Historians agree that the mountains mark the place where the Kabye was born as a distinct ethnic group. Hundreds of years ago, European ships traveled along the west coast of Africa to buy slaves. Some Europeans attacked local populations and enslaved the people themselves. However, many Europeans relied on African intermediaries to bring slaves to the coast for sale. Europeans’ increasing demand for slaves led to the development of slave-raiding kingdoms throughout West Africa. These kingdoms were a threat to other people, so groups of people moved to areas where they could protect themselves, such as the mountain chain in northern Benin, Togo and Ghana. As people formed new communities in the mountains, they began to think of themselves as a distinct group, as Kabye people. In this historical context, during periods of war and violence, physical strength and fighting ability became very important. As the Kabye became a distinct people, they developed their traditions, including the Evala ceremony. It makes sense that before a man can marry and become a father, he needs to prove that he can protect his family from outside attacks. A culture’s coming of age ceremonies can show us what values were, and still are, important in that culture.
