Akebu People of Togo, Benin and Ghana

Akebu People  also known as Kebu can be found in mostly Togo, Benin and some parts of Ghana in the Volta Region, they are part of the Niger- Congo speaking people and they speak Lelemi language. 

Akebu ethnic group is a mixture of Ewe, Anyanga, Mina, Adja and Ntribu which make up Akebu, they grow crops such as yam, manioc, taro, coffee, cotton, rice, corn and they rear sheep, goats, donkey, fowls, ducks, pigeons and pigs. The main method of hunting is the bush hunting, practiced for many years It is said women cook on remarkable stoves that have a place for two huge pots over fire.  

During the rainy season, they do their cooking inside , their traditional kitchen house is a work of art and very well equipped and organized . Every kitchen utensils has Its place, Akebu language is combined or mixed with Ewe, Anyanga, Mina, Adja and Ntribu .  They are also known as Akebou, Gakagba, Kabu and Kekpeeke, It is believed they considered themselves as Egbetebe and Akebu’s Urdorf is called Kesengbe near Kougnohou the capital of Canton Akebou in Present day Togo, It is said there is a very old mud house, which is the first house of their ancestors and According to myth, It is believed they descended on a rope from the Sky around Urhaus in Kesengbe in 1988 , polished small stone axes were observed lying on the ground and they are still some houses which may be dressed for cultural reasons only with a Pagne, dressed in a traditional robe and barefooted.  

The associated Village of Kesengbe in 1998 next door is now a piece further built, they practice only their Indigenous spirituality but few practice Islam and Christianity. Akebu used to build round houses with wooden stands and mud walls, In between they build small storage buildings, the round design of most houses differs from the angular constructions.  

According to Akebu People of Togo, Benin and Ghana migration,  It is believed Akebu migrated from Nubia Present day Sudan, settled in Eastern part of Present day Nigeria between the 6th and 10th Centuries and finally settled in Present day Togo later came and settled in  Present day Benin and Present day Ghana , Guins who are descendants of Ga Adangbe and Fante people arrived in the 17th Century from Gold Coast Present day Ghana and Tchokossi from Present day Ivory Coast and Moba from the Sahel regions .  Akebu are located in regions in Togo such as Kougnohou , Djon , Kamina , Seregbene and Yala , the first Akebu script was Introduced in the 1900s and they celebrate annual traditional festival with Akposso and the calendar has 6  days  week, they celebrate Ovazu, the word “ Ova” meaning corn and “ Zu” meaning festival.  During the celebration of Ovazu festival corn is being used It is celebrated every 2nd Saturday of the month December. According to other accounts on Akebu history, Akebu and Akposso came from Ancient Egypt and settled in Present day Togo following an exodus that led them to Present day Benin and Ghana , In their tradition they traced to both Matrilineal and Patrilineal lineage, In the past, one girl always married from another Akebu clan but they still intermarry with other ethnic groups.

It is said Animere language is mostly related to Akebu and It is classified as members of Ka- Togo,  they carved wooden sculptures and basket weaving, they celebrated a traditional fighting or wrestling festival in Togo that last for 10 days their local dishes  mashed yam, fufu, konkonte and other local dishes.  They usually have two or three meals per day, each consisting largely of a starch product such as cassava, maize, rice, yam, or plantains.

A hot spicy sauce is served with midday or evening meals, goats, beans, or beef and often rice in palm kernel oil or peanut also known as groundnut paste, fruits and vegetables. Food crops such as cassava, corn, millet, yams are grown on farms owned mainly by groups of families, people live in compounds or groups of huts enclosed by walls. During the 18th Century the coast was occupied by Danish Colonists, by the late 19th Century, Denmark had been replaced by Germany, which established Togoland protectorate and the administration was overthrown by Anglo- French force early in WWl in 1922, Togo was divided into French controlled eastern region sector and British controlled western sector. Akebu performed traditional dances such as Danse Assafo which is Akebu Asafo dance, Kparou Kparou, Badlou, Atchina, Epkesssoso and others.