Ewe people - Ewe (English spelling)

Japanese: エウェ族 - エウェぞく（英語表記）Ewe

An ethnic group living in southeastern Ghana and southern Togo. They speak the Ewe language, which belongs to the Kwa group of the Niger-Congo language family. Their population is estimated at over 3 million. Originally inhabitants of western Nigeria, they split into three groups around the 17th century and settled in their current location. They are primarily farmers, cultivating yams and corn. They also fish on the coast, and are skilled in weaving, pottery, and ironwork. Trade is also an essential economic activity. Social structures vary by clan, but the basic unit is the nuclear family, with several patrilineal lineages coming together to form settlements. A chief is chosen from among the elders to oversee administration and rituals. They did not build a centralized unified state, but the clans would unite in times of war by forming alliances. The intrusion of European culture weakened the cooperative relationships within the lineages, but the bonds of mutual assistance among kin still remain strong. They have a traditional religion that believes in a creator god and a minor god, Tolowo, but many have converted to Christianity.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

ガーナ南東部とトーゴ南部に住む民族。ニジェール＝コンゴ語派のクワ諸語に属するエウェ語を話す。人口は 300万以上と推定される。元来ナイジェリア西部の住民であったが，17世紀頃に3集団に分裂して現在地に住みついた。農業がおもな生業でヤムいも，とうもろこしなどを栽培する。海岸部では漁業も行い，織物，製陶，鉄細工も巧みで，また商取引も欠かせない経済活動である。社会構造は各氏族により差異があるが，核家族が基本単位で，父系リニージがいくつか集って集落をつくる。首長は長老のなかから選ばれ行政と祭事を司る。中央集権的な統一国家は築かれなかったが，戦時には各氏族は同盟して団結した。ヨーロッパ文化の侵入によりリニージの協調関係は弱まったが，親族の相互援助の絆はまだ強く残っている。創造神や下級神トロウォを信仰する伝統宗教をもつが，キリスト教に改宗する者も多い。

出典　ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典について　情報

<<: Euenosu - Euenosu

>>: Ewe language - Ewego