The Ewes of the Volta Region of Ghana

Introduction

Having spent two months consistently in the Ho district of the Volta region of Ghana, I feel this admirable and aesthetic compulsion to write about this people whose lifestyle has imparted much cultural value in my quest for cultural insight; having experienced untold serenity and acceptance, albeit from the influential that typically should have been conceited owing to their positions. The modesty of the Ewes cannot be overemphasized and worthy of mention and emulation in its entirety; although exceptions to the attitude stated may apply.

The information contained in this write-up is based not on fact received via search engines and other digital sources but completely based on a typical traditional source - an Interpreter who is usually not involved directly with the information being given but having a link with internal sources that may not be reachable anymore. With the interpreter, some facts are usually forgotten or lost. This is the initial part of my discovery about the Ewes – their past and present; and would not be deemed to be a comprehensive account but practically, this is what is obtainable in the Ewe people of here and now.

Geographical Location

The Ewes (Pronounced as Evey) are mostly found at the Volta region of Ghana covering a wide area that hosts people with interesting cultural/traditional ethics that points to and justifies claims of a migration from the South-West of Nigeria. On the South of the Volta Region, the Ewes occupy the areas from the border town of Afloa with the Republic of Togo extending to Keta, Sogakope, Anloga, Denu, Penyi and others; extending to other towns in the East and West of the Volta Region including Ho, Tsito, Juapong (where the Swinging bridge is located), Fintey, Akosombo, Kpandu, Hohoe, Have (Pronounced as Havey), Sokode Ando, Sokode Gbogame, Sokode Lokoe, Sokode Etoe, Hohoe, the Tafi enclaves, Awudome, Frankadua, Fintey etc.; and in the North with towns including Dambai. 

Migration

The Voltarians as the Ewes are referred to in funky terms are historically traced to Yoruba migrants from the South-West of Nigeria, just as the Akans of Accra, Ghana are also traced to Igbo migrants from the South-East of Nigeria. The Ewes were said to be Yoruba migrants who settled in a place known as Notsie (Pronounced as Nochie) in Togo many centuries ago. It was also recorded that the people suffered under the Togolese ruler, King Agorkorli who burdened them with hard and life-threatening labor and also, raped the young women at will. The Ewes planned an escape championed by a leader and instead of moving forward and encounter logistic problems with the bulwark erected at the entrance into Notsie, they rather took steps backwards where the bulwarks did not exist and also, not to attract the attention and venom of the wicked King Agorkorli. They moved many steps backwards thereby avoiding the bulwark constructed by King Agorkorli to protect his domain from attacks which the people could obviously not break down. The backward steps took them to the present town of Aflao where the people settled and spread over the area to the north, west, south and east.

Music

The musical instruments used by the Ewes are quite similar to those used by the Yorubas especially the drums. The first I noticed was the small drum usually hung across the shoulder and supported beneath the arm somewhere around the armpit region, by the Yorubas with the ‘Tum-Tum’ sound called the ‘Dondon’ (Pronounced similar to the sound that it produces) by the Ewes. The Dondon is usually handy and suspended by a band worn round the neck of the player, and then a curved stick with a string that produces a unique sound when hit on the leather that covers the instrument. There are other sizes of larger drums which are mostly placed on the floor because of their sizes and other musical instruments including, Akaye, Asivui, Gakogoe, Donno, Konga, Patia, Tambourine, Vuvi, Castanets, Vuga, Bugle, Flute, Trumpet and Vuga etc. 

Dance

For the Boboobo dance, the dancers move backward and forward in a uniform manner which changes according to the rhythm of the drums. The dancers mostly bend down while dancing and ‘breaking’ of their backs. The similarities in the Ewe and Yoruba music largely in performance and accompaniment is dominated by the use of different drums especially the armpit-held talking drum and the rhythm which has a profound speech that relays a passion that is mysterious

The Ewes have peculiar dances which characterize each locality. However, I find their dances quite interesting and good exercise with the Ewes of the South doing mostly the Agbadza (Pronounced as Agbaja) and Atsiagbekor (Pronounced as Achiagbeko)dance; while those from the East mostly do the Boboobo (Pronounced as Bor-Boor-Bor), Gbolo, Zigi and Adewu. Other kinds of dance include Kinka but the remarkable thing about most of these dance types is the similarity in pattern and performance. They involve the ‘breaking’ of the back in different levels of intensity and the use of the arms in very flexible manner. Also, the tempo of the dance steps vary from low, mid-tempo and fast; very much similar to the Yoruba dance steps.

Marriage

Unlike public opinion about Ghanaians being a 'Matrilineal' society, the Ewes from time of old instituted the 'Patrilineal' family system whereby the father is the head of the home and the owner of the children. This is different from what may be obtainable in other areas of Ghana where the nephew can be entitled to his uncle’s property owing to a long-standing myth of a Chief who was redeemed from death by his sister who gave up her son to die to save his life. 

Several years ago, wives were arranged and married for young men who were of age, and who had no choice as to the damsels to pick as wives. Marriages were mainly decided by families until recently, when young men began to take wives of their choice. Ewes married their cousins for instance, sisters’ sons or daughters as far as they do not bear the same surname with them but this marriage tradition has long ceased while in many areas among the Ewes, it is still sustained till the present day.

