TOGO

officially Republic of Togo, French Togo, or Rpublique Togolaise republic of western Africa. Occupying a narrow strip of land stretching about 320 miles (about 500 km) northward from a coastline of about 32 miles (51 km) on the Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean, Togo is bordered by Benin on the east, Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) on the north, and Ghana on the west. The capital is Lom. Area 21,925 square miles (56,785 square km). Pop. (1993 est.) 3,810,000. officially Republic of Togo, French Togo, or Rpublique Togolaise country of western Africa. Situated on the Gulf of Guinea, it has a total area of 21,925 square miles (56,785 square kilometres). From its 32-mile (51-kilometre) coastline, Togo extends northward for about 320 miles between Ghana to the west and Benin to the east to its boundary with Burkina Faso in the north. Lom, the capital, is the largest city and port. Additional reading Robert Cornevin, Histoire du Togo, 3rd ed. rev. and expanded (1969), covers geography, prehistory, ethnology, and history. Samuel Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Togo, 2nd ed. (1987), is a useful reference with an extensive bibliography. Ethnographic studies include Jean-Claude Froelich, Pierre Alexandre, and Robert Cornevin, Les Populations du Nord-Togo (1963); Raymond Verdier, Le Pays kabiy (1982); and Franois de Medeiros (ed.), Peuples du Golfe du Bnin (1984). The political evolution of the country since independence is presented in Samuel Decalo, The Benevolent General: Military Rule in Togo, in his Coups and Army Rule in Africa (1976), pp. 87121; and in the issue titled Togo Authentique, Politique Africaine, 27 (SeptemberOctober 1987). Arthur J. Knoll, Togo Under Imperial Germany, 18841914 (1978), is a study of the German colonial era. Comi M. Toulabor, Le Togo sous Eyadma (1986); and Andoch Nutp Bonin, Le Togo du sergent en gnral (1983), discuss the period of military rule. Samuel Decalo Administration and social conditions Government The military coup d'tat of 1967 abolished the constitution of 1963 and dissolved the National Assembly. Togo had been ruled since 1969 by the Rally of the Togolese People, the sole political party until 1991 when parties were legalized. A new constitution in 1992 established the president as head of state and an elected multiparty National Assembly. The president appoints the prime minister from the parliament majority. The country is divided into five rgionsMaritime, Plateaux, Centrale, Kara, and Savanesfor the purposes of economic planning. The five rgions are subdivided into 21 prfectures, each of which is headed by a district chief assisted by a district council. Seven communes have been establishedfor the cities of Anho, Atakpam, Bassar, Lom, Kpalim, Sokod, and Tsvi, respectively. The administrative apparatus is complemented by traditional authorities, which include tribal kings or chiefs, village chiefs, and heads of family groups. These traditional authorities play a role in the judicial system, dealing with certain questions of customary law. The judicial system, headed by a Supreme Court, consists of a number of law courts in which civil, commercial, administrative, and criminal cases are heard. Education Education is modeled after the French system. Togolese teachers, who have replaced French personnel to a large extent, are expected to adapt the system to the Togolese context. Primary and secondary education is provided by public or parochial schools. The University of Benin at Lom (founded in 1970) has schools of humanities and science and a university institute of technology. A school of architecture and town planning, also at Lom, was founded in 1975 by the African and Mauritian Common Organization (OCAM). Cultural life Like other African peoples, the Togolese have a strong oral tradition. Little has been done, however, to promote vernacular literature. Before independence there were a few Togolese writers using French. Since independence, regional (especially Ewe) literature emerged with the works of several novelists and playwrights. Founded in 1967, the African Ballet of Togo has aimed at popularizing the finest traditional dances. Macaire K. Pedanou Samuel Decalo