Language, Culture, Ethnicity and National Integration: The Togo Experience Since 1900

Abstract

This paper examines the linguistic, cultural and ethnic composition of the present Republic of Togo. The country is a multilingual and multicultural nation-state. Colonial political, economic and cultural policies between 1900 and 1960 accentuated the ethnic differences. Ethnic consciousness in the form of complaints and protests, particularly against the arbitrary partition of formerly homogeneous groups, was confined to the Evhe, a Kwa linguistic group. From 1960, more ethnic groups became conscious of their socio-economic and political deprivations within the new nation-state. Thus ethnic strife became more pervasive. The result was the formation of ethnic-based political associations, which invariably led to political instability. The paper concludes that national integration becomes difficult under such ethnic struggle for control of political power within the state.