Bè — Historic Ewe District, Lomé
neighborhood · Golfe 1 Commune (Bè-Est) — Lomé · Lomé
Bè — Lomé's Founding District
Bè is considered the historic founding district of Lomé. Its settlement dates back to the 17th century, when Ewe groups fleeing the city of Notsé settled near the sea.
The origins of Lomé
According to tradition, the city of Lomé was founded in 1630 by an Ewe hunter named Dzitri, who founded the village of Alolné (named after a tree) on the site of today's old Zongo. The population later moved to Bè, which borders the lagoon of the same name.
The Ewe people
The Ewe comprise several groups that all claim origins from Notsé, their historical birthplace — including the Bè-Togo, alongside groups such as the Anlo, Somé, and Flawu. The Bè district still observes ceremonies and practices tied to its ancestral beliefs and traditions.
Geography
Located in southeastern Lomé, Bè stretches from the ocean to the Bè lagoon, and comprises several sub-districts including Gbényedji, Pa de Souza, Ablogamé, and Akodesséwa.
Demographics
Bè is a working-class district of Lomé with more than 500,000 inhabitants across its wider area, with many precarious dwellings housing families of diverse origins. It is one of Lomé's oldest districts — colonial-era buildings still serve as homes for some families.
A district under strain
Several reports (Golfenews, 27Avril.com) describe Bè as an "abandoned city at the heart of Lomé," pointing to a lack of infrastructure investment despite its historical and demographic importance.
Cultural significance
Bè remains the symbolic home of Togo's Ewe and Vodun traditions, with the Akodesséwa fetish market as the most visible expression of this spiritual heritage.
Last verified: September 11, 2026 Sources: Wikipedia — Ewe people
Bè at the 2022 census
At Togo's fifth general population and housing census (RGPH-5, November 2022), INSEED counted 10,815 residents in Bè: 5,034 men and 5,781 women, or 87 men per 100 women. The neighbourhood belongs to the Golfe 1 commune, in the Golfe prefecture. It holds 3.1% of the commune's 351,550 residents and ranks 14 of 23 neighbourhoods by population. Greater Lomé has 2,188,376 residents.
Neighbourhoods of the Golfe 1 commune
| Neighbourhood | Residents (2022) | Men | Women | Share of the commune |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anfamé | 62,588 | 30,331 | 32,257 | 17.8% |
| Be Kpota | 41,682 | 20,117 | 21,565 | 11.9% |
| Adakpamé | 35,094 | 17,234 | 17,860 | 10.0% |
| Kanyikope | 26,457 | 12,944 | 13,513 | 7.5% |
| Atiegou 1 | 19,315 | 9,629 | 9,686 | 5.5% |
| Souza-Nétimé | 17,147 | 8,047 | 9,100 | 4.9% |
| Akodessewa Kponou | 14,510 | 7,008 | 7,502 | 4.1% |
| Kelegougan 1 | 13,145 | 6,679 | 6,466 | 3.7% |
| Be Apeyeme | 12,253 | 6,180 | 6,073 | 3.5% |
| Be Hedje | 11,686 | 5,621 | 6,065 | 3.3% |
| Akodessewa Kpota | 11,683 | 5,698 | 5,985 | 3.3% |
| Gbenyedji | 11,299 | 5,418 | 5,881 | 3.2% |
| Wete | 11,088 | 5,266 | 5,822 | 3.2% |
| Bè | 10,815 | 5,034 | 5,781 | 3.1% |
| Zone Portuaire | 8,205 | 4,363 | 3,842 | 2.3% |
| Ablogamé | 8,155 | 3,945 | 4,210 | 2.3% |
| Klobateme | 6,852 | 3,419 | 3,433 | 1.9% |
| Be Kpehenou | 6,569 | 3,152 | 3,417 | 1.9% |
| Akodesséwa | 6,521 | 3,239 | 3,282 | 1.9% |
| Be Ahligo | 6,339 | 3,146 | 3,193 | 1.8% |
| N'Tifafa Kome | 4,539 | 2,196 | 2,343 | 1.3% |
| Kotokou Kondji | 4,044 | 1,947 | 2,097 | 1.2% |
| Antonio Netime | 1,564 | 709 | 855 | 0.4% |
Official source (accessed 17 October 2026)
- National Institute of Statistics and Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED), RGPH-5, booklet 1: spatial distribution of the population by sex (French), 2022: resident population by sex of every neighbourhood of the Golfe and Agoè-Nyivé prefectures (tables 10 and 11).