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Togo, Africa

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Geography

  • Area: 35,285 square miles; a bit smaller than West Virginia.
  • Capital: Lomé
  • Climate: The south is humid and tropical with temperatures from 75oF to 90oF. In the northern plains and grasslands the temperatures range from 65oF - 100oF.
  • Features: The country’s length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna.

 

Current Environmental Issues

Deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas.

 

People

  • Nationality: Togolese
  • Population: 6,771,993 (2011 est.)
  • Urban Population: 43% of total population
  • Primary ethnic groups: There are 37 tribes (99%), the largest and most important of the tribes are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre. Less than 1% are European and Syrian-Lebanese
  • Religions: Christian 29%; Indigenous Beliefs 51%; Muslim 20%
  • Languages: Ewe and Mina are the two major African languages in the south and Kabye and Dagomba are the two major languages in the north but French is the official language.
  • Literacy rate (15 and over): 60.9% (Males: 75.4%/ Females: 49.9%)
  • Infant mortality rate: 51/1,000 live births
  • Life expectancy: 60 years for males; 65 years for females.
  • HIV/AIDS: There are 120,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, ranking 39th in the world, about 2% of the total Togolese population. (U.S.A is #10 with 1.2 million) (2009 est.).

 

Government & Economy

  • Independence: From France, April 27, 1960
  • Number of registered political parties: 12
  • Flag Description: The five horizontal stripes stand for the five different regions of the country; the red square is meant to express the loyalty and patriotism of the people; green symbolizes hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow represents life, purity, peace, dignity and Togo’s independence.
  • Natural Resources: cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
  • Average annual income per person: $900 (2009 est.)
  • Unemployment Rate: NA
  • Population Below Poverty Level: 32%

 

Transnational Issues

In 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments, and a joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary. In 2006: 14,000 Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 who fled there in 2005.

  • Refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Ghana)
  • IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons*): 1,500 (2007)

*someone who has been forced to flee their home but remains in their native country.

 

Culture

Food: Some traditional Togolese dishes are:

Fufu- boiled and pounded yam, cassava or potato made into a dough

Pâtes- a corn-based dough

Kokonte- a pâtés made from cassava, millets or sorghums

Riz Sauce Arachide- a peanut sauce eaten with rice

 

Music: see youtube.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Togo