Lomé
Encyclopedia
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
. Located on the Gulf of Guinea
Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean between Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Palmas in Liberia. The intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian is in the gulf....
, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
, cocoa, copra
Copra
Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. Coconut oil extracted from it has made copra an important agricultural commodity for many coconut-producing countries. It also yields coconut cake which is mainly used as feed for livestock.-Production:...
, and palm kernels. It also has an oil refinery
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
.
History
The city was founded in the 18th century by the Ewe peopleEwe people
The Ewe are a people located in the southeast corner of Ghana, east of the Volta River, in an area now described as the Volta Region, in southern Togo and western Benin...
.
The city's population grew rapidly in the second half of the 20th century. The city had approximately 30,000 inhabitants in 1950: by 1960 (the year Togo gained its independence from France) the population had reached 80,000, increasing to 200,000 by 1970.
Since 1975, investments grew by 10% in the past year and had been targeted for development. At the same time, railways, which have an important role in serving the suburbs of the city, deteriorated however.
Market gardening around the city increased, spurred by growing unemployment, rural migration and the demand for vegetables. Market gardening, first extended to the north, is carried on mainly along the beach (whose sand is very salty), and planting hedges provides protection.
The various studies of the land market of the city show that the areas are quite heterogeneous, combining opulent villas and modest housing, without social and spatial division of the city. Other problems increasingly experienced by Lomé are related to garbage collection, and the fight against unhealthy urban living conditions has become a priority of the city and its inhabitants.
Geography
On its inception, Lomé was trapped between the lagoon in the north, the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to the south, the village of Bè in the east and the border of Aflao
Aflao
Aflao is a city on Ghana's Togolese border. It is primarily populated by the Anlo people, a branch of the Ewe people.In the 18th century, Aflao served as one of the major markets for the slave trade.- References :* Dickson, K. B...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
in the West. Today the city has seen a massive growth with the oil refinery in the east.
Neighborhoods in Lomé include Ablogamé
Ablogamé
Ablogamé is a neighborhood of Lomé, Togo....
, Adawlato
Adawlato
Adawlato is a neighborhood of Lomé, Togo....
, Amoutivé
Amoutivé
Amoutivé is a neighborhood of Lomé, Togo....
, Bé
Bé
Bé is a neighborhood of Lomé, Togo, located on the lagoon, east of the city....
, Dékon
Dékon
Dékon is a neighborhood of Lomé, Togo. It is one of the poorest areas of the city. Child prostitution is common ....
, Forever, Kodjoviakopé
Kodjoviakopé
Kodjoviakope is a neighborhood of Lomé is on the western side of the city, bounded by the Route Circulaire and the Togo-Ghana border. It is known as one of the city's opposition strongholds. During Togo's riots of 2005, following the death of Gnassingbé Eyadema, it was the site of some of the...
, Noukafou
Noukafou
Noukafou is a neighborhood of Lomé, Togo....
, Nyékonakpoé
Nyékonakpoé
Nyékonakpoé is a neighborhood of Lomé, Togo....
, Tokoin
Tokoin
Tokoin is a neighborhood of Lomé, Togo....
and Xédranawoe
Xédranawoe
Xédranawoe is a neighborhood of Lomé, Togo....
.
Neighbourhoods in the north of the city are almost separated from the centre by a lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
. The lagoon itself covers 30 km².
Lomé is recognized by the Togolese government as a Municipal Greater Urban Area. Cities and towns in the Greater Lomé Metropolitan Area include: Aflao
Aflao
Aflao is a city on Ghana's Togolese border. It is primarily populated by the Anlo people, a branch of the Ewe people.In the 18th century, Aflao served as one of the major markets for the slave trade.- References :* Dickson, K. B...
(Ghana), Agbalépédogan
Agbalépédogan
Agbalépédogan is a northern suburb of Lomé, Togo. It is one of the educational areas of the city and a number of colleges and schools are located in Agbalépédogan....
, Akodésséwa, Anfamé, Baguida
Baguida
Baguida is a city of the suburbs of Lomé, the capital of Togo, and was once itself the capital.It is located approximately 13 kilometers east of Lomé—between the neighborhoods of Damavo, Kagomé, Avépozo and the littoral -- on national highway 5 leading to Cotonou, Benin.- History :The village of...
, Kanyikopé, Kélékougan, Lomé II, Totsigan, Adidogome, Kegue and Totsivi. Services of the Municipality of Lomé far beyond the boundaries of the Gulf and the town north and east of the city.
