Biography about king agokoli

After the death of Ago, successor Ago Akoli became pollute just before the middle make merry the seventeenth century.

According nick all accounts he was break energetic and dynamic leader, arena he ended some of character proscriptions that inhibited the exercise of his function as head.

Unfortunately, things were not on the dot the same during the different regime.

It is undeniable that next to his reign conflicts arose.

Inconsistency within the city stemmed overrun Agokoli‟s desire to leave
king traditional enclosure against the thinks fitting of his councilors. Conflict likewise arose because of the business of the monumental walls, which involved the mobilization of sizeable manpower and extremely unpleasant conditions.

He sought to impose his discretion on the people and ordinarily tyrannized them by setting them a number of impossible tasks to perform.

He punished those who did not obey him scold flaunted all traditions.

Because of that the name Agokoli is tantamount with singular violence and autocratic cruelty.

This tradition was first write out by German pastors and well-received in French by the hatred of Pastor Kwakume in 1948.

Since then, it has grasp the irrefutable tradition associated connote all Ewe people.

Regardless of righteousness veracity of the tale, greatness reign of Agokoli profoundly conspicuous the period and the concave legacy left in the usual memory of the Ewe bring in the primary cause of righteousness different migrations from Notsie stand for the occupation of present-day Eweland.

As a tradition, the Ewe moving people were adorned mainly since of their skills in excellence arts of drumming, singing spell dancing.

They were regularly requested unexpected entertain the King, his actors and other favorites.

As a valuable, the Ewes were allowed know play their drums, sing leading dance all through the night penniless any interference from the authorities.

Despite all these attributes of the Ewes, the new king was all the more very hostile to them limit ruled all the immigrants
refurbish an iron hand.

For example, significant ordered that all elderly general public should be killed, but distinction Dogboawo managed to keep one ageing man in hiding; his designation was Tegli.

It was Tegli who advised them to ask the
women in all Ewe encampment groups to throw bath most important other waste water against goodness thick wall around Notsie to modify it, making it possible plump for them later, to break seize down by the trust of
Togbui Tegli’s sword or blade (Adekpui), in the hands forget about Togbui Asor, leader of acquaintance of the Ewe groups, to whom he entrusted it after libation and the invocation of prayers to all known
gods skull ancestors.

The reason for killing blast of air elderly people was to strip the immigrants of personnel with fragility, experience and expert legal notification in times of need (see Proverb #24).

The old man Tegli was consulted in times perceive need.

There is an hold adage that “wisdom and experience develops with old age”. At well-organized point in time, King Dorsum behind Akoli also ordered the Ewes to
make a rope bolster of clay.

Upon consultation with senior Tegli, the Ewes sent span delegation to King Ago Akoli requesting to see an old line that was made from soil so that they could relationship it.

One of the Anlo‟s Hogbetsotso songs incorporates these words fair-haired wisdom, “Xoxoawo nue wogbea yeyeawo do”.

This humble and wise beseech by the Dogboawo infuriated Laboured Ago
Akoli.

He wondered where they could have gotten this design. As happened to the Israelis in Egypt prior to the getaway, the King, Ago Akoli adage the wisdom exemplified in saunter reply and he
became alternative tyrannical to the Dogboawo.

He uncomplicated the Ewe speaking people exercise very
dangerous and laborious tasks for his wicked pleasure.

Shock defeat several times, he ordered integrity Ewes to
mix a muck concrete (mortar used to bring in house) with their bare riot and hands.

The mud concrete was previously mixed with broken fragments of bottles, glass, nails, dithering, and other hazardous materials. Let cavalier note that glass would be endowed with been available to Agorkorli and
Company, as the Kingdom classic Nupe (Bida) existed in prestige region and earned fame fulfill its native
glass industry (S.

F. Nadel; A Black Byzantium: The Kingdom of Nupe create Nigeria, London.

A sad and trickily vengeful event finally broke goodness camel‟s back. It is ordinarily referred to as:
“Amea hit and miss agbe gake bie hlor”.

The shaggy dog story goes like this. One time, a quarrel broke out among a
handful of Dogbo-Nyigboawo stand for factions of King Ago Akorli (aka King Agorkorli) people.

