Atakpamé

Atakpamé, town, south-central Togo. It lies along the railroad running north from Lomé, the capital, to Blitta. Atakpamé dates from the 19th century and was first settled by Ewe and Yoruba peoples. It developed as both a commercial centre on a major north-south caravan route and as a haven for refugees fleeing from Dahomean attacks. As a consequence, Atakpamé experienced numerous destructive assaults by the kingdom of Dahomey. It is the centre of an important cotton-growing area and trades in both cocoa and coffee. Pop. (2005 est.) 72,700.