Distance of Lomé from other Togolese cities
- Lomé/TséviéTséviéTsévié is a city in the Maritime Region of Togo. It is situated 32 km north of the capital Lomé and in 1981 had a population of 20,247. The city is inhabited primarily by Ewe people....
35 km - Lomé/AnéhoAnehoAného is a town in southeastern Togo. It is situated 45 km east of the capital Lomé, between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Togo in Maritime Region. Historically it was known under the name Little Popo and it had a Portuguese slave market. It later became the first German capital of Togo in the...
45 km - Lomé/TabligboTabligboTabligbo is a city in Togo with 14,023 inhabitants . It is the seat of Yoto prefecture in Maritime Region.- Industry :It was the site of a cement clinker works - CIMAO cement. The plant was active from 1980 to 1984. Several attempts to restart the plant were made until 1997, when WACEM reopened...
90 km - Lomé/NotséNotséNotsé is a town in the Plateaux Region of Togo. It is the capital of Haho Prefecture and is situated 95 km north of the capital Lomé. The town was formed around 1600 by the Ewe people, after they were displaced westward by the expansion of the Yoruba....
100 km - Lomé/Kpalimé 121 km
- Lomé/AtakpaméAtakpaméFounded by the Yoruba people, Atakpamé, the fifth largest city in Togo by population , is a city in the Plateaux Region of Togo. It is an industrial centre and lies on the main north-south highway, 161 km north of the capital Lomé...
167 km - Lomé/BlittaBlittaBlitta is a prefecture and town located in the Centrale Region of Togo.- References :...
273 km - Lomé/SokodéSokodéSokodé is the second largest city in Togo and seat of the Tchaoudjo and Centrale Region in the center of the country, north of Lomé. With a population of 86,500 , currently at around 113,000, the city is situated between the Mo and Mono rivers, and it is a commercial center for the surrounding...
355 km - Lomé/BafiloBafiloBafilo is a city in Togo south of Kara, in Kara Region, known for its large mosque, good wagassi cheese, its weaving industry and the nearby Bafilo Falls....
404 km - Lomé/BassarBassarBassar is a town in Bassar Prefecture, Kara Region in Togo, situated west of Kara. The town has a population of 64,888.-Culture:Bassar was originally a centre for iron making. It now is known as the yam capital of Togo...
412 km - Lomé/Kara 413 km
- Lomé/KandéKandéKandé is a town located in the Kara Region of Togo.Nearby towns and villages include Tantanierta , Kpasside , Adjaite, Koupagou , Atetou , Nyande , Titira , Kouba Tie and Atetou....
503 km - Lomé/MangoMango (Togo)Mango or Sansanné-Mango is a city in Togo. It is situated in the Savanes Region, 26 km from the border with Ghana. The population is about 41,464 people ....
592 km - Lomé/DapaongDapaongDapaong is a city in northern Togo and prefecture seat of Tône in the Savanes Region. It is situated 638 km north of the capital Lomé, near the border with Burkina Faso. It is a market town and has a small museum....
662 km
Climate
The heat is constant, the average maximum temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
in the shade is on average 30 °C (86 °F) in the afternoon, and the average minimum temperature is 23 °C (73.4 °F) in the morning. Earlier this year, a dry wind from the Sahara brought down the temperature to as low as 19 °C (66.2 °F) in the morning.
The climate of Lomé is also greatly influenced by the ocean. The heat is stable, without excessive peaks, and the wind coming from the sea, makes it quite pleasant.
The city has a distinctively low rainfall for this latitude, in fact, Lomé enjoys a micro climate that allows her to reach a low rainfall for the region (800 mm per year). By comparison, Paris receives an average of 650 mm per year.
Lomé Convention
The Lomé ConventionLomé Convention
The Lomé Convention is a trade and aid agreement between the European Community and 71 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, first signed in February 1975 in Lomé, Togo.- History :...
is a trade and aid agreement between the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) and 71 African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries
ACP countries
The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States is a group of countries , created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. The group's main objectives are sustainable development and poverty reduction within its member states, as well as their greater integration into the world's economy...
. It was first signed on February 28, 1975, in Lomé. The first Lomé Convention (Lomé I), which came into force in April 1976, was designed to provide a new framework of cooperation between the then European Community (EC) and developing ACP countries
ACP countries
The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States is a group of countries , created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. The group's main objectives are sustainable development and poverty reduction within its member states, as well as their greater integration into the world's economy...
, in particular former British, Dutch, Belgian and French colonies. It had two main aspects. It provided for most ACP agricultural and mineral exports to enter the EC free of duty. Preferential access based on a quota system was agreed for products, such as sugar and beef, in competition with EC agriculture. Secondly, the EC committed to the ECU for 3 billion in aid and investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
in the ACP countries.LOme is a beautiful place.
