Brief History of Peki

Indicators show that Pekis were among the original GBI that migrated from Ketu in Benin. They were compelled to exit Ketu because of the menace of an expanding Yoruba tribe with others. They travelled Westwards encountering a lot of challenges till they reached Glime or Notsie in the Republic of Togo. At Notsie, they had to contend with the wickedness of King Agorkolie. Apparently , not able to contain the wickedness of the King they broke the walls of Notse for their independence. They migrated Westwards. After a hazardous journey they met the River Dayi in the Gold Coast and decided to settle around it. After settling there, it's noticed to their dismay that their rear guard were missing. It was decided to send a search party after them. search party was carefully constituted with men and women who had the clout for such a mission to go after them. The search party travelled Westwards until they met the Volta River which was unfortunately in floods. Having no experience in swimming they waited around it's banks , hoping the effects of the harmattan will cause the River to dry up for them to cross safely. To get themselves active and be productive , they engaged in farming and became prosperous. Things got scary when the Akwamus who had fled the *Akim and Akwapim* attacks came to their area of settlement. The Akwamu started raiding their farms and causing a lot of havoc. Disadvantage numerically , engaging them in war was shelved. They opted to retrace their steps. The search party found refuge between two mountain ranges watered by the *River Amimli* . The fertile terrain enchanted them and they settled there and became the *GBI of the South* . At Hohoe *Gbidzigbe* they were seven clans. The search party was carefully constituted from the seven clans. The lost migrated South towards the Atlantic ocean and settled as the Osu Anorhor clan today. Pekis were led by Togbe Asiam of Peki Afeviwofe. Afeviwofe was then the Head of Peki. Peki in reality is the corruption of of the word KPETSI. Historical narration indicated that Pekis were like the creeping plant which easily spreads. KPETSI is what we call today as Ananye and in English Pumpkin. There is a false story out there that Pekis were so called because they arrived late in Eweland. This is a false representation of facts *Per chire* Akan word for habitual lateness cannot be synonymous to Peki since the Gbi people encountered no Akan influences at the time they settled at their present location. It must be emphasized that Peki led the North Westernly group of Ewe migrants. In the early history of Peki , they were known as Krepis. Deiga Kwadzo Dei their King had his land stretching from the Volta River to Keve deep inside Togo. The political set up then was :- Kwadzo Dei - King of Krepi Togbe Adza Terkpo - *Adontenhene of Krepi* Togbe Tepre Hodo - *Nifahene of Krepi* Togbe Abutia Kwadzo - *Benkumhene of Krepi* Kwadzo Dei was the most powerful King in the hinderland of Eweland. He was able to stand the might of the Ashanti army under Adu Boafo. The greatest factor which culminated in the reduction of the strength of Peki was that most of Kwadzo Dei was carved into the country Togoland. This happened when the Germans and the British were creating the boundary between Ghana and Togoland in 1890. The incorporation of the bulk of Krepi into the German Togoland was the result of unpardonable mistake of Mr. Krobo Donkor. Mr. Krobo Donkor was the clerk tasked to fix the boundary between Togoland and Gold Coast. Despite the fact that he was well briefed to fix it at the town of *Keve* , unfortunately however when he reached Kpeve he mistook it as Keve and fixed the boundary there. Peki lost its influence over Krepi. Kwadzo Dei severally petitioned through Peki State Council to the Governor on the reintegration of the lost states of his Kingdom ( Ghana National Archives file ADM 11/ 11 /88 case 3374.