Togo has a much shorter history in comparison to other African nations. Historians are not quite sure of the exact numbers but there is no evidence of ancient civilization in Togo. There are still some non-written sources of history however as some tribes use music as a form of communication and storytelling.
Music is a very big part of the Togolese life. They have music playing often and the most popular instrument used is the drum. They tell stories and pass on history through their songs in the villages. These stories can be passed incorrectly because they are passed orally but are typically kept with accuracy. The songs are often sung in Ewe and Kabye which are common tribal languages of the Togolese people. The stories tell the history of the tribes and are typically kept close to the Togolese people.
The Togolese are master craftsmen that create little trinkets and wooden pieces that are also used for storytelling. They will use the pieces to help the story come to life. These stories are typically less reliable than the songs because they are not the same over and over. These stories are typically more detailed however and are passed on from one generation to the next. The elders will tell the younger kids the story in the villages and then eventually the kids will grow up and tell their kids the same stories.
One way the Togolese also used their craft skills was to create small wooden statutes. Many scholars believe these were used in their Voodoo practices as protection and fertility dolls. The Ewe were the main crafters of these statutes but were also created by other neighboring tribes. This is just one example of a piece of art that historians use to help piece together the history of a nation prior to its discovery by European nations and prior to a written history being taken.
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| http://www.zyama.com/ewe/ewe.doll.g.jpg |
http://www.zyama.com/ewe/
http://www.african-music-safari.com/ewe-drumming.html
http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/lesson-plans/togolese-tale-big-fire/
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