Togo has indigenous Yorùbá-related peoples, above all the Ana, also called Ana-Ifè, who live around Atakpamé in central Togo and in neighbouring Benin.
History
The Ana speak Ifè, a language of the Yoruboid group, and their traditions trace their origins to Ilé-Ifẹ̀ and the Kétu region. They migrated west over several centuries and kept a Yorùbá language and many Yorùbá customs far from the homeland.
Traders and Returnees
Yorùbá traders also settled in Lomé and other towns, and some Afro-Brazilian returnee families on the coast have Yorùbá ancestry.
Culture and Community
Togo shares its Yorùbá heritage with Benin and Nigeria: the Gẹ̀lẹ̀dẹ́ masquerade tradition of all three countries was recognised by UNESCO in 2001. Ana-Ifè communities celebrate their heritage through traditional festivals and chieftaincy.