The kingdom of Notsé was a former

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

that organized itself around the city of Notsé between the 15th and 18th centuries. This

theocracy Theocracy is a form of government in which one or more deity, deities are recognized as supreme ruling authorities, giving divine guidance to human intermediaries who manage the government's daily affairs. Etymology The word theocracy origina ...

, led by a sacred-king, was founded around the 15th century and managed to gain significant importance within

West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurit ...

, notably by initiating the construction of the monumental walls of Notsé, a sacred enclosure intended to surround the entire sacred boundary of the city. However, after significant internal turmoil leading to the exodus of the Ewe from Notsé, considered by them as their origin, the kingdom gradually declined until it disappeared. In the 19th century, German colonizers established a chieftaincy that collaborated with them in Notsé. This chieftaincy became prominent among the

Ewe people The Ewe people (; ee, Eʋeawó, lit. "Ewe people"; or ''Mono Kple Volta Tɔ́sisiwo Dome'', lit. "Ewe nation","Eʋenyigba" Eweland;) are a Gbe-speaking ethnic group. The largest population of Ewe people is in Ghana (6.0 million), and the second ...

and attempted to preserve the heritage of the kingdom of Notsé.

History

The ancestors of the Ewe were likely a people already present in the region of

Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...

and

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

in the 13th century. However, it is difficult to trace their journey and evolution before their settlement in Notsé, where they founded a prosperous city and kingdom during the 15th century. According to surviving oral traditions, they were guided to the site of Notsé by the hunter Afotsè, also called Ndétsi, or under the leadership of an ancestor named Noin or Da. There, they merged with the populations already present in the area and founded the city. The kingdom was ruled by a sacred-king, who succeeded hereditarily from father to son. The priest-kings of Notsé bore facial

scarifications Scarification involves scratching, etching, burning/branding, or superficially cutting designs, pictures, or words into the skin as a permanent body modification or body art. The body modification can take roughly 6–12 months to heal. In the p ...

, often representing

leopard The leopard (''Panthera pardus'') is one of the five extant species in the genus '' Panthera'', a member of the cat family, Felidae. It occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, in some parts of Western and Central Asia, Southern Russia, a ...

claws, a sacred animal. In the 17th or 18th century, one of these priest-kings, Agokoli, launched a vast project to erect a sacred enclosure around Notsé, at least the second part of the walls of Notsé. This project caused significant conflict within the city-state's population, leading to division and the exodus of the Ewe from Notsé, an event the Ewe consider the origin of their people. The kingdom then declined until the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

and

French colonization The French colonial empire () comprised the overseas colonies, protectorates and mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward. A distinction is generally made between the "First French Colonial Empire", that exist ...

of Togo. During German colonization, a chieftaincy favorable to

interests was established. This chieftaincy played an important role in forming the national consciousness of the Ewe people, notably by claiming the heritage of the former kingdom of Notsé. It still organizes the religious and cultural festival of "Agbogbo-Za".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kingdom of Notsé Kingdom of Notsé Countries in medieval Africa 15th-century establishments in Africa Countries in precolonial Africa Notsé Notsé French West Africa States and territories established in the 15th century Sacred sites in traditional African religions