::HISTORY

The Yilo krobos, an industrious, migratory people by oral tradition are said to have been an off-shoot of the great Bantu of Zulu races who penetrated as far as the Congo Basin in the 13 th or 14 th century to Central Africa, under the leadership of Narkor Wornor, the Priest ruler. The precise date of these tremendous tribal movements are unknown and it is difficult to determine where tradition ends and history begins. 

From the hinterland of the Congo basin, the nation was said to have journeyed through the upper reaches of Northern Nigeria towards the end of the 15 th century where they were invaded by Moslems slave raiders which forced them to move. They moved through areas such as Bleku,Tetetu,zago,lalo  to Dahomey , as proof of their contact to these people, the Narko Wornor introduced the ‘Dipo’Custom among the young women, embodying certain fetish rites of profound meaning and significance. The custom which is still popular to the krobos,shai and Osudokus and  has a duration of eighteen(18) months and specially tailored to provide counselling into womanhood. During this period, they were under religious and political supervision of their tribal deities like Osabu,Klomako,Jange and Lalue.

Traditional legend has it that the Krobos joined by the Adas,Gas and the Osudokus settled on Lorlorvor Hill and became united and stronger and were able to resist all attacks by enemies  

The Krobos then moved from Lolovor after the Gas,the Adas and the Osudokus had left to their various destinations which attributed to the name ‘Lolovor’ meaning Love has ended and eventually settled on the Krobo Mountain in 1892 which has now passed into history to defend themselves from aggressive nearby tribes and slave raid. the Krobo remained more or less united nation until 1858 when Ologo Patu, the Chief of south western Krobo, led a rebellion against the Government . This also owes its origin partly to the strong objection the people of the eastern districts had to paying the poll tax and partly to quarrel with Odonkor Azu,the Chief of Eastern Krobo ,whom Patu attacked. From that date till today, the Krobo have been administered as two separate states, namely Manya and Yilo Krobo. They came down to farm on the plains called ‘Dorm’. Their main industrial product was Palm oil. Chiefs later emerged from both sides to lead their people to war and represented them before the colonial governor (Danes). 
 
After the British colonial government took over the Gold Coast from the Danes, the Krobos were accused of human sacrificing and their reluctance to Tax Payment (Poll Tax). The Colonial Masters then demanded their descent from their ancestral home (mountain top) to settle on the plains but they rejected. This led to the organisation of about one hundred soldiers by Governor Griffiths on that memorable first Saturday (Kloma Hor) in August 1892, to throw bombs (cannons) from its foot to displace about 1,153 Yilos and 1,115 Manyas (1891census) from their home. This made them surrendered to the Gold coast government their property and established their new homes on the plains through which runs today as the Dodowa/Senchi motor road. Later, letters were dispatched to the Divisional Chiefs impeding them from returning to their so called home neither to bury their dead there. The Dipo custom was also banned but was later petitioned. But on the 9 th 0f December 1892, Nene Mate Kole,the then king of Manya Krobo and his chiefs together with Nene Akrobetto of Yilo Krobo and his chiefs in consideration of a sum of  ₤300 paid to acquire the Krobo mountain and its surroundings. By 1893, the Krobos had extended their lands from the plain beneath the Krobo mountain by acquiring forestland from the Akim Abuakwas, Ashantis, Brong, Ahafos, Sefwis,Wassas and Aowins thus making them very industrious. The Yilo Krobo Traditional Area is now very large and can boast of her distinguished children in the Cocoa producing areas and the Bead making industry in Ghana.  

Today, the people of Yilo Krobo remember their forceful ejection annually with merry- Kloyosikplemi festival (descent from Klo mountain) by visiting the mountain top (ancestral home) to pay homage to their ancestors was the greatest calamity in the history of the Krobos,-they rushed down hastily in the spirit of pain, sorrow and anguish leaving behind their properties and also lost Relations