REPUBLIC OF TOGO
Tired of going to the same old place for vacation? Are you looking fora new adventure… why not give Togo a try???
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Welcome to Togo. It is one of the most intrigue countries in Africa. It has many beautiful places to visit and many breathtaking sites to see. This country will make a nice vacation and will give you an adventure you won’t forget. This brochure will provide you with more information on Togo.
wHeRe Is ToGo???… wHaT Is It LiKe???
Togo is a small country in Western Africa. It is located between Ghana and Benin, and borders Burkina Faso to the north of it and Gulf of Guinea to the south of it. The size of this country is slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia, making it possible for visitors to tour the whole country. Togo has six different geographical regions. Its coastal area is flat and sandy, has many palm trees, beautiful beaches and lagoons, and luxurious resorts. This is perfect for honeymoons or a relaxing family vacation.
North of the coastal region are the plateaus. This area contains a strange feature that is very fascinating, is its red soil. It is call a terre de barre region. The plateaus then rise to a higher tableland and into the mountain range. The Atakora Mountains and the Togo Mountains run diagonally across the country. This area contains numerous waterfalls and spectacular sceneries perfect for hiking and photography. North of the mountains lies the Oti River sandstone plateau, which is known as a savanna, and farther northwest is the granite rock area.
The climate in Togo varies as you travel to a different region. In the south by the coastal region, it is hot and humid, with an average temperature of 80° F to 90° F. It is perfect to go swimming and hang at the beaches, but be sure to wear a lot of sun block.
As you go farther north the temperature gets cooler around 60°F and higher. You should bring a sweater along just in case. A small slight inconvenience about the climate is its rainy season. In the north, this rainy season last from mid-April to mid-July. In the South, it begins in October and lasts through the end of November. The best time to travel to Togo is during mid-July to the beginning of October.
fReNcH cOLonIzAtIOn………
Togo was once a French colony. Its official language today is French. It started in 1914 at the beginning of World War I, when the French and British took over the German Togoland colonization. In 1922, it was made a mandate of the League of Nation, with the eastern part under the control of France and the western part under Britain. However, later the two powers came to an agreement of a new division of what now is Ghana and Togo. The French introduced a great variety of vegetations and medicines to the Togolese, which helped improved their life and health. Togoland was under the French rule for almost 40 years. In 1960, the French Togoland gained independence and became the republic of Togo.
wHaT ArE ThE PeOpLe LiKe ???
The society of Togo consists of numerous different ethnic groups. Its estimate population is about 4,869,000. The largest group is known as the Ewe, who dominates the southern part of Togo. Other groups are the Kabye, Gurma, Basii, Moba, Konkomba, Mossi, and many others who mostly live in the northern part of Togo. They mainly live in rural villages. Togolese architecture differs from town to town. Their houses are mainly made out of wood and clay. Most of the Togolese are farmers, or otherwise are engaged in trade, commerce, and government service. Their official language is French, but Ewe, Kabye, Mina, and Dagomba are more commonly spoken.
About half of the people in Togo practice traditional African religions. The other half is either Christians or Muslims. The capital and the largest city of Togo is Lome. This is the most modern city in Togo. All the tourists’ attractions are located in this city. It has movie theatres, opera house, casinos, nightclubs, museums, and many restaurants. This city is the shopping center of Togo. It has open markets along the side of the streets that sell fresh fruits and vegetables, hand-made clothes and potteries. Lome has many monuments and architectural structure along its streets. Also many beautiful and luxurious hotels are in this city and are walking distance to the marketplaces. Most of these activities are mainly open for tourists.
hOw’S tHeIr EcOnOmY ???
Togo has a strong economy. Almost two thirds of Togo’s work force is engaged in agriculture. The most important agricultural products are cocoa, coffee, cotton, peanuts, and palm oil, which are used as their cash crops. Foreign trade is the most important part of the Togolese economy. The country exports agricultural and mineral products and imports manufactured goods. Togo trades with a variety of European and African nations, but France is its main trading partner and also is the one who them lend money to help its farmers. An important source of the Togolese income comes from its major exports of phosphate minerals. Togo is known for its phosphate supply and is the world’s third largest producer. The Togo’s currency is Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF). Its currency exchange rate to the United States is 741.19 per dollar.
wHaT Is tHeIr CuLtUrE LiKe ???
Togo’s culture is diverse among its different ethnic groups. Every tribe has its own traditions, beliefs, and art forms. But however, all of them share a common love for music, dance, and storytelling.
Performance arts are very popular in Togo. Drums are the main instruments used for their music. Most Togolese music is designed to accompany dancing. Most of their dances are for celebrating peace, love, hunting, war, farming, and fishing. One of the dances is call the achya, which is an acrobatic dance involving back flips and jumping to the beating of the drums, celebrates family unity.
Togo also has many beautiful art works. Many Togolese are skilled craftsmen. Wood and vegetable sculpture is an especially popular art form. They also make weavings of all sorts; like baskets, rugs, masks, and hats. These are perfect for souvenirs.
One of the Togolese oldest traditions is storytelling. It is not just there for entertainment but also to educate them in history, morality, and proper behavior. These stories are to be pass down from generations to generations.
gOvErNmEnTaNd PoLiTiCs…TeLl mE MoRe
The Republic of Togo has a parliamentary system of government. Togo’s president is elected to a seven years term with no limit on the number of terms. The president is assisted by a popularly elected National Assembly, who makes up national laws. Togo has just one political party, the Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais, (RPT). All government officials are members of the RPT. The president and the RPT control all aspect of national and local politics.
The president of Togo today is Gnassingbe Eyadema. He has been president ever since 1967 to now without any opposition.
wHaT’s GoInG oN ToDaY ???
President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo has been acting as a mediator in the talk between the rebels and the government of the Ivory Coast. He has been trying to keep peace between the two sides and help settle the crisis peacefully. Togolese officials welcomed leaders of Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, and Liberia to Lome for their help in the conference.
Hope you like what you have read so far. We gurantee you an experience you won’t forget. If you are interested in this amazing country please sign up today. For any questions call 1-800-flytogo.
