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Togo

Togo. We arrived in the busy harbor area of Lome. Togo , officially the Togolese Republic , 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 is one of the least developed countries and extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its capital, Lomé, is located.

For a small underdeveloped country the cranes in the harbor area are very impressive for loading and unloading, some 3 million tons of goods annually. The new deep water harbor was modernized from 1960 to 1968. I counted 17 ships outside the harbor on the horizon waiting to enter into the harbor.

Waiting for us to dock we see a number of tour buses and our guides and drivers are waiting to share the country of Togo with us.

Our ship is in the process of docking. Then we must clear customs before we can disembark and join our tours.

A naval ship is in the harbor having followed us into the harbor. The last 4 or 5 nights we have been traveling in Pirate infested waters. We run dark with all the window shades closed and limited outside lighting. I am sure this is the reason for the escort into the port.

Waiting for us are musicians and local music.

Dancers and pole walkers are among the musicians welcoming us.

After leaving the ship we find out of the harbor area stands selling all kinds of items, clothing, shoes and you name it.

To think each of these stalls of clothing are set up and then torn down and packed away for the next day what is not sold.

The town of Lome was colonized in 1894 by the Germans.

Togo gained its independence in 1960. Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center, which includes an oil refinery. It is also the country's chief port, from where it exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and oil palm kernels.

From the mid-1970s, investments became more and more gigantic, but not always in well-targeted areas, Togo, a small open country and hub of trade between its powerful neighbors, did not have the protected market that would have been needed for the large industries that were built for it, nor the stable tourism potential for the luxurious hotels that were coming up

Our first stop we find ourselves stopping at a Voodoo Market. The Voodoo market of Lome in Togo taught me a little bit more about this fascinating religion.

When thinking about Voodoo, the first thing that crossed my mind were Voodoo dolls, needles and black magic. The Akodessawa Voodoo Market is not your typical market, to say the least. It’s undoubtedly the most unusual market I’ve ever had the chance to visit and it taught me a little more about West African culture.

I was told numerous times here that Voodoo is not practiced to harm people but only to heal and to do good. This market is widely known for its great variety of products. You can find fetishes, charms and everything you might need for a Voodoo ritual here. The locals that visit the market don’t come here for fun. They come here to buy ingredients to fix a problem or to visit the market’s Voodoo priest. Or at least, that’s what I was told.

Heads of monkeys, cats or crocodiles, chameleons, bats, snakes, hedgehogs, birds – you name it. I don’t remember ever seeing so many dead animals in one place… I was told that all the animals died of natural causes and that people are not allowed to kill animals in order to sell them at the market. I really hope this is true.

There are 15 stalls at the Voodoo market. All of these are run by salesmen/healers from the neighboring country Benin, where the Voodoo religion originated.

Here is your chance to make an appointment to see the "Voodoo Priest", and help to get rid of that ailment that is bothering you.

Words cannot describe this. I stood back watching a number of tourists stop and photograph this "thing", not even realizing what they were shooting a photo of. I have a feeling when they returned home and were looking at their photos they were quite surprised. Maybe even shocked!

As I walked from stall to stall, I learned what the Voodoo practitioners use the different animals for. According to him, anything can be treated, from diseases to curses. For example, I can remember that the skulls of cats are used to treat memory loss.

A friend Bill checking out the animals. Couldn't make up his mind on the one he wanted as a souvenir.

Just around the corner from the Voodoo Market I found this family living on the corner .

The lady is washing clothes. Not sure for money or for her family.

Driving across Lome viewing side streets. Life in general.

Tthe Chinese are pouring money into Togo, Ghana and Gambia, and many countries in Africa and around the world. They do this in exchange for minerals the countries have as collateral . The countries go broke and in walk the Chinese and take over the assets. I have seen it in many countries in the past 15 to 20 years traveling around the world. The sad part is the locals really believe they are the winners. they are the losers.

International Airport building, Lome, Togo

Getting around the city is mainly by motorbikes.

Capitol Building Lome, Togo

Entrance to the Presidential Palace.

Blue domed building Presidential Palace.

Advertising a local beer on a round about.

Lots of motorcycles for transportation.

Typical street scenes across Lome.

A young girl selling bootleg Gasoline using glass bottles to pour it in by hand into the gasoline tanks. For motorbikes mainly.

We visited a school as kids were getting out of school

Ironically this school has classes on Sundays. Some teachers have other jobs during the week so they work weekends for the kids.

When Children are born in Western African nations they are not named until the 8th day after birth. Many do not survive these 8 days. Also in their name included is the day of the week in the local language. Had I been born here I would be Jim "Sunday" Schroder as an example. Very common. Only about 30% of the couples are married. The fathers just disappear in the child's life and the mothers are left to take care of the children.

It is fun taking photos of kids once you gain their confidence. I always show the photo of them, after I have taken the first photo, so that all can see. a photo of themselves. Many times for the first time. Then they want more photos taken as you can see. Kids are kids around the world. Some are hams and some have to be serious.

These were three brothers. The older brother in blue really wanted a photo of he and his brothers. I wish I had a way of getting a copy to him too but it was impossible.

We arrived at a small village where a visiting head of their community was visiting and watched part of the ceremony in their honoring their visiting guest.

There was music and dancing by the ladies.

The ceremony

The visiting dignitary being honored.

The ceremony coming to a close for the honored.

I always have to get a photo of the kids. They wanted their photo taken. They were delighted to see the photo of themselves. I showed the parents standing close too the photo and they smiled. We returned to the ship in the late afternoon and set said for Sao Tome and Principe next with a day at sea too..

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