Togoland gets back Togo's toys

Sunday, 08 March 2009 19:51

Written by essbee, onion uttapam news

The people of the tribal kingdom of Togoland today celebrated the return of the toys (mostly marbles and a few wooden tops) of Credo Togo, the patron saint of Togoland following the heroic efforts of its Mageo (a traditional drink) baron to bring back the toys to their rightful place, the kingdom of Togoland. Yesterday, at a toy sale held at Chiboonka fair in the neighbouring kingdom of Mali, Wamai Malava, the Mageo manufacturer successfully purchased the marbles belonging to Togo before anyone else could buy them at the fair and by his swift action saved the pride and prestige of the people of Togoland.

The great grandson of Credo Togo, Takata Togo expressed his relief and delight that his great grandfather's marbles would be available for all Togolandians for generations to see and admire. Thousands of admiring Togolandians expressed their gratitude to Malava by taking off their traditional kufi hats and presenting it to him in his honor. A touched Malava said that he wanted to save the marbles from falling into the hands of hostile foreign tribes and that he would donate the toys to Takata Togo for safekeeping.

The Tale of Togo and his Marbles

Several hundred years ago the kingdom of Togoland was divided and fragmented with several warring tribes perennially engaged in conflict with each other. Taking advantage of the disunity amongst the tribes of Togoland, the neighbouring king of Mali attacked and conquered Togoland, then known as Swahisia.

Credo Togo was born in a poor family of peasants and spent most of his time hearding goats. After he lost his father during a bloody attack on his tribe by a rival tribe, he developed an aversion to violence and ran away from home scared of being caught in any conflict. After his father's death, he sold all of his ancestral land and hid away the proceeds from the sale deep under the ground at a secret location. One night in a state of drunken stupor at the local village tavern, he unwittingly blurted out the location of his hidden treasure. Expectantly, his life savings were stolen by local goons and he became penniless.

Shocked at his loss and flabbergasted by his own foolishness, Credo took a vow of silence and also decided not to ever touch Mageo, the traditional fermented drink made from maize and malt enjoyed by most Togolandians. His unusual abstinence surprised the villagers who felt awed by his self-control and soon his fame started spreading wide and far. He became well-known throughout Swahisia and revered by all the tribes of the country. Thousands of Swahisians came from all across the country to see him and seek his blessings.

During his spare time when we has not bestowing blessings on his countrymen, he used to often play with marbles and wooden tops. One fine day, while Togo was sitting under a tree playing with his marbles, he was interrupted by Malian soldiers who had arrived at his village and wanted to set up a temporary camp at that place. The soldiers asked him to leave immediately and threatened to kill him if he didn't obey. Dismayed at the audacity of the foreign troops and shocked that he could be kicked out like a worthless serf in his own hamlet, Togo ran through the lanes of the village screaming 'Freedom! Freedom!'

Togo had spoken after a gap of seven long years. The villagers were stunned. Word began to spread everywhere that the great saint has spoken. The people of Togoland who had become used to Malian rule and had forgotten that they were once free, divided and war-ridden, woke up to the concept of freedom from foreign occupation. The word 'Freedom' spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom and people began to speak out against the Malian occupation. Once awoken, the people of Swahisia kept talking about freedom. They led protest marches demanding freedom, composed and sang freedom songs and occasionally even killed a few Malian soldiers.

After nearly fifty years of the freedom movement, the Malian rulers having looted the country of most of its wealth, got tired of repeatedly hearing the word 'Freedom' and decided to quit the country. Once Malians left the country, the people of Swahisia appointed Togo's favorite disciple as the king of the nation. After the death of Togo, the king changed the name of Swahisia to Togoland in honor of the great saint who had delivered freedom to the tribal country by uttering the word 'Freedom'. Soon after every alternate lane and public institution was named after him. His bust was erected at every street corner and he was ordained officially as the patron saint of Togoland.

Togo's Toys and Why they are so important

Since Togo lived a life of penury, he didn't have any material possessions except few beaded necklaces, wooden bangles, headgear consisting of dove feathers and loinclothes, all of which were buried along with him when he died, as per the customs of Swahisian tribes. As a result, the toys that he played with during his spare time have become the focus of the tribal kingdom's attention.

"Togo's marbles are our last link to the great man. We cannot afford to lose his marbles" said Takata who has demanded that the government of Togoland should do all in its power to ensure that in future that Togo's marbles do not get sold at any trade fair. "We should do everything in our power to prevent Togo's marbles from falling into foreign hands"

Its a mystery how Togo's toys were lost and landed up at Chiboonka trade fair. According to some historians, some of the marbles were sold by his sons and grandsons to foreign businessmen. Doubts have been expressed in some quarters whether the marbles bought by Malava are authentic marbles belonging to Credo Togo since the Malian seller has provided no proof of their genuineness. Many believe that the Malian businessman, Otis and the organizers of the Chiboonka fair are scamming the nation of Togoland, cashing on the gullibility of stupid Togolandians.

"They may have gained back the lost marbles of Togo, but as a nation they have collectively lost their marbles" said one Malian visitor at the Chiboonka fair barely hiding his scorn.

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