Brief History

Historically Kpoeta and Hohoe form a strong faction i.e. the central wing, in the composition of the Gbi state thus the chief of Kpoeta plays the undisputed role as the war front-leader for the paramount chief of Gbi state since time immemorial.

Gbi Kpoeta was originally called Dzake. From Notsie, the Gbis settled at a place currently known as Gborxome, close to where the Fodome community is presently sited. The search for water brought them into contact with river Dayi and they moved camp to settle along the river at Agordome. During their stay at Agordome, they suffered periodic attacks from leopards and other wild animals. As a result, they eventually moved to their present location. The Gbis never had their piece of mind from the numerous raids, incursions and wars from marauding bands. In such confrontations, the “Army of Kpoeta or Dzake had the onerous task ‘To protect the paramountcy’”.

During that era, the Dzakes had a potent war-god, which was preserved in a special gourd known in Ewe as ‘akpaku’ or a’akpee’. The Gbis had a strong conviction in the potency of the special medicinal war gourd. Historical evidence had it that, in one of such wars, all bullets from the enemy camp were miraculously absorbed into the special potent gourd, carried by a young virgin of Dzake. As a result of this special achievement, the town was called ‘Akpetatowo’ which has been corrupted over the years to become Kpoeta. It is significant to note that Kpoeta is strongly linked to Dzake in Peki.