Traditional music of Togo

The Togo’s southern plain is its very populated region, where the capital is known as Lome, it is located on the Gulf of Guinea, but, like its neighbors countries such as Benin and Ghana, its boundary ranges hundreds of miles northward, passing through a central hill area into the northern savanna that borders Burkina Faso. Its populace of over 6 million people which is 65% of the rural and agrarian is composed of about 21 ethnic groups. Around 51% of the populace has local beliefs, Christian is 29% and Muslim is 20%.

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The two very populated languages groups are known as Ewe which is situated in the south (about 32% of the populace) and the Kabye, which is situated in the north (22% of the populace). Gen of Mina is the second main dialect in the south, closely associated to Ewe: most of the southern tribes use these two dialects, which are spoken in commercial area all over the Togo. Fon, is another connected dialect, as well as Aja, are also spoken in the south: the Ewe had entered to Togo from the east, and Akan tribes from the west, sevral centuries before Europeans advent.

The traditional chants of fishermen in the south may be followed by bells such as the gankogui and frikiwa. The traditional chants in Ewe and Kabye are share, Fon and Yoruba chants also occur. The Togolese music comprises a great type of drumming-dominant dance music. Throughout Togo drums are used, by Christians and Muslims as well, to celebrate all major occasions of life and for festivities such as Yeke Yeke or Expesoso festival. In the Aneho region alone drums in use include the akpesse, grekon, blekete, adamdom,agbadja, ageche, aziboloe, kple, and amedjeame. There are many rhythms in Togo, which each of the region have their own special sounds.

In the central hills Tem and the Ghana and Togo mountain dialects are spoken. Dagomba is the second most widespread language in the north, where other Gur dialects such as Gourma and Mossi are also seen. The culture of these northern tribes ranges far into Togo’s neigbouring countries, such as Burkina Faso and Ghana. The Dagomba tribes play corded instruments such as kologo (xalam) and the gonjey), flute and voice, with poly-rhythms clapped or played on the talking drum, gourd drums or brekete. The custom of gyilxlophone music is also widespread, with several players releasing complicated cycling rhythms. Other traditional instruments include the bow. Music in the northern pattern is extremely set to a minor pentatonic scale and melisma plays an essential part in melodic and choral patterns, along with a long record of griot praise-singing customs.

The Togolese dance comprise the following such as Tchimou, Kamou, Soo, the southern royal djokoto, the war dances such as atsina and kpehouhuon, the hunters’ dance like the adewu, the stilt dance like the tchebe, the miming masseh, as well as local dances like the coastal sakpate and kaka.