Useful Notes / Togo

Togo, official name the Togolese Republic (French: République togolaise), is one of Africa's smaller countries located in West Africa, just north of the Bight of Benin, and is bordered by Ghana, Benin, and Burkina Faso to the west, east, and north, respectively.

During and after their first voyage to Western Africa in the 16th century, the Portuguese built trading posts throughout the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. The region that would become Togo was part of the Slave Coast, i.e. the place where all those black slaves in The Americas originally came from. Imperial Germany took control of the Togoville port town and began their expansion inland, eventually establishing the Togoland colony, which also included the eastern part of present-day Ghana (the so-called "Volta Region"). Being surrounded by rivals at all sides (the British Gold Coast/Ghana to the west and the French Benin and Upper Volta to the east and north, respectively) made Germany conscious enough to vigorously build a deep infrastructure and network in the colony, setting a model for others to follow.

Togoland was transferred to the British and French after World War I as part of the League of Nations mandate. The two divided it into two, and when independence was due in the 1950s, British Togoland joined the newly-independent Ghana, while French Togoland remained a part of the French Union until it was granted independence in 1960.

Since then, Togo has been ruled by a dictatorship (there is not a single presidential election that is considered free and fair by independent observers). General Gnassingbé Eyadéma staged a coup in 1967 and subsequently became president for 37 years. Upon his death in 2005, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Faure, who remains president to this day.

In spite of the political problems, Togo is still quite the regional center for commerce, no small thanks to the high start in the infrastructure department brought over from the colonial period. It, however, still struggles from poverty and the fall of cocoa prices (which are the country's main export) in 1998.

Ewe people dominate Togo, although many other ethnic groups are well-represented. Also, the country is dominated by animists, which is surprising considering that its neighbors identify themselves with an Abrahamic religion, if only nominally. That said, Christians are a significant minority in the country's south, while Muslims can be found mainly in the north.

Football is the country's main sport. One player from the country, Emmanuel Adebayor, has received international attention and praise over the years as Togo's top goalscorer, as well as being a part of England's Crystal Palace.

Works of Togo include:

• Gbe Mythology
• Yoruba Mythology

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The Togolese flag

The flag uses the pan-African colors as used by Ethiopia (i.e. green, yellow, and red), but models itself after the flag of Liberia with its alternating stripes and a rectangle at its canton, which is itself modeled after the flag of the United States. The green represents the forests and agriculture, the yellow represents the soil, and the red represents the blood spilled by those who struggled for the country's independence. The white star, again an allusion to Liberia's flag, represents light and intelligence. The flag was designed by Paul Ahyi, a celebrated artist of Togolese origin who studied in France before designing the flag.

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The Togolese national anthem

Salut à toi pays de nos aïeux,

Toi qui les rendait forts,

Paisibles et joyeux,

Cultivant vertu, vaillance,

Pour la prospérité

Que viennent les tyrans,

Ton cœur soupire vers la liberté,

Togo debout, luttons sans défaillance,

Vainquons ou mourons, mais dans la dignité,

Grand Dieu, toi seul nous a exaltés,

Du Togo pour la prospérité,

Togolais viens, bâtissons la cité.

Dans l’unité nous voulons te servir,

C’est bien là de nos cœurs,le plus ardent désir,

Clamons fort notre devise,

Que rien ne peut ternir.

Seul artisan de ton bonheur, ainsi que de ton avenir,

Brisons partout les chaînes de la traîtrise,

Et nous te jurons toujours fidélité,

Et aimer servir, se dépasser,

Faire encore de toi sans nous lasser,

Togo chéri, l’or de l’humanité.

Salut, salut à l'Univers entier

Unissons nos efforts sur l'immense chantier

D'où naîtra toute nouvelle

La Grande Humanité

Partout au lieu de la misère, apportons la félicité.

Chassons du monde la haine rebelle

Finis l'esclavage et la Captivité

A l'étoile de la liberté,

Renouons la solidarité

Des Nations dans la fraternité.

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Hail to thee, land of our forefathers'

Thou who made them strong,

Peaceful and happy,

Cultivating virtue and bravery

For prosperity.

Even if tyrants shall come,

Thy heart yearns towards freedom.

Togo arise! Let us fight without faltering.

Victory or death, but in dignity.

God almighty, Thou alone,

Hast made Togo prosper.

People of Togo arise! Let us build the nation.

To serve thee in unity

Is the most burning desire of our hearts.

Let us shout aloud our motto

That nothing can tarnish.

We the only builders of thy happiness and of thy future,

Everywhere let us break chains and treachery,

And we swear to thee for ever faith,

Love, service, untiring zeal,

To make thee yet, beloved Togo,

A golden example for humanity.

Hail, hail to the entire Universe

Let us unite our efforts on this immense building site

Whence will be reborn anew

Great Humanity.

Everywhere, instead of misery, let us bring happiness.

Let us chase from the world unruly hatred.

It's over with slavery and captivity.

At the star of liberty,

Let us renew the solidarity

Of the Nations in fraternity.

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Government

• Unitary dominant-party presidential republic
  • President: Faure Gnassingbé
  • Prime Minister: Victoire Tomegah Dogbé

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Miscellaneous

• Capital and largest city: Lomé
• Population: 8,608,444
• Area: 56,785 km² (21,925 sq mi) (123rd)
• Currency: West African CFA franc (CFA) (XOF)
• ISO-3166-1 Code: TG
• Country calling code: 228
• Highest point: Mont Agou (986 m/3,235 ft) (161st)
• Lowest point: Bight of Benin (Depth is not calculated yet) (-)