The legend of Togbi Tsali, the traditional priest who never died.

Togbe Tsali, born in the year 1695 is said to be a twin brother of Tsala and a son to Togbi Akplormada, Both twins were born with mystical powers and marvelled many with their powers. Togbi Tsali played a significant role in the escape of the Ewes from Notsie, a town in southeast Togo, and even beyond Notsie, he served his people. History has it that before the Ewes migrated to their present settlement in Ghana, Togbui Agokoli ruled them with an iron fist at Notsie.

It is believed that Togbe Tsali didn’t die a natural death but vanished into eternity. History has it that, after their escape from Notsie, he helped provide food for the people after they tried to rebel against their leaders because of hunger. It is told that, Togbe Tsali took some corn grains he had in his haversack and planted it and within a short period of time on the same day, the maize grew, and the people harvested it on the same day. He then caused two huge granite stones to appear, on which the people used as platform to grind the maize after which he disappeared again.

Whenever Togbe Tsali appeared, he settled in an area called Tongu where he did some farming. It is said that he once caused rain to fall on only his farm which made the people very angry. Because of this, the people caught him and tied a huge granite to his back and then threw him into the volta river, but to their astonishments, they saw him the next day riding on the back of a crocodile whilst holding the granite which was earlier tied to his back.

It is believed that the granite is still in existence near a town called Tseva and that it has become a mobile granite. it keeps changing positions and can be seen at different locations within the lagoon whenever it dries up.

History also has it that he finally settled in a place called Tsiame where he was made a chief and that his chieftaincy stool still exists till date. It is said that he had a saucepan which he used as a plane to fly and went wherever he wanted to go. It is believed that whenever he wanted to vanish, he came to a place called Vvui and planted some special beans. It was here that he crossed the sand bar and commanded a crocodile to appear which he then sat on and disappeared to eternity. According to folklore, before Togbe Tsali vanished he told the people to invoke his spirit, so whenever they are performing rites for him and call him, he reappears.