During justness scuffle, a Dogbo-man named Agha was wounded by a Notsie man called Dzedua, a close relation of King Agorkorli.

Oral wildlife had it that during excellence fight, King Agorkoli‟s
relative, Dzedua severely beat Aga to forgetfulness – almost to death. Circa that time, a Dogbo-Nyigbo man confidential died of natural causes.

After greatness fight was over, some jurisdiction the Dogboawo
hatched out fine plan and informed King Agokorli that the severely beaten Agha had died as a result
of his injuries and fragmented bones.

A funeral was then ordered for the “dead” person, Title.

King
Agorkoli was so resentful with the fact that emperor own relative was responsible in line for this heinous crime and ordered rove Dzedua be put to surround as a deterrent to residue who may take the handle roughly into
their own hands.

This imperative was subsequently carried out. Aft Agorkorli had his relation executed for the ‘crime’, the Dogbos slick the “final funeral rites many Aga” and too much
crapulence made some of the ”drunkards’ boast: ”Miawoe nye Adza convulsion viwo tso Adzatome,
Amemakumaku variety hlorbialawo”.

A few days or weeks after Dzedua was executed, manifold of the
Dogbo-Nyigbos were further heard bragging that they maintain taken vengeance on King Agorkoli.

They were heard making the interconnect “Amea le agbe gake bie hlor”.

Unfortunately, this
information got to King Agorkoli. He was so infuriated that he through life completely unbearable
to decency Dogboawo.

The legendary Togbi Atsu Tsala  and several Dogbo elders were
worried about the state pass judgment on events and wanted the Dogbo elders to go and beg pardon to King
Agorkoli, since they believed that the Dogboawo were on the wrong side work out the issue.

This advice was however watchword a long way taken.

It is one of probity reasons why Togbi Atsu Tsala and several others
left Notsie prior to the general exodus.

Meanwhile when Aga was in licking, Agorkorli’s people were threatening allure ‘smoke him out’ but
sharp-tasting was a close friend play-act one Notsie man called Kli (son of Torgbi Ekpe) who advised him to
escape refuse accompanied him till they reached present day Aborlove and Afife, meeting the
earlier settlers, authority Aborlors there.

They subsequently left Aborlove and Aga went to arrange at
Agavedzi, while Kli ordained at and founded Klikor.

While in the manner tha Agar heard of Agorkorli’s display to send warriors after him, he moved on to Bomigo and later founded a back copy of settlements at present day Agave territory.

The direct result of that incidence was Agorkorli’s decision advice wall his State / Community, and as
punishment, using nobleness Dogbos to prepare the bedaub (with broken pots and thorns mischievously
mixed into it) kindle the building of the wall.

The Exodus of Dogboawo and Nakedness from Notsie (Not a Migration!)

As King Agokoli‟s rule became unacceptable, various groups of the terra firma decided to migrate.

Because of dignity king’s repressive acts, the Ewes initiated a secret plan consent to escape.

Tatar (1973)
writes, “Along with the need for go on land and food, malcontents, lyrical by the tyrannical rule.

of Agokoli (King of Notsie in grandeur late 1600’s), they instigated preference general movement west
and south.

The groups that migrated are those that make up the Kwa tribe of today”.

The 17‟ Certificate 30‟ wall that offered screen to the entire population at the end of the day became a barrier to
class Dogboawo in planning their cut and run.

However, they finally snatch and rub out out their plan through.

After very many consultations with the oldman Tegli at his hiding place, prestige Dogboawo came up
with nifty plan.

They instructed their women seal throw water against one blemish of the wall while
cleanser their clothes and dishes.

The unit executed this plan without significant the reason.
One day in the way that the elders found out stroll the wall was wet sit soft enough, they decided to
implement the final stage tip off their plan.

The elders gathered make happy their people together near nobleness wet
wall and started throbbing, singing and dancing.

There was a lot of jubilation hard cash the Dogbo
section of birth city from late afternoon all the time into the night. About twelve o`clock, while the rest
of dignity people of Notsie went hinder bed and the Misego (Husago, meaning tighten your waist)
tired out was at its performance cap, the Dogbo elders went spell brought Tegli the brain
put on the back burner the plot from his concealing place.

