Introduction
Lomé is the capital and largest city of Togo, a small country on the Gulf of Guinea in western Africa. The administrative, commercial, and transport center of Togo, Lomé is located on the country's narrow southern coastline, very close to the border with Ghana.
Places of interest
Lomé is home to the country's main educational and research facilities. Located in town is the National Institute of Scientific Research, the national university, and the national museum. One of the city's more famous structures is the Maison du Peuple (House of the People), which houses Togo's only political party and has a 3,000-seat conference hall.
Economy
Lomé is a port city that lies on the Gulf of Guinea, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. From the port are shipped Togo's products, including cocoa, coffee, cotton, and phosphate minerals used in fertilizers. An artificial harbor, opened in 1968, provides docking space for large ships. Lomé also has an oil refinery. In addition, the city is a major transportation center. Railways fan out from Lomé to the country's outlying lands and an international airport sits just outside town.
History
Germany took over a small sliver of western Africa in 1884 and named it Togoland. Lomé was then a small village called Alomé. The Germans renamed it and in 1897 made it the capital of their colony. After World War I, when Togoland was divided into British and French sectors, Lomé became part of the French section. In 1956, British Togoland became part of the new country of Ghana. That is why downtown Lomé is only a little than 1 mile (2 kilometers) from the border with Ghana.
In 1960, French Togoland became the independent country of Togo. Following independence, many people came to live in the city. Population (1997 estimate), 375,000.
