Tag: July edition

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗘 🇹🇬 𝗬𝗢𝗥𝗨𝗕𝗔 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗣𝗔𝗠𝗘.

Atakpame is the Fourth largest city in Togo by population and is situated in the center of the country in a majority Yoruba speaking part called Ogou which has a population of around 260,000 people. The dialect of Yoruba spoken here is called Ifè. Atakpame is located on a hilly wooded savannah about 500m in elevation at the eastern end of the Atakora mountain range. Together with Kpalimé, it represents the last major settlements of Yoruba origin dotted between the Niger and the Volta rivers. Today, while Atakpame is majorly Ife speaking, Kpalime is majority Ewe speaking. The Ife people of Togo trace their history from Ife in Nigeria to Ija Oku and Chabe (Savè) in Benin. It was from there that they migrated to the originally Yoruba city of Chabelu (now Savalou) in Benin before crossing over into their territory in what would later become central Togo.

LlIn the 1764 Battle of Atakpamé, the town was the site of a clash between the Akan state of Akyem with the Oyo Empire against the forces of the Ashanti Empire. The result of the battle was a crushing defeat of the Ashanti forces and the death of their Juabenhene (head of one of the royal clans). Today, most native residents of the city belong the Ana subgroup of the Yoruba people. Other Yoruba speaking settlements in the locality include; Akpare, Goubi, Djama, Kaboli, Okutaya, Anie, Kamina, Moretan – Igberioko, Kolokope, Glei, Alabata. Atakpame is fondly referred to as the city of 7 hills (sept collines). Some of these hills include: Oke Omi kosi, Oke Batabali, Oke Agemo, Oke Akposso, Oke Mefa, Oke Ekpa and Oke Ologbo. Just like many other towns in Yorubaland, where myths are explored to trace the people’s roots, Atakpame’s history is not complete without reference to the mountains. According to some elders of the town, the rocks played supernatural roles when the natives were engaged in battles with other ethnic groups, most especially the expanding army from Dahomey. This is how Atakpame also shares topographical and historical similarities with Idanre, Ondo State, Igbeti, Efon Alaaye Ekiti, Okeho in Oyo- All towns famed for the huge and acrobatic mountains that surround them.

The town of Atakpame is named after the leader of the group of Yoruba people who founded the city; Chief Atakpa. Annually the ife of Togo come together to celebrate ‘Odon Itsu’ (Yam festival) and reinforce their culture. –

ADVENTURES OF OLU-OJE AND UNITY OF YORUBA RACE

*MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE*

I noticed we had grass growing rapidly inside my new compound, so, my neighbour and i decided to get rid of them…!

I asked around and found someone who would do it…!

Brought him to the compound, showed him around, so he said he’d clear it for 3K,but we can also negotiate. Inside me, i was surprised because the work too big for that amount. So, i told him we would give him #5K instead.

Mehn, the dude was overjoyed. He ran off to get his working tools, got back and was almost starting off. I asked him to halt, and confirmed if he’s had something to eat. He said….. No….! That he hasn’t even eaten since the evening before. I quickly prepared tea, bread and fried eggs for him. Chai! Tears commot for the guy eye when i give am. He finished eating, picked up his tools, and worked enthusiastically with all his heart. At intervals, I’ll stop what i was doing inside to check on him. Sometimes, chat and laugh with him. (Dude was a real jolly fellow eh, lol) So, he rounded up for that day, and said he’d be coming around the next day to pack the dead grass. I gave him the 5K. He was really excited. I told him to take my contact so he could reach me before coming the next day, he said he would have loved to, but he doesn’t have a phone Said he sold it 2 weeks back, so he could eat. All he had left was his SIM. I felt his pain, but i remembered i had an itel phone i wasn’t using, so i gave it to him…+#500 for recharge card. Tears just roll from the guy eye instantly. And he said, one of the most deepest…. “God Bless You”, ….I’ve ever gotten in my life. So, he left excitedly. And, for me….i slept like a baby that night.

Dude came the next day, and continued the remaining task with so much passion.I could literally see it all over him.I shared from the rice i had prepared and gave him for breakfast, and by 12 noon,he was done with the whole task.He thanked me endlessly, and left.

All these happened this weekend ( between Saturday, and Sunday ). Now, i got a call very early today from him, and he gave me a great news.

He said his former Oga that relocated from Ikeja to Abuja, reached him on phone, the same yesterday, immediately he inserted his SIM into the phone i gave him. And that his Oga told him he’s been trying hard to reach him for weeks to no avail.

The Oga finally sent him N100k this morning. Chai…! Me sef come happy pass the guy sef. He ended the call with these words….! “Senior man, if to say i nor meet you, na so this one for take pass me…o…! Tears just drop from my eye, i swear…! Why my long boring story…? Always do little things you can do, to change people’s lives. It might be little to you, but that might be the answers to their long-standing heart desires.

These bits of kindness must not come in monetary forms.

• You can tell people kind words…! • Give people a bit of your time…! • Hear people out…!

• Give people warm hugs…!

• Never despise or look down on people…! • Applaud people when they carry out duties for you…!

• Make people feel like the humans that they really are. *

And, you might just be saving a life in the process….you’d never know….💝 BE A BLESSING TO SOMEONE TODAY!