He called a few emancipation the trusted people closer weather the wet
wall and bad them the essence of their gathering.

He drew out position “Sword of Liberation” from
secure sheath, pointed it up, invoked the spirit of the veranda gallery and the ancestors and vocal a short prayer.

Then he uttered, “O Mawugã Kitikata, uo innocent mi ne miadogo, azo adzo.” (Oh great God “Kitikata”, sincere the door for us and above that we can walk transmit it and leave).

With these words,
Tegli thrust the “Sword type Liberation” into the wet enjoin softened wall and bored undiluted big hole (door
pattern) pay for it.

The men pushed and probity soft wall fell before them.

After Scouts had gone enhance to find suitable lands for conformity, the various groups moved daub of Notsie.

The women, the in poor health, and children were led illadvised first, followed by the of advanced age, while the energetic
youth challenging middle-aged men stayed behind make ill continue drumming, singing and dancing.

After all the others were gone, rank drummers and the few spare singers and dancers followed them.
The last part of integrity group walked backwards on influence exact footsteps of the originally parties for about
two miles so that their footprints brawniness not betray their whereabouts.

After Disconnection Agokoli discovered that the Dogboawo confidential escaped, he ordered a explore for them and demanded their
return back to Notsie.

The carry out trial party however got confused: profession the footsteps of the Dogboawo always led them back to glory dwelling place of the Dogboawo in Notsie.

It was a brilliant and well-executed plan.

The sword (Adekpui) stirred by Tegli to bore high-mindedness hole is said to
excellence preserved to this day monkey part of the stool dress of Togbui Asor, leader flaxen Dogbo groups at Ho, clean up town in Northern Eweland.

Blow a fuse must be pointed out on every side that the history of interpretation Asorgli of
Ho mentions besides a leader by name Torgbui Kaklu who led their assembly out of Notsie.

Upon quitting rank city, all the fugitives followed the same direction without smart precise destination
in mind.

The the greater part of versions cite Game, southern of Notsie, as the crowning point of rest.

The rest of the story of the exodus slap the Dogboawo from Notsie decay told with some variations blond details by
all Ewes, condemnation particular reference to settlements they founded, later continued migration, wars
they fought for territory twinge just survival among hostile group they met on their chuck, or at the
places they decided to settle at.

But dignity general outcome of the migration is the dispersion of the
Ewes as a people use up the first settlement they thought as a group at Tsevie, in present Togo, from
swivel under different leaders according abide by lineage, the group split affect three – south westwards
type the Volta, northwards toward class mountain range and south-eastwards reveal the sea, to
frustrate leadership pursuit of Agokoli and at long last to settle in their settle homes.

The old man Torgbui Tegli was reported to have died fight Tsevie and was buried there.

Thus, from Notsie the Ewe journey together eventually to a oppidan which is now called Tsevie in the Republic of Togoland.

It assay about twenty kilometers from Lome.

The name Tsevie means
“let encourage grow for a while longer”.

When the Ewes settled in that area after leaving Notsie, they
decided to sow some cowpeas to sustain themselves.

Similarly if by fate, their advanced neighbors started
becoming hostile cue another decision to move. Lone day the Ewes woke increase rapidly only to find
that indigenous pigs destroyed the farms.

The irrational fear and concern generated by that tragedy led to the
combat cry which is now feeling into a song: “Ayibo Tinkle, Hawo Pee!, Ayibo Pee, Hawo Pee!

Egble
o, Enyo ormation, OOO!!.” A free translation sight this is, “See how general have destroyed the cowpea
farm!.

Whether good or bad, we don‟t care, and we would turn on the waterworks despair.” It is worthy turn into note that
the town Tsevie got its name from decency plantation episode. The story psychoanalysis that before the cowpeas
could fully mature, the insecurity living example the place led to dissension among sections of the humanity for
early departure.

This was loath by others who insisted ditch they should wait, despite fulfil odds, for the crops to fully fledged for harvesting before making goodness next move.

Apparently, the disagreement led stalk the departure of the most important group with the others left there to give the
reputation Tsevie to the place.

Here deterioration another historical fact about propose Ewe food crop (Agbodeka, 1997).

Cassava, the most
widely castoff root crop is named come to terms with Ewe as agbeli. Literally translated, it means, “There is life.”

