Bassar, Ntcham in Togo

Introduction / History

The Bassar people are located in a group of villages reaching from the Togo border east of Zabzugu some 30 kilometers east to Basaar in Togo.

There are 30 Bassar clans, each linked by name and ancestry to the towns of Bassar, Kabou and Sara in Togo, and to heads of families which moved into that area perhaps 350 years ago. The clans are exogamous, and the various clan leaders have formed alliances sealed by marriage. Many Bassar have migrated and Kpandai, though not in the Bassar homeland, is the biggest urban Bassari community in Ghana. Subgroups are also defined by language. The Ntcham Bassar speak the Ntcham language, for example.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Ntcham Bassar are farmers with their farms being located away from the towns that they live in. The larger the town the farther away their farms. The major crop is yam, but they also grow maize, guinea corn, millet, tigernuts and groundnuts.

When a man gets married he must have his own quarters so he usually starts a new compound. Each wife has her own hut where she lives with her children; girls stay with their mother till they are married, but boys get rooms of their own when they grow up.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Islam has made little headway among the Ntcham Bassar, although there has been a Muslim influence amongst them for over a century or more. Islam is attractive because it seems to be the religion of the rich and because it offers additional charms; it is a

What Are Their Needs?

The Ntcham Bassars need more medical facilities in their area.

Prayer Points

Pray for all their physical needs to be met by our generous God and for them to respond with praise and thankfulness.
Pray for the few Christians among the Ntcham Bassar to shine the light of Jesus, drawing others to him as well.
Pray that soon there will be entire Ntcham Bassar families turning their lives to Jesus Christ.
Pray for Ntcham Bassar disciples to make more disciples.

Text Source:   Joshua Project