Gbe, Western Xwla in Benin

Introduction / History

The Western Xwla Gbe of Benin are located in Mono, Weme, and Atlantique Provinces along the Southeast coast of Benin. They are surrounded by numerous closely related tribes with similar languages and lifestyles. While most of the groups of the region are highly individualistic peoples, they all share many features and aspects of culture with the Mande people that were once predominant throughout the area.

We know very little about what is specific about the Western Xwla Gbe except they have a language by the same name. This language is a member of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. Because we know little about they as a specific group we will make assumptions based on similar groups living in southern Benin.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Like most of the tribes in Benin, the Western Xwla Gbe are probably subsistence farmers growing millet, sorghum, and occasionally fonio as the staple crops. If the conditions are favorable, they will also grow melons, onions, bananas, cucumbers, eggplant, rice, taro, yams, tobacco, and tomatoes. Agricultural methods in Benin are very basic. Shifting hoe cultivation is the prevalent farming technique, using a crop rotation and fallow schedule.

Hunting, fishing, and gathering rarely provide more than a modest supplement to the Xwla-Gbe diet. Animal husbandry is considerably more important, and all tribes keep at least some cattle, mainly of a hump-less, short-horned breed. They also use cattle for sacrifice and marriage payments. They don’t drink milk from cows but they use their hides and the manure is useful as fertilizer. Some also keep dogs, goats, sheep and chickens.

Trade seems to be highly developed and regular markets are practically universal among the tribes in Benin. Labor is divided between men and women in the villages. The men do the hunting, tend to the livestock, clear the land, and perform the bulk of the agricultural work. Women do most of the market trading and gathering, and they also help considerably in the fields when needed.

Most settlements in Benin are neighborhoods made up of dispersed family homesteads. A few compact villages exist in different areas. Most of the tribes of the region live in either round or rectangular huts made of mud or sun-dried brick with thatch roofs.

Like the other tribes in the region, the Western Xwla Gbe do not impose restrictions on premarital sex. Marriages are usually arranged by the heads of families, often while the daughter is still an infant. Some subgroups still require a bride price; others demand that the groom work for the bride's family for some time before the marriage. Polygyny (having multiple wives) is permitted and frequently occurs. Usually, the first wife enjoys a superior status, but the husband provides each wife with her quarters and distributes his time equally among them in rotation.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Although a small number of the Xwla-Gbe in Benin are Christian, most still follow their traditional animistic practices (based on the belief that non-human objects have spirits). Their ancient religious system has many gods and an extensive system of cults through which mystical power is explained and controlled. Common to many ethnic religions is the Xwla-Gbe belief that every person has an inner force that determines his destiny. After death, this "soul" either goes to the sky with the other mystical powers or is reincarnated. They also participate in ancestor worship, believing that the dead influence the living. They make sacrifices to gain the favor of the dead.

What Are Their Needs?

Although the Xwla-Gbe have some gospel impact, many are yet to hear the gospel. Few Christian resources are available in their language.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Western Xwla Gbe to put all their faith in Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Lord to give them an abundant harvest as a testimony of his goodness and power.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send dedicated laborers to work among the Xwla-Gbe.
Pray that God will give the Xwla-Gbe believers boldness to share Christ and disciple their families and communities.

Text Source:   Joshua Project