Child training in an African Society, Vakpo, Togoland under U.K.I, West Africa

Abstract

Historical Background: Vakpo, a village in British Togoland, is situated ten miles South of Kpandu on the Accra-Kete Krachi road, the people .of Vakpo were among the group of people, who once settled at Notsie, about three hundred years ago. The town of Notsie was situated between Lome and Atakpame and the present position in the French territory is still believed to be the old site of this ancient town. Because of ' incessant invasions of their territory by neighbouring peoples and resulting warfane , the Ewes built a strong wall of eight feet high and three feet wide round Notsie. Visitors to the present town of Notsie say that the remains of the wall still stand up to the present day. These Ewes,who lived at Notsie, had a cruel chief. He ruled h is people badly. I.t is said that this chief Agokoli" ordered all the old men to be killed so that he could .have his own way in ruling his people •. At one time too, he asked the people to use clay in making a long rope. The Ewes did not know what to do about this re quest and 60 they decided to ask the chief to give them a specimen. A delegation was accordingly sent to the chief. Ohief Agokoli regarded this move as an act of insubordination on the part of his people and so flamed up in rage. He therefore tightened up his reins of government and treated the people so cruelly that many of the divisions decided to run away and found their own settlements.