Few African cities carry the trace of their own history in their name. Aneho, formerly Petit Popo, is one of them. Behind the Afro-Brazilian facades, sandy alleys and shimmering lagoon lies a founding narrative mixing forced migration, political genius and alliance with the sacred. Understanding Aneho's foundation means understanding how a people driven from their land managed to build a coastal kingdom.
The migration from Accra
The story begins around 1660 on the coast of present-day Ghana. The Guin, a branch of the Ewe people, faced pressure from Ashanti expansion and European incursions. Led by the charismatic chief Foli Bebe, they decided to leave the Accra region for a more peaceful land to the east. After several years of progression along the coastline, scouts reached a lagoon area of striking beauty. The site offered what the Guin sought: fresh water, fertile land, a defensible position and sea access for trade.
Glidji, first spiritual capital
The first permanent settlement was founded around 1680 at Glidji, a few kilometers from present-day Aneho. Foli Bebe installed the sacred objects brought from Notse, including the Kpessosso stone. The first shrines were erected. Priests organized the cult of the 41 Guin divinities. Glidji became the people's spiritual capital — a role it still holds today.
Petit Popo: birth of a merchant city
In the early 18th century, a second pole developed on the site of present-day Aneho. Europeans gave this trading post the name Petit Popo. The city quickly became an important commercial crossroads. The Guin traded palm oil, coconuts and dried fish for European goods: firearms, powder, alcohol. Commerce enriched the city. Merchant families emerged, among them the ancestors of the future Lawson dynasty.