The present-day Ehi community and its surrounding lands were given to the people of Weta by the people of Penyi as a reward for their support in defeating a group of feared occupants.

Mr Victor Ameamu, a historian in Ehi, who made the revelation ho, according to oral history, the feared occupants terrorised the people of Penyi and subjected women, particularly pregnant women, to brutal acts.

Mr Ameamu made the revelation during an Ancestral Walk organised in the community on Friday as part of activities to honour the forebears whose sacrifices, according to the history, contributed to the establishment and development of the community.

He explained that the land, now known as Ehi, was originally part of the Penyi area and was occupied by people locally referred to as “Esiãwo,” who were feared for their acts.

Mr Ameamu said, according to the oral history passed down through generations, pregnant women from Penyi travelling to the market at Weta were subjected to cruel treatment by the Esiãwo.

He said the perpetrators were alleged to have made bets about the sex of unborn children, with some claiming a woman was carrying a boy, while others would bet on a girl or twins.

According to the historian, the perpetrators would then attack the pregnant women and, in the process, cause the death of both the mothers and their unborn children.

Mr Ameamu said the situation became a major concern to the chiefs and people of Penyi, who sought assistance from the people of Weta to confront the group and restore peace and security to the area.

He said the Penyi leadership promised the people of Weta that if they helped to defeat the Esiãwo and restore peace, the land would be given to them as appreciation for their sacrifice.

The people of Weta, whom he described as benevolent and warrior-like, agreed to support Penyi and joined the fight against the Esiãwo.

Mr Ameamu said the Weta warriors eventually defeated the group, killing some, while others fled the area, thereby bringing an end to the reported acts of terror.

He explained that having fulfilled the promise made to the people of Weta, the chief of Penyi formally handed the land to the Weta people as had agreed.

According to him, the expression “Nugbedodoa mie xi”, which in the Ewe language means “the promise we made, we have fulfilled/paid,” became associated with the transaction and the land.

He said the land subsequently became known as “Exi,” meaning “paid,” and that over time, the spelling changed from the Ewe form to the English spelling “Ehi,” while retaining essentially the same pronunciation and meaning.

Mr Ameamu said the people of Weta, predominantly farmers, welcomed the opportunity to acquire additional farmland and gradually began settling on and cultivating the area.

“The people of Weta were farmers, so they were happy to have another piece of land added to what they already had. They gradually started coming to occupy the land, one after another, and that is how the present-day Ehi developed,” he said.

He said farming remained an important economic activity in Ehi, particularly cassava cultivation.

Mr Ameamu explained that as cassava production increased, residents began processing the crop themselves into gari, creating an important economic activity that has remained part of the community’s identity.

He said the desire to promote cassava processing and showcase its economic potential eventually led to the introduction of the Ehi Nutome Gali Za celebration in 2016.

The festival has since become an avenue for the people to celebrate their heritage, promote their agricultural activities and highlight the economic importance of cassava and gari production to the community.

Mr Ameamu said the Ancestral Walk was therefore important because it provided an opportunity for the people, particularly the younger generation, to learn about the sacrifices and struggles of their forebears and understand the history behind their settlement.

He said knowing the history of Ehi would encourage the youth to value the land, preserve its traditions and contribute meaningfully to its future development.

The Ancestral Walk brought together traditional leaders, Queen Mothers, opinion leaders, Assembly Members, the youth and the elderly, who walked through the principal streets of the community and offered prayers in honour of their ancestors.

The activity formed part of the activities marking the 10th Ehi Nutome Gali Za celebration, which seeks to combine the celebration of the community’s history and culture with efforts to promote its economic potential.