After the attachment of British Togo to the Gold Coast, which became independent under the name of Ghana in 1957, Togo under French tutelage proclaimed its liberation three years later, on April 27, 1960. On that day, the merit of announcing this proclamation came back to Sylvanus Olympius nationalist, supporter of “Ablodé” and leader of the Togolese Unity Committee (CUT), who became Prime Minister after the elections of April 27, 1958, won by his party. Historic moment, April 27, 1960 marks the beginning of a free Togo, after two years of Franco-Togolese negotiations, in an extremely tense context. Feedback through various testimonies, on the symbolism and meaning of this emblematic date who placed the destiny of the country in the hands of his own sons. Updated testimonies, since they go back to the celebration of 2006, and of which some authors, unfortunately, are no longer of this world.
« In this place, on this day, at this time, in the name of the Togolese people, I solemnly proclaim the independence of TOGO, our homeland. And now, Togolese men and women, let’s go, as the national anthem invites us, let’s all build the city together “. This call, which still resonates like an echo in the minds of the Togolese, is that of the first president of independent Togo, Sylvanus Olympio, at the proclamation of independence on April 27, 1960. He will be 63 years old, day for day, tomorrow . The Togolese thus freed from all subjection and masters of their destiny, had celebrated a ” joy so deep, immense and great to live, finally, in a free country with all the attributes associated with it. A country where they are free to assert their personality among the concert of nations. Fruit of so many years of struggle, the proclamation of independence opened a new era of hope for the country and its sons. Hope to be able to close the pages of a “night” which will have ” long summer “, but which gives way to a new “day” full of optimism which comes after moments of difficult discussions. ” So many years before we could be understood, so many hopes to remain firm along this road strewn with disappointments, so much will to finally know this hour that we cannot live lightly “, testified the late President Sylvanus Olympio who shared with so many other Togolese almost the same emotions and feelings of joy to have regained their dignity and identity. Especially to be citizens of a “sovereign country” with its anthem, “Land of our ancestors”, a flag and other attributes conferred on free States.
They lived on April 27, 1960 in joy
Many Togolese who lived through the proclamation of independence on April 27, 1960 are unanimous in recognizing that this is the birth date of the Togolese nation.
In the opinion of the late Firmin Abalo, former general secretary of JUVENTO and national president in 1964, ” it was an atmosphere of pride and joy shared between all Togolese and particularly by the “Juventists”, for having obtained satisfaction of their claim “. Feeling of joy shared by the honorable Monsila Djato who was head of administrative post, then acting head of district in Sotouboua. It testifies : ” I was just 24. And that day, I was the one who guided the Turkish delegation that arrived for this celebration. The joy of the Togolese, this memorable day, was total throughout the national territory. And everything happened without the slightest incident, except that at the official proclamation of independence, at midnight, when we were raising the Togolese flag and lowering that of France, ours stopped halfway. . We had to finish the ceremonies before the Togolese flag floated in the air. But this incident did not tarnish the party which continued late into the night, with popular celebrations ».
For his part, Paul Ayi, professor of visual arts, graduate of the National School of Fine Arts in Paris, notes that the day of independence, April 27, 1960, “was welcomed by all the Togolese people as a release for a better future. This is how many Togolese, myself included, experienced independence day. The joy was total. It was an immeasurable event. No one wanted to miss this one-of-a-kind event. Me, I was in Sokodé on this day of April 27, 1960. While being a teacher, I was sent to supervise the demonstrations. And over there, it was also overflowing joy… ».
For the late Atsutsè Kokouvi Agbobli, former minister, historian, journalist and director of publication, on April 27, 1960, when Togo’s independence was proclaimed, it was his ” own renaissance for the simple reason that I lived through the colonial period. I suffered with the Togolese people, the hardships of this period. I witnessed scenes of repression that revolted me, especially since my parents were themselves fighters for the freedom and independence of Togo. I can assure you that we felt independence as the rebirth of Togo and the rebirth of all Togolese, whether they were inside or outside the country at the time.. I experienced independence as a personal transformation, being myself, at my age already a freedom fighter”.
The real day of birth of the Togolese nation
Beyond the unanimous joy, April 27, 1960, it is also the symbol of the victory of the people over the occupier. And this is what Bitho Essohouna, former director of publication and member of the HAAC, who witnessed the proclamation, argued. From his point of view, April 27, 1960 represents the birth day of the Togolese State. Because “From April 27, 1960, the history of Togo’s international sovereignty began. The Togolese nation was born on April 27. For me, this date must represent something serious, a memory for us….. It was the victory of all Togolese. So April 27 is a sacred day which symbolizes the day when the Togolese have chosen to be one at the ballot box, by voting for the white ballot, knowing that it is to make the white man leave and when the latter will go away, there will be no more taxes, beatings, forced labor. This is how the circles where there were no more than five to ten “Cutares”, there were up to five hundred to six hundred blank ballots in the ballot boxes… “, he explained.
Historian and academic Koffi Badjow Tcham, does not say the opposite, referring independence to the elections of April 27, 1958, a date that remains ” important in the history of Togo and in an unavoidable way. It is the day when the Togolese, with a common voice, with one voice, said no to colonial domination. But, what I would like to add is that April 27, 1958 was not the victory of one man. It is neither the victory of one region against another. It is the victory of the entire Togolese people. And what I would like to point out to you is that on the 21st of June 1957, it was at Pya-Hodo that people were massacred because they had had the courage to pronounce the slogan, “ablodé”. This is to tell you that everywhere people aspired to liberation, everywhere they aspired to independence. So, on April 27, 1958, it was the victory of the Togolese people. It must be perceived and thus understood. Even if subsequently, of course, the hope placed in the people who defended this cause was disappointed, it is not true that this date remains one of the main dates in the history of Togo. I believe that on this, there is no possible ambiguity ».
Just like Professor Tcham, his colleague Nicoué Gayibor, also a historian, refers the Togolese to the inscriptions on the independence monument to better understand the scope of this event. ” It is to mark on it: “Togolese people, by your faith and your courage, the Togolese nation was born”. It’s amazing ! Truly, the Togolese nation was born from there, that is to say, with this recognition on the official level, with this taking in hand of the future, of becoming, of the administration and of all that is the nation. We have become truly great. We have become the equal of the other peoples of the world, we have become ourselves! That’s pretty much what this date means to me. ».
In short, this means that April 27 remains the unifying date for Togolese in their diversity. Let us therefore exploit this common heritage to “ serve » notre « gold of humanity », Togo and in « the unit », as our national anthem recommends, « Land of our ancestors “. Better, let’s make an effort to surpass ourselves, by silencing political quarrels to build Togo.
Bernardin ADJOSSE
2023-04-28 13:55:16
#proclamation #independence #symbol #call #build #Togo #unity #TogoPresse