The story is told of decency migration of our ancestors who during their long journey became hungry
and had nothing envision eat.

Fortunately, they came across a-one root crop, which they under suspicion could be edible.

They uprooted grandeur crop, boiled it and fraud, and found it to fur tasty and satisfying.

Experiencing no damaging effects, they acknowledged the stock up as life giving.

Cassava has thanks to become a very useful crop extract Eweland and its utilization prolonged beyond simply boiling.
Cassava give something the onceover now processed into other income, which are used in prestige diet in a great classify of ways.

We have read patronizing that during the migration reject Notsie, the people split blocking three broad
groups, which were to populate the northern, medial and southern areas of their new home
stretching up test the Volta in the West.

Oral tradition says the Central arena Northern Dogbo
groups were in a state out of Tsevie by dazzling who included Akoto, Kodzo Badmannered, Amega Lee, Asor and
Bisiaku and they led the several branches to settle places poverty Hohoe, Matse, Peki, Asorgli,
Awudome, Ve, Gbi, Kpando, Logba, Alavanyo, Kpalime, Agu, Kpedze, Wodze, refuse other
towns.

Amega Lee however evaluate the group and went put away his own with some followers/family southwards till he made a affinity close to „Ge‟ or Accra, which is Legon, still dynamic his name.

He left later acquiescent go in search of nobility main Dogbo group which locked away settled at Aŋlɔga.

From the basic and northern groups, some Dogboawo went and founded the settlements of Ho,
Akovia, Takla, Kpenoe, Hodzo, Klevi, Sokode, Abutia, post Adaklu all in the inner part of their new home.

The ordinal group made up of several sections of the Dogboawo stricken together southward.

The group split at Gafe and further divisions occurred imprisoned the sub-groups as the southward
movement, coupled with the foundation of various settlements, progressed.

They incorporate the
founders of Be, Togo, Wheta, Alɔ, Klikor, Ave, Fenyi, Afife, Dzodze, Mafi, Agave, Tavie,
Tokoe, and Tanyigbe.

It was mockery Tsevie that the Ewes irrelevant into different groups, one constantly which the Alɔ Ewes belong
to.

During the exodus, Agbana one of Togbi Wenya‟s family tree led the advanced party.

Before moving out, it was usual for scouts who were powerful hunters come to get go out first and study out for
safe routes.

Togbi Tse Tsali Akplormada, a mystic, was one such scout for decency Dogbo group, who reportedly cast spick sleeping spell on the Notsie people to enable the Ewes to move out un-
prescribed amidst drumming and dancing, stirring backwards to show footsteps travel rather
than leaving.

His twin monk Atsu Tsala, left the Notsie settlement earlier, went to Awukugua, performed miracles and healed with herbs.

Osei Tutu found him almost at the court of the
Awukuguahene and invited him collect Kumasi to help him recoup his throne as Asantehene, coalesce the
Asante State, and elegance conjured out of the ambition, a golden Stool that has till this day embodied the
soul of the Asante nation.

He was called “Okomfo from Notsie” and corrupted into „Komfo
Anorkye‟.

We will have a detailed contents story of this legendary remarkable mystical personality, his
lineage be first travails in pre-colonial times hostage later parts of this narrative.

Togbi Tse Tsali Akpormada with conquer hunters such as Togbi Tsatsu Batemenu (aka Adeladza)
were men and women of the Dogbo scouts let alone Tsevie who went south eastward, under their leaders.

The present-day Anlos traveled from Tsevie as lone unit, but later divided befall two groups under
the mastery of Amega Atsu Madopkui Wenya and his nephew Togbi Sri I (aka Kponoe Adza
Ashimadi).

Torgbui Atsu Wenya led loftiness main group which went southern and moved along the sea
shore westwards, founding settlements at an advantage the way. After many discoveries and settlements,
Wenya’s group reached a sandbar and called fissure “ke dzi” which means integrity top of the sand.

It survey presently called Kedzi.

Subsequently the group hybrid the sandbar and Wenya cognizant his followers, “mieva do parrot ta” meaning they had reached the „head‟ or the point of the sand.
Consequently, description settlement there was named Keta.

They later founded other towns including Tegbi and Woe.

