Gnassingbé Eyadéma, born in 1935 in Pya in northern Togo, left his mark on his country's history with an exceptional career and a commitment to cultural reappropriation.
The son of a modest peasant family, he rose through the ranks thanks to a remarkable military career before becoming President of the Togolese Republic in 1967, a position he held until 2005.
In 1974, he gave up his French first name, Étienne, and called himself exclusively Gnassingbé Eyadéma.
This symbolic gesture illustrates his rejection of colonial influences and his desire to promote Togolese cultural identity. He took this approach a step further in 1975, proclaiming the Ewe and Kabye languages as the country's official languages, thus reinforcing the country's attachment to local traditions.
His career embodies a quest for cultural and political sovereignty, valorizing Togo's origins and languages in a West Africa marked by colonial legacy.
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