THE AVATIME PEOPLE

According to Abutiate Philip Bright, the aboriginals* of the Avatime lands were gigantic. Migrants who moved to settle there encountered these giants and they had no choice than to settle with them but, the huge men were very mean to them and treated them badly. They forced them to farm for them, and do almost everything for them. The Giants were perceived wise as they enslaved the immigrants to cook and even do virtually everything for them. And even before they (the giants) eat, they make the Avatime immigrants taste the food before they eat it. The people were determined to rid themselves of the huge men forever but it seemed impossible. They had a secret meeting were they met and planned of a way to finally eliminate the huge men. An old man from among them volunteered to sacrifice himself for the people by poisoning the food and tasting it himself. They poisoned palm-wine and served it to the giants. As normally done, the old man was made to taste the drink before they consumed it. The poison was a slow one. The old man did not die immediately but after some few hours the old man and the gigantic men were eliminated setting the people free.

The people of Avatime are known as kedɔnɛɛ whereas the land of Avatime is known as Kedaamɛ. According to Atsu Prince, Avatime is coined from Avetime meaning “inside the forest.” The Kedonee people settled within a forest region in Ghana which suggests their name. There are seven towns under the Avatime traditional area namely Amedzofe (the head town), Vane, Biakpa, Fume, Dzogbefeme, Gbadzeme and Dzokpe. Avatime has the second highest mountain in Ghana called Gemi. The paramount king is referred to as Osie whereas the chiefs are Okusie for males and Okusijɛɛ for females.

Nyagbo also Batrugbu and Tafi-Bagbor are closely related languages to Avatime and they border the Avatime traditional area. The Avatime speak the Siya or Siyase language. They celebrate the Amu festival. Siya is an endangered GTM language as its speakers prefer Ewe to Siya.

COMMON COURTESY IN SIYASE

SEYA	KUDƆU	WORD	RESPONSE
Kitɛ wɔlɛ?	Malɛ mɔ!	How are you?	I am fine!
Wɔlɛ mɔ?	Ee!	Are you fine?	Yes!
Wodo a!	Ee, wɔtsɛ wodo!	Good morning!	Good morning!
Wovi i!	Ee, wɔtsɛ wovia!	Good afternoon!	Good afternoon!
W’ayima!	Wɔtsɛ woyima!	Good evening!	Good evening!
Woja agba!		Well done!
Wɔwa lihoɛ!	Daasi ɔma!	Thank you!	Do not mention!
Mede kuku!		I beg you!
Wɔga!	Yoo!	Welcome!	Thank you!

Abutiate Philip Bright, Avatime-Biakpa