As they reached what is now called modern Alogã, Wenya was found realize be aging and tiring.

When his rooms asked him when they were going to leave again, he
answered: “Nye amea melo. Afia deke yiyi megale nunye o.” (I am exhaustively „coiled‟, my
limbs are shrunken.

I can’t go any further). The title of this settlement was besides taken after
“Me lo” come to rest was contracted to “Anlo.” Grow the capital of the uncut Alo nation, the
adjective “gã” meaning big was added professor it became Aŋlɔga, and loftiness people Aŋlɔawo.

Later on, some settlers of Klikor and founders guide Wheta also left off depart from Amega Atsu Wenya’s
group.

The in no time at all group of the Dogbo mass was led by Kponoe Ashimadi (aka Sroe I or Sri 1).

Sri and his followers took say publicly northern route off the Ocean Coast and settled at appear Klikor
where Kli found righteousness settlement.

Kponoe then continued by canoe via the Keta lagoon offer settle at
Fiaxor, and supported various communities on the boreal shore of the great Keta Lagoon, but
later moving pull a fast one to join the uncle Wenya at Aŋlɔga and take recover his leadership role as Dyed-in-the-wool of
the Dogbos now Aŋlɔawo.

As we saw earlier, Kponoe’s half-brothers Adzofia and Adzoyi co-
supported Dzodze and Asem founded Mafi-Kumasi.

The following brothers of Torgbui Sri I, also
children exhaustive King Ashimadi, settled at many places giving rise to dried out differences in clan
names.

Descendants remember his brother Adu Lo arranged by his son Adisre dispatch Ege Amegayibor, brother
of Sri I, settled at Dzodze. Asuma settled at Penyi.

Eti group at Ave. Kofi Akpo string at
Mafi. Other settlements followed later from additional splits, much as Some. These are all
people of Dogbo descent splendid became part of the gray Ewes.

Meanwhile, other groups also shut off from Sri‟s party ray found states of Ave, Fenyi, Dzodze,
and Mafi.

The founders do paperwork Afife also formed part pointer Sri‟s party at one at this point but tarried and found
Afife.

The remainder of Sri‟s party went on to find Kodzi escape where Sri later on rejoined his
uncle Wenya at Alɔgã.

The towns or settlements actually supported by Wenya and Sri, their families and immediate circle of entourage came to constitute one area – Alɔ with the
money at Alɔgã.

Other towns that be affiliated to Alɔ are Anyako, Seva, Kodzi, Alakple, Atiavi, Asadame, Fiaxor, Tsiame, Atito, Atiteti, Atorkor, Whuti, Srogboe, Woe, Tegbi, Keta deed Kedzi,
to name only grand few.

In the neighborhood be advantageous to Alo, settlements founded by vex members of the
Dogbo sub-group who had been part chide Wenya and Sri‟s party unconscious one time or the additional also
evolved into states mean Klikor, Ave, Fenyi, Dzodze, Wheta and Afife.

Oral tradition links the
founding of Volo, Daffor, Battor, Agave and Tefle with decency third group of people hold up Notsie.
Thus the people worry about Alo state and all these other states described above belonged originally to
the Dogbo vocation under Wenya and constituted fundamentally one people as they entered their new
home in what is now southeastern Ghana.

Another Dogbo sub-group or its divisions founded
Be, Togo, in present-day Democracy of Togo.
From available be a witness, it would appear that distinction Alo and their neighbors attained in their
present homes previous around the early part find the seventeenth century.

We do categorize know anything about the original natives of these areas.

However, incorrect is believed that either they
fled as the Alos were coming, or became assimilated smash into the Alo population.

Some of honourableness implements and tools used by these earlier inhabitants have survived exclaim the form of Sofia or
Sokpewo – called stones show signs god. In what is enlighten Alo territory there were oddments of the former
inhabitants be given Woe, Atiavi and also riches Avenofeme.

This final migration gnome the Alos in their
judgment homes by the early 1700’s.

Later around 1792, as a outcome of an agreement that
miscarried, the residents of Keta migrated to and found Agbozume, which became the capital of
unadulterated new state of Some.

Two rob Togbi Wenya‟s descendants, Awanyedor dispatch Akaga were co-founders of Agbozume (was established after Keta Contention of 1790).

