Culture & Etiquette

1. Eʋegbe

   Eʋegbe (the Ewe language)

   Usage

   The Ewe name of the Ewe language, spoken in eastern Ghana and southern Togo. It belongs to the Gbe family; this app uses the standard written Ewe of schools and the Bible

   Grammar Note

   Eʋegbe is Eʋe (Ewe) plus gbe (language); the same gbe ends Eŋlisigbe (English). The letter ʋ is separate from v.

2. Eʋeawo

   Eʋeawo (the Ewe people)

   Usage

   The Ewe people, about 6.0 million in Ghana and 3.1 million in Togo, with some in Benin. They speak Ewe, with regional forms such as Anlo, Mina and Ʋedome

   Grammar Note

   Eʋeawo is Eʋe plus -a and the plural -wo. English Wikipedia writes Eʋeawó. Ewe-language articles list Anlo (Aŋlɔ), Mina and Ʋedome together as forms of Ewe.

3. Agbadza

   Agbadza (Ewe music and dance that grew out of a war dance)

   Usage

   Ewe music and dance that evolved from an old war dance, Atrikpui, into a popular recreational dance. It is performed mostly in Ghana's Volta Region, including at the Hogbetsotso festival, and by Ewe people in Togo and Benin

   Grammar Note

   The dance has five parts: an opening prayer, the main dance, a calmer section and historical songs. Note: in Ewe-language articles the same spelling agbadza can also appear as the name of an illness.

4. Atsiagbekor

   Atsiagbekor (Ewe war dance)

   Usage

   A traditional war dance of the Ewe, from Ghana's Volta Region and spread to Togo and Benin. It was danced to celebrate military victories and is now performed at social events, festivals and in education

   Grammar Note

   The name is written as in sources and notices.

5. Borborbor

   Borborbor (Ewe social dance and music)

   Usage

   A social dance and music of the Ewe in Ghana's Volta Region and southern Togo, including Kpalimé and Lomé. Also called Akpese, it is danced at festivals of chiefs and communities and is believed to have started with Francis Kudzo Nuatro in the 1950s

   Grammar Note

   The name is written as in sources and notices.

6. Gahu

   Gahu (Ewe social music and dance)

   Usage

   One of the traditional social music-and-dance forms of the Ewe. It is listed in references on Ewe culture under the title "Gahu: Traditional Social Music of the Ewe People"

   Grammar Note

   Sources are few, so the card says no more than what the reference title says: it is social music.

7. Gankogui

   Gankogui (Ewe double iron bell)

   Usage

   An iron bell played with a stick in Ewe drum ensembles. It joins the agbadza ensemble

   Grammar Note

   The name is written as in sources and notices.

8. Axatse

   Axatse (Ewe gourd rattle)

   Usage

   A percussion instrument of a dried gourd wrapped in a beaded net. It is used by the Ga in Ghana, in Togo and by the Ewe in the Volta Region, and joins the agbadza ensemble

   Grammar Note

   Axatse appears in Ewe-language articles as one of the instruments in a Bible list.

9. Kente

   Kente (hand-woven strip cloth)

   Usage

   Ghana's best-known textile, hand-woven strips of silk and cotton sewn together. The Asante, Akan and Ewe wore it in the past, and today it is worn on special occasions. In the Volta Region Agortime-Kpetoe is known for kente weaving

   Grammar Note

   Kente is protected as a geographical indication of Ghana.

10. Mami Wata

    Mami Wata (West African water spirit)

    Usage

    A mermaid, water spirit or goddess in the folklore of West Africa and other parts of the continent, often shown as a woman with long hair. Followers leave offerings at her shrines

    Grammar Note

    Depictions and beliefs differ by region. Ask people nearby before photographing shrines or images.

11. Vodun

    Vodun (West African traditional religion)

    Usage

    A West African traditional religion followed by the Aja, Ewe and Fon. Beneath a creator divinity are lesser spirits called vodun, honoured with offerings at shrines. It is still practised in Togo, Ghana and Benin

    Grammar Note

    It is also spelled Vodún or Vodu and is the source of the word "voodoo". It is a living religion, so ask permission before visiting or photographing and treat it with respect.

12. Togbui

    Togbui (grandfather, and a title for elders and chiefs)

    Usage

    A word for grandfather, also a title of respect for an older man or a chief. It is often placed before a name as Togbe

    Grammar Note

    A dictionary gives tɔgbui as "grandfather", and an Ewe article says Tɔgbuiwo kple Mamawo for grandfathers and grandmothers. Togbe is the chiefly title before a name, as in Togbe Aƒede XIV on English Wikipedia.

13. Mama

    Mama (grandmother, and a respectful term for an older woman)

    Usage

    A word for grandmother, also used to address an older woman respectfully

    Grammar Note

    A dictionary gives mama as "grandmother". Its use as a respectful address to older women comes from reference notes, so it is worth confirming with a local speaker.

14. Gen-Mina

    Gen-Mina (ethnic group of coastal Togo)

    Usage

    An ethnic group of coastal Togo and Benin made up of the Gen and the Mina. They live mainly in the cantons of Aného and Glidji, which they founded in the 17th century, and also in places such as Agbodrafo

    Grammar Note

    The Gen (Mina) language is a separate language close to Ewe and is not the standard written Ewe used in this app. In French it is written Guin-Mina.

15. Cedi

    Cedi (currency of Ghana)

    Usage

    The currency of Ghana, written GH₵ (code GHS). One cedi is 100 pesewas, and shop prices in Ghana carry this sign

    Grammar Note

    Cedi is the name of the currency rather than an Ewe word, so it is written as on signs.

16. Franc CFA

    Franc CFA (currency of Togo and seven other West African states)

    Usage

    The currency used by the eight states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, including Togo. Its abbreviation is F.CFA and its code XOF; prices in Togo carry this sign

    Grammar Note

    Franc CFA is the French name rather than an Ewe word. It is the spelling used on signs in Togo.

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