Exodus of the Ewe from Notsé

Summary

The exodus of the Ewe from Notsé is an event that took place during the 16th-17th centuries, under the reign of the king of Notsé, Togbe Agorkoli (1670-1720). After founding a prosperous city-state in Notsé in the previous century, it gradually declined and soon came under the authority of Agokoli, who was known for his brutal and violent methods. In response to his tyranny, epitomized by his desire to erect a monumental sacred enclosure in Notsé, a number of the city's inhabitants decided to exile themselves and migrate westward to other regions of present-day Togo and Ghana. This migration is the genesis of the Ewe people, who number over ten million members by the early 21st century. It also gave rise to sub-groups of the Ewe people, such as the Agomé and the Waci.