Travel guide Togo

Black ebony is a very hard and brittle wood that was already used in ancient Egypt. Today, it is a rare and expensive wood, much appreciated by artists, which is almost exclusively used for the manufacture of small luxury objects. The production areas are few and almost all located in tropical Africa.

Fufu is a yam paste that is eaten with the fingers. It is served with a fish, chicken or beef sauce. The yams, large tubers rich in starch, are first boiled and then pounded into a sticky paste. It is one of the favourite dishes of the Togolese, especially those from the Plateaux region.

Mama is a term of endearment indicating respect, especially when addressed to a rather older woman. For a young woman, the term tanti is used. Mothers often play an important role in the family and in economic life. They are usually the ones who manage the business. For men, we say papa or tonton.

Originally, maquis were small, unpretentious restaurants. Today, most of them have been transformed into maquis bars where you can eat, but also have a drink and dance to the sound of African rhythms and coupe-decale. They are legion along the circular boulevard in Lomé. As soon as the night falls, the atmosphere is guaranteed!

Sitting in front of their stall covered in wax, a colourful Dutch fabric, the Nana-Benz are one of Togo's local figures. Their trade, which flourished in the 1970s, has since faded somewhat, but they continue to trade, especially at the Lomé market. Today, they are called the Nanettes or the Golden Ladies.

This is the name given to this local breed of chicken, which has long legs and is often seen running across a road. Raised in the open air, it is fed on vegetable matter from crops and households. It will look quite skinny compared to the plump chickens we usually eat. Its flesh is quite tough.

Togo is renowned for the quality of its robusta coffee, one of the best in the world. It is mainly used in soluble coffees, blends and espressos. The Togo origin is considered reliable and trustworthy, which is rare among West African countries. Yet it represents only 0.7% of the world market.

Sodabi is made from palm wine, after a natural fermentation during which the sugars in the wine are transformed into alcohol. The word "sodabi" comes from Ghana, from so that be. Some people flavour it with plants with various virtues. Who comes to Togo without tasting sodabi has not come to Togo!

This is millet beer, a drink particularly appreciated by the people of the North. The millet or sorghum is soaked in water for a day, then germination occurs. It is then taken out of the water, spread out and covered with leaves. Then a second cooking takes place leading to fermentation, which gives the tchoukoutou.

This is the name given by the Togolese to the large, often heavily-laden trucks that travel from the port of Lomé to the landlocked countries of the Sahel. You'll find them all over the country, sometimes broken down. There are often two people making the journey: the driver and the mechanic. The mechanic sometimes has to dismantle the entire engine right on the track!

Vons originally meant "north-south lane". In a broader sense, they refer to unpaved streets. Vons are often in poor condition, and during the rainy season they become nightmares for vehicles that get stuck in the mud. The holes are often filled with the inhabitants' rubbish.

These are motorcycle cabs circulating inside the cities. This phenomenon spread from Benin during the 1992 crisis. It is a supplementary profession that rounds out the end of the month. There are about 40,000 of them who officially practice this profession. The zémidjans are also used for political or development campaigns.