Kpalimé is the fourth largest city in Togo. Once the administrative center of the Misahöhe district, today it serves as the capital of Kloto Prefecture, situated 120km northwest of Lomé in the Plateaux Region.

History

The Agome, like most populations in southern Togo, trace their ancestry to the Adja-Ewe ethnic group. The origins of the Adja ancestors likely lay in the Yoruba lands of present-day Nigeria. During their migrations, they settled successively in Kétou (Benin) and Tado (Togo), before establishing the city of Notsé in the 17th century.

Following the Ewe exodus from Notsé, many populations were forced to flee. Some found refuge in Gamé. The refugees subsequently settled in the regions of Agome, Agou, Kpélé, Danyi, Gbi, Péki, Kpando, Matsè and Wodzo. This journey led the Agome to Mount Méléku. The fugitives established themselves temporarily in Anidi, a locality 13km northwest of Kpalimé. At Anidi, the Agome comprised five clans led by the warrior chief Tsali. They pursued agriculture, hunting, herding, fishing, craftsmanship and trade, living in community. However, tensions caused some fugitives and clans to separate in search of other sanctuaries. The Agomé dispersed to form five distinct villages by the late 17th or early 18th century.

One group settled beyond a river, becoming the Agomé-Tomégbé. Another established itself on higher ground, becoming the Agomé-Kpodzi. A third group, upon reaching its present-day site, felt exhausted and decided to "settle there," forming the Agomé-Kusuntu. Chief Tsali's group wished to remain centrally positioned to call out "Yô" in case of enemy attacks, becoming the Agomé-Yoh. The last group to separate found insufficient space and sought to "insert themselves—Kpalideme—between their brothers and the Tové, Agou and Hanyigba peoples." They became the Agomé-Kpalimé.

Today

Kpalimé is a city in southwestern Togo, in the Plateaux region, surrounded by coffee and cocoa plantations. Within the city stands a church constructed in 1913 by the Germans, featuring a striking tall bell tower. Nearby in Kloto, a craft center showcases traditional techniques including wood carving and batik. To the east, trails traverse Mount Agou, which offers sweeping views extending to Ghana. To the northwest, at the Ghanaian border, the Missahohé forest is celebrated for its butterfly populations.

Climate

Kpalimé enjoys a tropical climate with more significant rainfall in summer than in winter. Average temperatures hover around 26°C with annual precipitation of approximately 1,446mm.

What to Do in Kpalimé?

Mountainous and blanketed with diverse forests, the Plateaux Region, thanks to the density of its raw materials, nurtures a flourishing of artisanal activities, the most prominent being sculptural art.

Numerous artisans ply their crafts either independently, in collectives, or within dedicated craft centers. These artisans produce a striking variety of objects: wood sculpture, macramé, batik, and ceramics.

Weaving is equally well-developed throughout the region, notably the "kenté," the traditional Ewe cloth whose patterns carry rich symbolic meaning.

Finally, the region abounds in spectacular natural waterfalls:

• Kpimé waterfall
• Aklowa waterfall in Badou
• Womé waterfall
• Tomegbé waterfall
• Yikpa waterfall
• Kpelé Tsavié waterfall