Gap Year Destinations

Where to go

Africa: Togo

Tropical rainforests, agouti on the menu, a rich crafts-based culture and an incredibly youthful population make Togo a vibrant, fascinating choice…

Environment

Togo is a small west African country, which borders Ghana in the west, Benin in the east and Burkina Faso in the north, while the south is coastal, meeting the Gulf of Guinea. Togo has dense tropical forests along its river valleys, while in the north-east the Atakora Mountains rise into Benin. African elephants, Diana monkeys and manatees are all endangered species who call Togo home. The capital is Lomé.

Climate

Togo’s climate is tropical and humid, with plenty of rain. In fact, there are two rainy seasons, from March to early July and in September and October. Temperatures range from a maximum of 30-35°C to a minimum of 15-23°C, depending on elevation.

Demographics and Language

Since independence from France in 1961 to the last full records in 2003, Togo’s population quintupled! Due to this, nearly half of all Togolese people are under 15 years of age. Roughly 30 different ethnicities are found in the country, major groups being the Ewe in the South and the Kabye in the north. Most of the southern peoples speak Ewe or Mina, two closely related languages which are widely used. French is the official language, and is used in administration, while a combination of French with Ewe or Kabye is used to teach in schools. English is taught in secondary school, so many Togolese people speak some English, even if they are not fluent.

Cuisine

Togolese cuisine is based on the staple maize, which is ground into flour, mixed with water and made into a porridge called akume. Another popular base dish is fufu, which is boiled and pounded yams. These are then covered with thick stews of vegetables like okra and spinach, or meat such as smoked fish, goat or agouti – large bush rats. Togolese colonisation has also influenced the cuisine; German beer and French baguettes are commonly enjoyed.

Religion

Roughly half the population still follow traditional animist beliefs, while just under 30% of Togolese people are Christians and just over 20% are Muslims.

Economy and money

Most Togolese people are involved in both commercial and subsistence agriculture, growing cash crops like cocoa, coffee and cotton, as well as all foods required. Phosphate mining is another big part of the economy. Despite this, Togo’s fiscal health suffered various setbacks in the 90s, and more than 30% of the population are still living below the poverty line. The currency is the CFA franc.

Culture and politics

Togo’s politics are in disarray at the moment, as a military coup d'état, following the death of the last leader, has put in place martial governmental control. Elections are to be held, however, in 2008, so watch this space for Togo’s developments towards democracy.

Togo’s culture is a mix of its many different ethnicities. The Ewe people, for example, are famous for their sculptures, hunting trophies and their statuettes, which depict worship of the ibéji. The carpenters of Kloto, an important place for artisans, are well known for their ‘chains of marriage’ – rings carved from a single piece of wood which connect two figurines. Also in Kloto, batiks are made – dyed fabrics which show scenes of everyday life coloured and stylised by the artist.