The first Europeans to see Togo were João de Santarém and Pêro Escobar, the Portuguese explorers who sailed along its coast between 1471 and 1473. The Portuguese built forts in neighboring Ghana (at Elmina) and Benin (at Ouidah). Although the coast of Togo had no natural harbors, the Portuguese did trade at a small fort at Porto Seguro. For the next 200 years, the coastal region was a major trading center for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast".
the first europeans to see togo were joão de santarém and pêro escobar the portuguese explorers who sailed along its coast between 1471 and 1473 the portuguese built forts in neighboring ghana (at elmina) and benin (at ouidah) although the coast of togo had no natural harbors the portuguese did trade at a small fort at porto seguro for the next 200 years the coastal region was a major trading center for europeans in search of slaves earning togo and the surrounding region the name "the slave coast"