Festivals

The major traditional festivals celebrated by the Ewes include Homowo, Dankyibakaka (Pronounced as Danchibakaka), Yam festival, Apenoto, Hogbetsotso (Pronounced as Hogbechocho) and so many others. For the Hogbetsotso festival, it is a reminder to the people of the wicked King Agorkorli which led to their migration from their Notsie abode in Togo. During this festival, the dancers enacted how they escaped from the wicked king by their dance steps and by carrying bags on their heads.

Many traditional festivals have been subdued with the advent of Christianity while many are participated only by Ewe traditionalists are not celebrated tribally anymore as a result of the fetish undertone which they bear.

Language

The general language of the Ewes is the Evegbe language, consisting of different dialects/variants among the Eastern, Southern, Northern and Western Ewes.

Religion

The Ewes originally like most African societies were traditionalists who communicated to the Almighty God who is mostly called Mawu or sometimes, Akpeto through His most wondrous creations like Rivers, Lakes, Mountains, Rocks and Trees etc. After the advent of Christianity, almost 80percent of the Ewes have become Christians today mainly of the Evangelical category and less of the Orthodox all of who recognize Yesu Christo (Jesus Christ) as the Messiah of the universal Christian faithful and regarded as the Son of the Almighty God. The predominant orthodox denominations include Roman Catholic (RC) and Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EP); with the latter being in dominance of the two; and the sparse presence of others including the Anglican Communion, the Methodist and the Baptist churches. 

Having visited their RC churches on over 10 occasions, it is amazing to discover that the Ewes are musical people who actually uphold church devotion in true Celebration of God (and Jesus). Their songs are usually solemn, compassionate and mostly subtle in their rhythms and lyrics. My most preferred song – a passionately submissive and dramatic medley is the Lamb Of God recitation during Consecration in a typical Roman Catholic Holy Mass which is usually rendered dramatically by the Ewes with a stooping position and the spreading of two palms on each other repeatedly in a pleading manner … so very touchy.

Foods

The Ewes have varieties of foods which majorly include staple foods like Akple by the Southern Ewes, a roasted corn meal that is usually prepared in the form of pudding and eaten with Nkontomire (Spinach) sauce. A similar meal is Dzimkple (pronounced as Ginkple) prepared using roasted corn meal, tomatoes, onions, smoked fish, salted fish, cowpeas, left-over palm nut soup or palm oil, pepper and other desired seasonings. It is also called Apapransa and can be garnished using crabs. It is claimed that today, most of the Christian Ewes do not celebrate the Dzimkple delicious meal anymore as it has been associated with fetish practices. This is informed by an ancient practice when during the primitive age among the Ewes, sacrifices to gods during activities associated with traditional festivals, cleansing, reverence to gods  etc. was crowned with the preparation of a delicious meal of Dzimkple which was offered to the gods.

The Eastern Ewes are known for pounded fufu usually one or a combination of the following: Yam, Plantain and Cocoyam. This is served with Light soup, Palm nut Soup or other types of soups.

Ewes are also known for the preparation of Mpotompoto made from boiled and mashed cocoyams or yams with smoked fish, fresh or smoked mushrooms, tomatoes, palm oil, onions, pepper and other local or conventional seasonings to taste. This usually has the look of what could be mashed yam porridge meal in the Nigerian context. Other foods typical of the Ewes include Slice, Beans Stew with Kenkey or Plantain or Rice.

Drinks

The preferred drinks of the Ewes are Palmwine, Solom, Akpeteshie and Pito.

Fashion

Conventionally, the younger men dress in shirts made with local prints and worn on tailor-made trousers; while the elderly men mostly tie long wrappers round their bodies and hang the excess on their shoulders. The younger and elderly women are mostly dressed in African prints designed according to taste; all depending on the occasion. The Ewes usually wear different attires as determined by the occasion like funerals, festivals and other Christian religious festivities and dance performances.

The Ewe females from birth usually wear one or more rounds of beautiful beads round their waists; hanging loosely on their hip region for beauty and sexuality. At birth, a new born-baby girl is usually adorned with beads on her knees, ankles and wrists depending on her mother. This has no fetish undertone but purposely to make the female look adorable and feminine.

Tourism

The Volta Region consists of many tourist spots. The Akosombo Dam which is located in Akosombo town facilitates the near-uninterrupted power supply energy enjoyed in Ghana and provides a beautiful tourist site for visitors to Ghana and also, an excursion location for students of schools within and outside Ghana. The Afadzato Mountain (Pronounced as Afajato), the Wli Falls (pronounced Vli), the Adlaku Mountains, the Tafi-Atome Monkey Sanctuary and many other tourist sites in the different locations of the region inhabited by the Ewes.

Education

The Volta Region is reputed as being the location of the very best of government-owned and affordable Basic and Senior High schools which has recorded several successes in the past and in the present.

Relaxation

The Ewes relax after the day’s hard work with playing cards, sharing tales and drinking palm wine.