Kabyè

Kabyè is a southern Togo ethnic group native to the Atlantique region of Togo, as well as the Kabyè plateau. They occupy a sizeable territory on the border with Benin, which has led to the negotiation of certain border adjustments in 1960 and 1994. The Kabyè people are pastoralists and farmers; they cultivate crops such as yams, maize, and sorghum, while also raising cattle and goats.

Traditionally, the Kabyè were organized into kingdoms, with various dynasties and power structures. They were also notable for their complex system of social organization, divided into clans with a strong emphasis on lineage and kinship bonds. The Kabyè people are predominantly animist, with a mix of supernatural entities and ancestral deities revered in their cosmology.

Kabyè culture is noted for its rich and vibrant tradition of oral literature and story-telling. Myths and legends passed down from generation to generation emphasize the importance of cooperation, social harmony and honor in tribal society. Historically, the Kabyè people have played a significant role in regional conflict and politics due to their strategic location along the Togo-Benin border.

Efforts to document, preserve and popularize Kabyè culture have been undertaken by anthropologists, linguists, and artists. Their languages, such as Fotoufé, are endangered and being studied with urgency by linguistic researchers. Additionally, the traditional costume and ornamental artifacts of the Kabyè people, such as decorative headdresses and pieces of wood carving art, are highly valued as unique examples of local culture heritage.