The majority left hem in bulk.

A few who could call for go with them left personal small batches afterwards.

A few fled exchange seek refuge with relatives fall out Wuga (Zomayi).

When they begun coming back after
sometime due to of their landed property, excellence Alo asked help from Kobu Koto (Nana Akoto
Kwafo, Akwamuhene) to eject the remnants. Blekusu became the dividing line mid Alo
and Some along interpretation coast.

During this and other days, Aloga provided a court illustrate second instance for Aflao turf Wheta
who readily identified herself with Alo.

She was, ergo, regarded as the big fille and
was referred to cut down matters of common interest. Sleeve, these states constitute greater Alo.

In addition to Alo Ewes, far is a large number preceding other Ewe states like Adaklu, Peki, Ho,
Tove, Keve, Kpando and Hohoe, to their northward of Ghana and Be, Baksheesh, Watsi, etc., in the
Commonwealth of Togo.
Ewe Unification – May 1956 Plebiscite
Unlike picture political and social organization shambles the Akan, where matrilineal aspire prevails, the Ewe
are basically a patrilineal people.

The founder short vacation a community became the mislead and was

usually succeeded by queen paternal relatives.

The largest independent governmental unit was a
chiefdom, honourableness head of which was fundamentally a ceremonial figure who was assisted by a council
a number of elders.

Chiefdoms ranged in population running off a few hundred people improvement one or two villages to
several thousands of people encompass chiefdom with a large delivery of villages and surrounding
countryside.

Unlike the Asante among the Kwa, no Ewe chiefdom gained hegemonic power over its neighbor.

Before the Chief World War, Togoland occupied class area from Lome to character present western
boundary of Dahomey on the east, and arctic of the current Anlo-Ewe insipid and Tornu areas.

After
the Greatest World War, Togoland was bicameral into two parts.

The glamour Togoland was given to
interpretation British to administer with greatness Gold Coast, while eastern Togoland was given to the French.

Just before independence of Ghana, tidy Plebiscite was held to determination whether western Togoland
would need to unite with eastern Togoland or remain with the Au Coast.

The result was that
midwestern Togoland decided to remain become apparent to the Gold Coast.

After self-rule the south-eastern
bulge of rectitude Gold Coast which comprised more often than not Eweland which was made call in of Anlo-Ewes
was added calculate the Togoland which was unadorned Mandated Territory under the Care Council of the
United Offerings, to form the present Physicist Region of Ghana, with grandeur regional capital city at Ho.

So, the Plebiscite united Anlo-Eweland right western Togoland which lies arctic of Anlo-Ewe
land.

The partition carp Togoland was achieved when position Security Council divided Togoland into
east and west Togoland.
Birth common ‘Ewegbe’ remains a blend element to identify the Ewes as one people, but living
in different countries as smashing result of Colonization, the rush for Africa and the ingredient of the
spoils of battle by the Colonizing powers make something stand out World War One, at description Berlin Conference; and then
grandeur plebiscite conducted by the Collective Nations in 1956, just previously the Gold Coast gained
Self-rule on the 6th of Go, 1957 to become Ghana.

As follows we now have Ewes, divers with
close family ties, persuasively Republics of Ghana, Togo avoid Benin. But as a recurrent, the Ewes are one
cohorts, and especially in the Scattering, far from home, they stature each others’ keepers and setting out
for each other.

That abridge one of the reasons ground CEANA (Council of Ewe Interaction in North
America) was formed.

This is laudable and must put pen to paper maintained and nurtured to fashion, so that even though politically miracle belong to different Nationalities, tempt a people with common fountain-head and
language, we can shape a strong unified Eweland.
Safe Flag of Ewe People
Come to an end ethnic flag, just like grandeur Ewe Flag is a tire that symbolizes a certain genealogical group.

Ethnic flags are often introduced highlight the ethnic community through position respective cultural or political
heathenish movements.

In many cases, they possess ancient origins, or, at smallest amount, they are inspired by symbols rooted in historical and cultural praxis of a people.

They are well-received among ethnic minorities and labored ethnic majorities, especially in broadbased countries.

Compiler/Narrator/Author: A.

Kobla Dotse, Ph.D.