Tado

Tado (formerly Ezame) is a village in south east Togo, near the border with Benin.

Tradition states that Tado was the birthplace of the Aja people and other Gbe speaking people such as Ewe,Fon,Phla/Phera,Gun/Ogun at some point in the 12th or 13th century. Today the Aja populate the south part of Togo and Benin. It is also the reputed birthplace of Gangnihessou, the first king of Dahomey, in the 16th century. The Awomefia stool of Anlo in Ghana is reputed to be the original royal stool of Tado that was taken away during a succession dispute.

Today Tado is a centre of pilgrimage for Aja and other Gbe people from across the region, who visit the village each August to pray for their ancestral spirits.