Republic of Togo

Religious Country BriefAgnegue Esse

•Country History•Country Profile•Religious Demographic•Religious Organization and Leadership•Primary Values•Holidays and Rituals•Leadership Organization•Tolerance and Religious Intensity•Relationship to society•Summary•Questions

Agenda

Country History• Language/dialects (Mina, Ewe, Kabye)• Ewes moved to the area now known as Togo

from Niger River valley between the 12th and 14th centuries.

• 1884 (German colony)• 1914, Togo was invaded and seized by French

and British forces. • 1960: Togo independence• Gnassingbe Eyadema: 1967 to 2005• Fauvre Gnassingbe: 2005 to Present

Country Profilea. Area: 56,785 sq. km.; slightly smaller than West Virginia.b. Cities: Capital--Lome . Other major cities--Sokode; Kara; Atakpame 77 and Dapaong.c. Terrain: Savannah divided from a coastal plain by a range of low hills.d. Climate: Tropical.

Religious Demographic

Roman Catholics(28%)

Christians(9.50%)

Muslims(20%)

Indigenous beliefs(51%)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Population (2011 estimate): 6,771,993

Primary Values• Togo remains faithful to its pagan ancestry.

Vodu(Spirit)

Vodoo rituals:a. Sacrifices and gifts (sheep, dog, chicken)b. Ceremony of dancing

Holidays And Rituals

• The special holidays of Togo include the Liberation Day of Togo, celebrated on January 13th and the Independence day of Togo celebrated on the April 27th .

• Togo due share most common holidays with the western countries.

Leadership Organization

• Religious officials, whether Catholic priests or vodoo priest, are held in the highest esteem in both rural and urban settings.

• Religious officials do have influence on villages councils.

Tolerance and Religious Intensity

Tolerance: Everyone is free to exercise it religion. Some Togolese do practice dual religion.

Religious Intensity:Religion has no place in Togo’s government.

Relationship to Society

• The citizen of Togo are closely tided to their respective religion.

• Religion has present in any major activity such as (funeral, promotion, or wealth)

Summary

• Togo has a diverse religion background• Religion has no place in Togolese government• Religious Leaders do have some influence in

villages.• Each religion is somewhat tolerant toward the

other.

Questions?