Atakpamé
Encyclopedia
Founded by the Yoruba people
, Atakpamé, the fifth largest city in Togo by population (84,979 inhabitants in 2006), is a city in the Plateaux Region
of Togo
. It is an industrial centre and lies on the main north-south highway, 161 km north of the capital Lomé
. It is also a regional commercial centre for produce and cloth.
, a British-French campaign in Togo was aimed at capturing or destroying a powerful German radio station at Kamina near Atakpame. The Allies feared that German maritime raiders would be able to maintain contact with Berlin via the station and thus rapidly pass on intelligence. A short campaign began on 6 August 1914, and the Germans were forced to destroy the station on 24 August before surrendering to the Allies on 26 August.
It was during this campaign that Alhaji Grunshi
fired the first shot by anyone in British service during the war.
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
, Atakpamé, the fifth largest city in Togo by population (84,979 inhabitants in 2006), is a city in the Plateaux Region
Plateaux Region, Togo
Plateaux is one of Togo's five regions.Atakpamé is the regional capital. It is the largest region in terms of area and has the second largest population . Other major cities in the Plateaux region include Kpalimé and Badou....
of Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
. It is an industrial centre and lies on the main north-south highway, 161 km north of the capital Lomé
Lomé
Lomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
. It is also a regional commercial centre for produce and cloth.
History
In 1914, during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, a British-French campaign in Togo was aimed at capturing or destroying a powerful German radio station at Kamina near Atakpame. The Allies feared that German maritime raiders would be able to maintain contact with Berlin via the station and thus rapidly pass on intelligence. A short campaign began on 6 August 1914, and the Germans were forced to destroy the station on 24 August before surrendering to the Allies on 26 August.
It was during this campaign that Alhaji Grunshi
Alhaji Grunshi
RSM Alhaji Grunshi DCM MM was the first soldier in British service to fire a shot in the First World War.Germany's West African colony of Togoland was isolated from the rest of the German Empire, with the British Gold Coast to the west, French Dahomey to the east, and French West Africa to the north...
fired the first shot by anyone in British service during the war.