 travel report, Dr. Paul Erdman Isert wrote about the development of Petit-Popo and pointed out the increase of the development of the trade.

The famous "Brazilians"

By the end of the XVIIIth century and the beginning of the XIXth century, a "Brazilian community" settled on the Togolese littoral. These Brazilians were released captives, sent out of their country. An example of this "community" was that of Francisco Felix da Souza, settled at Petit-Popo in 1800, and moved later on to Dahomey. This man acquired great riches from the slave trade and from the importation of Brazilian tobacco and rum.

It was this "Brazilian community" which brought the Catholic missions to Togo. Some of these "Brazilians" later converted to Islam; thus two Brazilian communities: the Catholics and the Muslims.

On the Protestant side, several missionary attempts had failed during the XVIIIth century, but in 1842, the Methodists and Anglicans were able to establish their missions at Petit-Popo: the first converts frequently adopted Anglo-Saxon patronymics. Meanwhile, the English traders outnumbered the Danish. They were followed by the German and the French. It was only in 1847 that the Bremen mission founded its first station. Some Togolese continue to refer to the Protestant mission as "breman".

The end of slavery

It was only by the middle of the XIX century that the slave trade started decreasing. The negotiators have carefully operated their conversion into palm oil trade. But things started taking a political tone.

Indeed, the European powers were searching for raw materials and markets. They started then hunting for colonies.
There was France, for example, which, in 1883, insured a protectorate over Grand-Popo, Petit-Popo(which, since then became Aného), and Porto-Seguro.

One year later, Gustav Nachtigal, a German Consul in Tunis, arrived on the coast of the Golf of Benin. On July 4, 1884, Gustav Nachtigal stopped his ship, "The Gull", at the level of Baguida. Then, with some of his men, he took a launch and went to the village of Togo. He met Placko, a notable of a local king named Mlapa who died not long before, who signed, by drawing a cross, an English text that Nachtigal presented to him.

Nachtigal, or 30 years of "model colony"

What did the text contain?

" The king Mlapa of Togo, willing to protect the legitimate commerce in this country primarily by the German merchants, and to guarantee total security for their lives and property, is asking for the protection of His Majesty the Emperor of Germany."

The treaty gave to the Bismarck, the German Emperor, powers that he was not really willing to make use of , but which were profitable to some German merchants and businessmen.

The following day, July 5, Nachtigal chose to baptize the whole territory with the name of the village Togo. After doing this, he proceeded to some administrative formalities and appointed a German merchant of Aného temporary Consul, and left, content of accomplishing a mission he has assigned to himself

At the beginning, the German administration settled in Baguida. One year later, the first imperial representative Ernst von Falkenthal . The same year, at the Convention of Berlin, France recognized the protectorate of Germany over Togo.

In 1887, the German left Baguida to settle in Aného. The progressively moved towards the inner country either by negotiations or by force when they encounter resistance of warriors such as the Konkomba. By the end of the XIXth century, established posts in Sokodé.

In 1897, the German administration abandoned Aného and settled in Lomé, the capital town. The pacification era is now over, we enter the era of methodical organization which was very efficient and in Germany, Togo was referred to as "model colony". They started planting coffee and cocoa in the country. Reforestation began. A wharf was built in Lomé in 1904; they rebuilt it in 1911 because the previous one was destroyed by a tidal wave. Three railways were constructed ending up at the wharf: the Aného railway was named the "coconut tree railway", the Kpalimé railway was named the "cocoa railway", and the central line was called "cotton railway". The plans were to stretch the central line to Bassar to make it the "iron railway". The roads were improved. A powerful transmitting station was built in Kamina: at that time, it was a marvelous achievement which permitted to communicate directly with Berlin and with the ships sailing in the Southern Atlantic.

Nothing was missing. But for the moment, Germany was taking care of the southern part of the country, "sparing" the northern part of which they would take care later. But Germany never had time to do so.

France: Mandate and Tutelage

In 1914, the German "model colony" was literally caught unawares by the war.

The Germans, outnumbered by the French and English troops, were not able to resist. On the 16th of August, there a battle took place in Agbélowé, and on the 22nd August, another one took place in Kra. The Germans capitulated after destroying the own radio station.

At first, the country was empirically shared by the new occupants - Lomé became British until 1919 - and was shared more explicitly in the Franco-British Declaration of London on 10th July 1919. The League of Nations attributed the two-thirds (which corresponds to the present Togo) of the German colony to France. The other one-third was given to the care of Great Britain.

