Protection and promotion of the cultural heritage of the Ewe of Togo

Togo is made up of around 40 ethnic groups divided into five major cultural groups. The Ewe are the majority cultural group, representing around 40% of the population. This group is the holder of a rich tangible and intangible cultural heritage which remains very little valued and promoted. As a result, we are witnessing a gradual disappearance of elements of this heritage. There is an urgent need to undertake initiatives to protect and safeguard this heritage in order to ensure its transmission to future generations. Among the possible safeguarding measures, the creation of a museum is the most suitable. This option is justified for several reasons. In fact, in addition to the gradual disappearance of its heritage, the Plateau Region is positioned as the leading tourist destination in Togo, welcoming around 20,000 tourists per year. The museum institution therefore actively participates in the tourism dynamic, including cultural tourism, which constitutes a source of income for the community. Suddenly, the project will have positive consequences on national tourism revenues.

Autorentext

Elom Edzo AKPEMADO est un expert en gestion du patrimoine culturel et animateur de patrimoine au Musée National du Togo (MNT). Il est diplômé de la prestigieuse Université Senghor à Alexandrie (Egypte).