Tafi, Tegbo in Ghana

People Name:	Tafi, Tegbo
Country:	Ghana
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	7,800
World Population:	7,800
Primary Language:	Tafi
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	20.00 %
Evangelicals:	13.00 %
Scripture:	New Testament
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Guinean
Affinity Bloc:	Sub-Saharan Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Tafi people also known as Tegbo, make their home in mountainous terrain in the Hohoe and Ho districts of Volta. The mountains used to serve as protection against invaders; however, there has been law and order for some time now and, except for occasional disputes over water and land resources, the different people groups live peacefully with one another.

Tafi people are mostly subsistence farmers, raising crops such as plantain, rice, corn, yams and cassava. Some of the people also raise chickens and goats to sell at the markets. One unique feature of the Tafi people is that when they meet for storytelling sessions, the storyteller remains seated with the group. In other parts of Ghana, the storyteller always stands when telling a story.

Tafi homes have ancestral shrines near their front doors, which is also where the men will sit to make decisions. Because the ancestral shrine has a small bone from the ancestor embedded in it, when the men meet together, they feel as if the ancestor's spirit is present and part of the decision making process. The Tafi people look to their ancestors to protect them from evil spirits, which they believe inhabit everything around them.

Christianity came to the Tafi about 50 years ago through the efforts of two large Christian denominations. Since then, smaller Christian groups have been reaching out and gaining ground, particularly over the last 20 years. There are churches among the Tafi, but their services and teaching are in the trade language, which most of the people do not understand well.