A Conference of Ewe chiefs in Ghana, Togo and Benin has been held in Ho, with a renewed call on Ewes in the three countries as well as in Nigeria, to preserve their language and to impart the language’s rich cultural values to their children.
The summit stated that language was the strongest unifying force of any ethnic group, for which reason Ewes must take pride in their language all the time.
The Paramount Chief of Be, in Togo, Togbe Adela Aklassou IV, speaking on behalf of the chiefs, said though it was important for people to learn and speak foreign languages to fit into the global environment, that must not be at the expense of the Ewe language which projected the cultural identity of the people.
He stressed that society was dynamic, and so, Ewes needed to respond accordingly by adding value to their language for use in business, as well as in various social and cultural settings.
Summit, Te Za Festival
The summit was part of activities marking this year’s Te Za (yam festival) of the people of Asogli in the Ho Municipality.
This celebration is on the theme: “Together in honesty and purpose, we build a just, peaceful and prosperous nation.”
Bond
Togbe Aklassou said by their large population, Ewes in Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria were a force to reckon with in the areas of continental cross border trade, and other areas of economic activity in Africa.
For that matter, he said, they must never allow any divisive tendencies or imaginary frontiers to set them apart.
“We are bonded by the ties of blood, language and culture; and we must progress as one people in unity all the time,” Togbe Aklassou told the gathering.
Basis for reunion
The Council Chairman of the University of Health and Allied Science (UHAS), Professor Kodzo Gavua, said colonialists had used religion as a tool to divide Africans, and for that matter Ewes.
He said there was nothing wrong with the form of worship and culture of Africans.
Professor Gavua said the Ewe language, culture and religion must now form the basis of reunion among the Ewe people.
He said the Ewe religion revered women and the roles they played in society, but alien religions relegated them to the background.
“It was only recently that women were allowed to become reverend ministers in some churches,” Professor Gavua said.
He sought to know why the Christian religion referred to the departed elders as saints but referred to the departed elders in Africa as ancestral spirits.
“Let us revere our form of worship and speak our language with pride,” Professor Gavua added.
Agbogbomefia
The Agbogbomefia of Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, said the fight against corruption in officialdom would succeed with unity of purpose among the people.
That unity, he said, must readily be evident also at the chieftaincy level, stressing that “when the chiefs are united, the people would be united.”
