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Basic 3 · History · The People of Ghana

The Origin of the Ewe

In this topic you will learn the Ewe tradition of migration from Notsie.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Tell the story of the Ewe migration from Notsie
  • Name the cruel king Agokoli
  • Explain the Hogbetsotso festival

What you already know

  • The origin of the Ga-Adangbe

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
My country Ghana
Sub-strand
The People of Ghana
Indicator
B3.2.1.1.1 – Discuss the origins of the major ethnic groups in Ghana

Introduction

The Ewe have a famous story. They escaped from a cruel king by walking backwards so their footprints would fool the soldiers.

1. From Ketu to Notsie

  • Ewe traditions say their ancestors once lived at Ketu, in present-day Benin Republic.
  • They moved west to Notsie, in present-day Togo.
  • At Notsie, King Agokoli ruled them very harshly.

2. The Escape

  1. The women poured water on a section of the town wall to soften it.
  2. At night, the people broke through the wall.
  3. They walked backwards so their footprints seemed to lead into the town.
  4. They escaped and moved west.
  5. They settled in the area that is now the Volta Region of Ghana.
Ewe people walking backwards out of a broken wall at night
Figure 1: The escape from Notsie Draw the escape from Notsie.Illustration: Sirbus

3. Hogbetsotso

The Anlo Ewe celebrate Hogbetsotso every November to remember the escape from Notsie.

New words

Notsie
A town in present-day Togo where the Ewe once lived.
Agokoli
The cruel king of Notsie.
escape
To get away from danger.
Hogbetsotso
The Anlo festival remembering the exodus from Notsie.

Summary

  • Ewe traditions say they moved from Ketu to Notsie.
  • They escaped from the cruel King Agokoli by walking backwards.
  • Hogbetsotso remembers the escape.

Class activity: Story Drama

  1. Act out the escape from Notsie.
  2. Show the walking backwards.
  3. Explain why they walked backwards.

You need: Ghana map, Printed photographs of Ghanaian ethnic groups, Kente, Smock fabric samples

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Who was the cruel king of Notsie?

    • A. Agokoli
    • B. Osei Tutu
    • C. Naa Gbewa
    • D. Nkrumah
    Show answer
    Answer: AgokoliAgokoli ruled harshly.

  2. 2. Why did the Ewe walk backwards?

    • A. To fool the soldiers with their footprints
    • B. For fun
    • C. To dance
    • D. To find water
    Show answer
    Answer: To fool the soldiers with their footprintsFootprints pointed the wrong way.

  3. 3. The Ewe settled in the Volta Region.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThat is where most Ewe live.

  4. 4. Hogbetsotso is a Ga festival.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseIt is an Anlo Ewe festival.

  5. 5. To get away from danger is to ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: escapeThat is escaping.

  6. 6. What does Hogbetsotso remember?

    Show answer
    Answer: The escape of the Ewe from Notsie.It is a festival of the exodus.

Homework

  1. Retell the Notsie story to someone at home.