The Kotokoli of West Africa A Cluster of 2 Kotokoli groups in 2
countries More than 200,000 Kotokoli live in the West African
country of Togo. Another 42,000 can also be found in the
neighboring country of Benin. In Togo, they are concentrated in
towns such as Sokode, which is located along one of Togo's
ancient caravan routes. The settlement was given the name
Sokode, which means "to close," because the town was frequently
isolated by barriers built by tribal groups trying to control
the caravan trade. The Kotokoli emigrated from what is now
Burkina Faso into the Sokode region during the 1600's and
1700's. They arrived as a confederation of Gurma chiefdoms. Even
today, the Kotokoli chief, or Uro, still resides in Sokode. In
time, the Kotokoli developed a reputation for sharp and perhaps
underhanded dealings in trade. The local merchants became
annoyed and began calling them koto kolim, which means "they
give and take back again." Eventually, the group became known as
the Kotokoli. They are more properly know