“Amegbeto” signifies human in Ewe, a West African language spoken in Togo, Ghana, Benin, and Ivory Coast. Translated literally, “ame” means the person, “gbe” means to refuse, and “eto” means the house or the father. Therefore, in Ewe, human implies “the person who refused the house” or “the person who refused their father.”
This foundational myth in Ewe culture invites us to explore concepts such as territory, home, heritage, migration, and initiatory journeys.
Presented from the feminine author’s perspective and proposed as the central concept of the eponymous artist’s book series, the myth “amegbeto” serves as a resource.
The zine Amegbeto #002, titled “Here Doesn’t Take Place,” showcases a collection of photographs, zooming in and out to highlight various selected details of Ewe, Kotokoli, and Kabye traditional dressing styles, during the 2017 annual Kpodji high school feast day in Kpalime (Togo). During this event, pupils wear their traditional clothes.
This edition of Amegbeto focuses on the sense of place.