But the division of the old German colony raised a serious problem. The division has been done without taking into consideration the ethnic groups in the colony. Some collectivities were divided up. One example was the case of the Ewé. After the agreement between the two European nations, a European high commissioner appointed in Togo declared that the Franco-British limits presents numerous political disadvantages and leads to an economic disadvantage which was so evident that seems impossible to miss an opportunity to cancel it, since the two parties will surely suffer from it in the future. Entire communities were separated by the new frontier: the Konkomba, the Adélé, and the Ewé.

Quickly enough, the English administratively attached to Gold Coast the territory which the League of Nations entrusted to their care. The French, however, considered the territory which they received as a distinct entity.

The institutions that the French put in place were almost similar to those of the neighboring French territories, although they maintained administrative and financial autonomy in the region.

From 1919 to the Second World War, France carried on the development of schools, improved the roads, and increased the agricultural production. However, the imports were higher than the exports, except in the year 1934.

From 1924 - 1925 the French administration created colonization villages in the center part of the country in order to reduce the problems caused by the population growth in the Kabyé villages. More than 70,000 Kabyé ended up settling in these newly created villages, attracted by the free materials and seeds et the tax exemption.

In 1929, the French and the British made some frontier modifications to their convenience. Great Britain gave away the western Akposso, called Litimé, to France and received in turn the Adjouti Northwards.

On December 13, 1946, the "French" Togo and the "British" Togo became territories under the tutelage of the United Nations Organization.

France and Great Britain, administrative powers, committed themselves to developing the representative democratic organs, and to, at the appropriate moment, make the arrangements necessary to allow the populations to choose their political system.

Thus, on the French side, began a political life led at first by Sylvanus Olympio and then by Nicolas Grunitzky.

In 1955, Great Britain decided to grant independence to Gold Coast, establishing a problem related to the future of the part that belonged to Togo and which they administered under the tutelage of the United Nations.

Finally, in May 1956, a referendum took place in the "British" Togo. Either it would be autonomous or attached to Gold Coast. The majority wanted it to be simply attached to Gold Coast (93,095 pros and 67,492 cons).

Meanwhile, Paris has accelerated the autonomy process in such a way that on August 30, 1965 - Nicolas Grunitzky was at the time Prime Minister - the Autonomous Republic of Togo was born. This Autonomous Republic, by referendum, quickly pronounced itself in favor of independence.

1960: the Independence

In 1958, Sylvanus Olympio took again the leadership of the country. The independence - Ablodé, meaning in Ewé "the arm which is free to move" - being proclaimed on 27th April 1960, Sylvanus Olympio became, a year later, the President of the Republic.
The euphoria of April 1960 gave way to a certain dissatisfaction in a large part of the population. There were problems in the relations with the neighboring countries namely Ghana and Dahomey. The northern population was complaining that the political system too favorable to the South. The economic situation was so bad that salaries were blocked to solve the problem - but in vain - and the profits made by the coffee and cocoa planters were decreasing. The President became more and more autocratic and he was killed on January 13, 1963 by militaries from the northern part of Togo who brought Nicolas Grunitzky back to power.

This was only an episode. The political change only brought a temporary relief. A heavy tension progressively settled in the country, and almost led to civil war.

On 13th January 1967, the Army led by a 31 year-old Kabyè, the Lieutenant Colonel Eyadema, came to power, abolished the Constitution and established a National Reconciliation Committee acting as temporary government. This committee was dissolved a few months later. The Lieutenant Colonel Eyadema, denouncing the maneuvers of those whose desire is to prepare the return of men who do not listen to the voice of the Conscience and of the reason, became President of the Republic.

The Togo of the "New Deal"

In 1969taking over the old political parties which have been forbidden and suppressed, a unique party: the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT), was born in Lomé and the Head of the State was elected as its National President.

The principles and the program of activities of the Rally of the Togolese People are recorded in a "small green book". According to this book, RPT, which is the spine of the country, intends:

- to be an animation and framing movement for the populations at all levels;

- to stimulate the conscience of the mass population and the elite, by appropriate education and information;

- to scrupulously respect the freedom of speech within and outside the party;

- to aim at the progressive but complete integration of the Army into the Nation;

- to give priority to the Youth in all its activities;

- to be the guide for the promotion of the citizen".

The "small green book" claims that the movement should be the supreme guide of all the actions of the State, for the great decisions will be taken within the movement and it will see to their implementation.

