By Bubu Klinogo
Togbi Salu III of Anlo Afiadenyigba in the Volta Region over the weekend celebrated the 70th Anniversary of his enstoolment as a chief. Born on 13th January, 1950, he was enstooled on 28th March, 1954 together with a 27 year old Amegavi Klinogo as his Agbotadua (Forerunner or Deputy to the Chief).
At a colourful ceremony last Saturday to mark the culture70th anniversary, Togbi Salu observed that the political climate is heating up due to the upcoming general election. He therefore appealed to Political Parties, the Electoral Commission, the Security Services and the citizens in general not to do anything that will undermine or compromise the peace of the nation.
He further stressed that the political actors must not subvert the will of the people in any way nor should blood be shed for one to assume power. Togbi continues ” I urge all citizens to shun any group of politicians that would want to engage them to cause trouble and disturb the peace of the land. As Chiefs, we must not entertain such politicians in our communities. We must send strong signals to them that we value our people and they cannot use them for violence ”
Togbi Salu also lamented the falling standards of education in the community and the general lack of discipline among students, a situation he partly attributed to government policy on corporal punishment. According to him, in times past when teachers had the free hand to punish erring students, there was total discipline among them.
One other concern raised by Togbi Salu had to do with the bad nature of the road from Anlo Afiadenyigba junction to Havedzi. According to him, this road has been in a deplorable state for more than two decades and successive governments have only paid lip service to it. According to him, residents of the town started contributing money to fix the road themselves, however, government jumped in but sadly abandoned the project after just one week.
He therefore called on the government to ensure that work is resumed immediately in order not to incurr the wrath of his people. The Awadada of Anlo, Togbi Agbeshi Awusu II who was the chairman of the occasion, congratulated Togbi Salu III on this milestone. According to him, it takes the Grace of God for someone to be on a throne for 70 years and beyond.
The Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Salu Royal Stool, Emmanuel Salu in his welcome address, enumerated the many successes chalked up by Togbi Salu III in the last 70 years. He cited the lands donated by Togbi Salu for the construction of schools, community water pumping station and offices, and construction of a community library and ICT centre among others.
The ceremony saw the outdooring of Seyram Carl Cletus Klinogo as the new Agbotadua, with the name Agbotadua Seyram Klinogo. Elikplim Abla Adikah was also outdoored as the Queen Mother with the Stool name Mama Biana Xormenyae.
While Seyram becomes the 4th Agbotadua on the Stool, Elikplim makes history as the first Mama on the Stool. However, by custom, she is assigned number two and will therefore be known and called Mama Biana Xormenyae II.
The grand durbar to climax the 70th anniversary was attended by various traditional and religious leaders, political figures and captains of industry. Also on display was the rich and beautiful Anlo culture.
Salu descended from the Akum family of Notsie. Akum married Abui Buekpor, sister to Kokui Asongue and Togbi Wenya. This marriage produced twins, Atsu Etso and Etse Gbedze, and two others, Doe and Dotse. Atsu Etso begat Salu. Salu was a warrior, a hunter and a fisherman. He first lived in Anloga but moved to stay briefly at Nolopi. Salu left Nolopi to found a new settlement which was then called Salukope.
He was the only one living there at the time, but eventually, his relatives came to join him. As time went by, other people from other places came to join the settlement. A statement made by Salu to the effect that ‘Afiadekenyigba mewoa nu ne ame woduna o” to wit, there was no land anywhere which could produce food by itself for its inhabitants – gradually came to replace Salukope as the name of the community.
To that effect, Salukope is now known as Anlo Afiadenyigba. Presently, there are eight divisions in Anlo Afiadenyigba. The division where the Salu Stool is located is known as Afiadenyigbaga – Big Afiadenyigba, previously known as Afiadenyigbagba – first or original Afiadenyigba to keep the history of the founding of the town intact.
Salu’s siblings were Ahelegbe Dakpo and Xormenyae. The Queen mother was selected from the Ahelegbe Dakpo lineage. Klinogo, on the other hand, was Salu’s nephew from Nolopi. For helping secure Salu’s land from foreign invasion, Salu rewarded him with the position of Agbotadua.