Enjeux socio-économiques du patrimoine culturel dans les cantons de la préfecture de Tchaoudjo au Togo

Starting from the evidence that the cultural heritage of a people contributes to its development, this article aims to present the inventory and the conditions for safeguarding and promoting and the socio-economic stakes of cultural heritage in the cantons of the prefecture of Tchaoudjo. The study consisted of visits in these cantons, which made it possible to conduct interviews with the cantonal chiefs and their notables, members of the village development committees (VDC) and opinion leaders, as well as women, men and the elderly. The choice of respondents was made in a reasoned manner according to the specificity of the subject treated. In addition to these interviews, there is the use of scientific and administrative documents dedicated to the issue of cultural heritage and visits to esoteric, historical and cultual spaces. There are in Tchaoudjo, two types of cultural heritage. On the one hand, the tangible cultural heritage made of historical sites and monuments, museums and sacred forests and on the other hand, intangible cultural heritage composed of beliefs and mythologies, cultural events and traditional festivals. But it should be noted that there is no current initiative in this area, aiming at promoting this cultural cement and its articulation with the social development of vulnerable population in the throes of poverty.