Following the recent commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Area – AfCFTA – the flagship project of Agenda 2063 of the African Union — Africa’s own development vision, it is expected that there will be increased cross boader visitations with aims to provide broader and deeper economic integration across the continent as well as attract investment, boost trade, provide better jobs, reduce poverty and increase shared prosperity in Africa.
The Tour Guide Association of Ghana (TORGAG) – the umbrella organization for all government-registered and sworn tour guides in Ghana, – has taken the leadership and visionary role of bridging the gaps between countries in the region, kicking off the first of a series of regional familiarisation tours from Ghana, as the base gateway to West Africa, with a visit, last week, to the Republics of Benin and Togo. PaJohn Bentsifi Dadson joined the trip and found that what differentiates us as a people in the region is also that which binds us.
As countries in West Africa begin to spotlight domestic and regional trade, including tourism as one of the key pillars for economic development, Ghana must assume its poised position as gateway to the region, encouraging international tourists to make Ghana their base for multi-destination visits across West African, nations.
The syncopated rhythmic drumming among the people of West Africa may effectively be that distinctive feature, like our dialects, which identifies us, and yet it is also that which differentiates our uniqueness.
Considering that the divisions that created the countries of Africa are really the result of European colonialists carving up the continent in their selfish interests, thus causing splits within homogeneous groups settled in an area to assume citizenship of neighghbouring countries, it is no wonder that some cultural practices run on similar lines.
Take the Asafo companies of Akan society. Historically, they acted as the militia and police for settlements, ensuring the safety and well-being of their communities through various political, social, and religious functions, such as participating in state ceremonies, member funerals, and annual gatherings.
Similarly, the Zangbeto, as traditional voodoo guardians of the night among the Ogu people of Benin, Togo and Nigeria, play the role of traditional police and security institution. Charged with the maintenance of law and order, they also ensure safety and security within their communities.
Activated during the day, their performance, especially these days, is nothing short of entertainment. A spectacle to behold, with both using high voltage syncopated drumming that puts them in trace-like mode invoking spirited moves that triggers some fascinating footworks.
And, so it is that on day two on this 5-day TORGAG tour, after crossing the Togo boarder and entering the Republic of Benin, going through some rather cumbersome boarder formalities, our first stop was in Abomay, which used to be the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Dahomey and to a Zangbrtor temple where we were treated to a thrilling dance performance!
What a spectacle! In traditional African belief, dancers not only represent a spirit, but embody that spirit during the dance. This is particularly true of the sacred dances involving masquerades who use a range of masks and costumes to represent spirits, gods, and sacred animals.
The costume of the Zangbrtor is an elaborate full body length A-shaped rafia covered mask structure. Now, the question is if there’s a body inside the structure at all.
Togo and Benin are notoriously famous for their Voodoo – which means spirit in the Fon, Gun and Ewe languages, pronounced (vodṹ). A West African religion, elements of it have survived and evolved into the current forms with similar names that are found in the New World among the African diaspora in the Americas, such as Surinamese Winti, Haitian Vodou; Louisiana Voodoo; Cuban Vodú; Dominican Vudú, Venezuelan Yuyu, and Brazilian Vodum (Candomblé Jejé and Tambor de Mina).
This testifies to the fact that many people sent to those places in the Americas to be enslaved were captured from this part of Africa. And Togo and Benin are capitalising on this heritage of theirs with the promotion of many festivals and events that celebrate Vodu. As well as commemorate their waring past with great monuments and narratives that will keep drawing in tourists to that part of the world for a very long time. Why? Because they are fascinating stories to tell, with many relics to show that make those countries “theatre stages”.
I could go on and on about the many exciting and impressive attractions we encountered on the trip which was so well researched, packaged and executed by the TORGAG team who organised it. We who were privileged to participate in it are the richer for doing so.
And I am not even talking about the fun dancing moments that occurred on the coach, the plenty laughter we created during times when we stopped along the road for a meal, and the camaraderie the embodied how we all related with each other when we visited places like Amazon Square in Benin, where the gaint statue of an Agoodzi – woman warrior – stands in the City of Coutonou, or on the 8km canoe expedition to Ganvie, which is a 40,000 population community that lives entirely on stilt structures built on water, much like our own Nzulezu!
Although some of the senior members of TORGAG are seasoned guides who have been plying the West African sub region for years and could have conducted this tour by themselves, they employed the services of professional local guides to lead us.
Considered critical players in the overall tourism value chain, tour guides, as frontline officers are the visible human component of the industry and can, therefore, make or break a destination.
Their behavioural attributes, overall knowledge of the destination and communication skills is what leaves a memorable mark in the minds of tourists, and this contributes greatly to their satisfaction, adding value to their experiences.
Conduits between visitors and destinations, tour guides are the eyes and mouthpieces through which visitors interact and appreciate destinations. Destinations that nurture professionalism in tour guiding achieve and enjoy sustainable tourist traffic, which in turn builds on tourism revenue. Because, accurate and timely information enhances service delivery, setting the tone of the tour experience on a high and making visitors feel engaged and welcome. The outcome is repeat visits and, investing in the destination. My buddy, Kofi and I, have already begun planning to return to Benin!