The Rally of the Togolese People has been the foundation of a dynamic political action. For that reason, the referendum has reinforced it in 1972 by reelecting General Eyadema as Head of State.

The first statutory Congress of the Rally of the Togolese People took place in Kpalimé in November 1971. The guidelines which were elaborated were confirmed at the second statutory Congress held in Lama-Kara in November 1976.

Institutional links exist between RPT and diverse organizations, such as:

- the National Confederation of the Togolese Workers (CNTT) created after the dissolution of several unions;

- the Youth of the Rally of the Togolese People (JRPT)

- the National Union of the Togolese Women (UNFT)

Moreover, the traditional chiefs, who are closer to the mass population, have founded the National Union of the Traditional Chiefs, under the banner of the RPT.

The year of the glorious three

The year 1974 seems to be recorded as a year of the affirmation of the personality of a people.

At the beginning of 1974, we have three glorious dates which marked a turning point.

- January 10, 1974: the President Eyadema announces the decision to raise, from 35 to 51, the share of Togo in the phosphate business and to commercialize it by a public organization, the Office Togolais des Phosphates.

- January 24, 1974: the presidential aircraft crashes at Sara-Kawa. The President is safe. The financial operators are responsible for the accident.

- February 2, 1974: the President Eyadema announces the nationalization of the Compagnie Togolaise des Mines du Benin.

Since then, to consolidate its independence, Togo has africanized the name of some of its towns and a great number of Togolese have rejected the foreign names. Thus, the President Eyadema has chosen to be called Gnassingbé, instead of Etienne.

Diplomacy

Since 1974, Togo, through its diplomatic system, has been in harmony with the neighboring countries.

In 1964, Togo was one the signing countries of the resolution of the Organization of African Union (OAU), concerning the inviolability of the frontiers inherited from the colonial period. Somalia was the only country which did not sign the resolution. The Togolese point of view is at the present time the following: the inviolability must be respected, but the inhabitants of the problematic regions must be given the opportunity to speak up.

Different types of agreements

Togo is one of the small countries which, conscious of their smallness and the problems and advantages which go along with this smallness, are playing the regional vocation card and end up being the actors for evolution towards planetary equilibrium.

The agreements Togo has signed and is still signing all over the world is a proof of this policy.

Thus, Togo is presently benefits from electrical energy from the Akossombo dam in Ghana, and this is the product of an agreement which engages Benin as well.

Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire also take part in the Togolese cement complex which has become CIMAO (Cement of West Africa), the foundation stone of which has been laid on December 1, 1976.

Another good example is the oil refinery of Lomé which, by the time it became fully operational in 1978, treated 1 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria, Gabon and Libya, exporting part of its production to other African countries.

The paving of the South-North road and the eventual prolonging of the railway (which ends in Blitta, a town at the center of the country), will be of a great advantage to the country itself and allow the countries of the Sahel to have an access to the Atlantic coast.

Being a member of the Organization of the African Union (OAU), of the Organisation Commune Africaine et Mauricienne (OCAM), of the Conseil de l'Entente which also comprises Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Upper Volta and Niger, Togo has taken an active part in the creation of the Economic Community of West African States by the Treaty of Lagos on May 28, 1975. Lomé has become the capital of the foreshadowing of a West African Common Market comprising fifteen States and which was launched in November 1976.

The goals of ECOWAS are to integrate the economies, to enlarge the economic spaces of the member States, to harmonize the national development policies, to facilitate circulation of goods and people.

The diplomatic initiatives of Lomé range from monetary problems to those of air security, passing by a reconciliation role of African Chiefs.

Still in Lomé, a convention related to commercial exchanges was signed between the European communities and forty-six African, Caribbean and Pacific States.

Togo develops friendly relations with France, which is a privileged interlocutor whose financial cooperation is remarkable and whose technical assistance is expressed in the military field, the Togolese Air Force possessing Fouga-Magister.

Another important interlocutor: the Federal Republic of Germany, whose financial assistance was determining in the construction of the present port of Lomé and whose private remain active.

Apparently, the "Great ones" - Americans and Russians - do not play a direct essential role in Togo. On the other hand, the interest of the Popular Republic of China and of North Korea is increasing and patent, especially in the agricultural area. But one cannot talk of Asian infiltration.

It is important to mention that Togo is trying hard to closely collaborate with the Arab and Islamic world, namely with Libya with which Togo has created a Togo-Libyan Development bank.

We can really say that Togo's diplomacy is broad, a diplomacy that has remarkably stable guidelines.

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