The convention was renegotiated and renewed three times. Lomé II (January 1981 to February 1985) increased the aid and investment expenditure for the ECU to 5.5 billion. Lomé III came into force in March 1985 (trade provisions) and May 1986 (aid), and expired in 1990; it increased commitments to ECU by 8.5 billion. Lomé IV was signed in December 1989. Its trade provisions cover ten years, 1990 to 1999. Aid and investment commitments for the first five years amounted to 12 billion. In all, some 70 ACP countries are party to Lomé IV, compared with the 46 signatories of Lomé I.
Lomé Peace Accord
The Lomé Peace Accord
Lomé Peace Accord
The Lomé Peace Accord was a peace agreement signed on 7 July 1999 between the warring parties in the civil war that gripped Sierra Leone for almost a decade. President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah signed with the Revolutionary United Front leader, Foday Sankoh, granting Sankoh a position in the...
was signed in Lome and was a peace agreement between the warring parties in the civil war in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. With the assistance of the international community, Sierra Leone President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992...
and Revolutionary United Front
Revolutionary United Front
The Revolutionary United Front was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven-year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. It later developed into a political party, which existed until 2007...
leader Foday Sankoh
Foday Sankoh
Foday Saybana Sankoh was the leader and founder of the Sierra Leone rebel group Revolutionary United Front in the 11-year-long Sierra Leone Civil War, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002...
signed the Peace Accord on July 7, 1999. However, the agreement did not last and the Sierra Leone Civil War
Sierra Leone Civil War
The Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...
continued for two more years.
Demographics
| Demographic evolution of Lomé | |
|---|---|
| 1892 | 1 500 inhabitants |
| 1896 | 2,000 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 3,000 inhabitants |
| 1904 | 4,000 inhabitants |
| 1907 | 6,000 inhabitants |
| 1911 | 8,000 inhabitants |
| 1930 | 15,000 inhabitants |
| 1938 | 18,000 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 33,000 inhabitants |
| 1955 | 43,000 inhabitants |
| 1960 | 85,000 inhabitants |
| 1970 | 186,000 inhabitants |
| 1981 | 375 499 inhabitants |
| 1990 | 450,000 inhabitants |
| 1997 | 573,000 inhabitants |
| 2006 | 737,751 inhabitants |
Economy
Located 200 km from AccraAccra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
and 150 km from Cotonou
Cotonou
-Demographics:*1979: 320,348 *1992: 536,827 *2002: 665,100 *2005: 690,584 The main languages spoken in Cotonou include the Fon language, Aja language, Yoruba language and French.-Transport:...
, Lomé is an important port, including a free trade zone opened in 1968. It exports phosphates, coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
, cocoa, cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and palm oil
Palm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
, much of the transit going to the neighbouring countries of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
and Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
. The port also holds an oil refinery.
The University of Lomé
University of Lomé
The University of Lomé is the largest university in the African country of Togo. Located in the city of Lomé, it was originally founded in 1970 as University of Benin before changing its name.-2011 student riots:...
is now known in West Africa. The country's main airport is situated outside the city. The tallest building in Lomé, and throughout the country, is the Hotel Corinthia (36 storeys or 102 m).
The city in general has great potential, because tourism is growing in the country. However, political instability that began to surface in the passing years and continues today has seriously affected the country's tourism sector. In 2003, the country received 57,539 visitors, an increase of 1% compared to 2002. 22% of tourists came from France, 10% of Burkina Faso and 9% were from Benin
Main sights
Notable landmarks in the city include Lomé Grand MarketLomé Grand Market
Lomé Grand Market is a colossal market place in the city of Lomé, the capital of Togo.Located near Lomé Cathedral near the city centre, the market often has live African music by performers....
, the Togo National Museum
Togo National Museum
Togo National Museum is the national museum of Togo. It is located in the capital of Lomé.Founded in 1975, it houses ethnographical, cultural and artistic exhibits....
in the Palais de Congrés, a fetish
Fetishism
A fetish is an object believed to have supernatural powers, or in particular, a man-made object that has power over others...
(voodoo) market, Lomé Cathedral, beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es and the former wharf
Wharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
.
The city of Lomé is a typical African city in the sense that many styles, influences, and traditions are mixed. The landscape combines red earth, with grand boulevards and large squares, green gardens and colourful houses.
There are some remnants of colonial architecture from the turn of the century, such as arcades and galleries and the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart designed in the German Gothic style. There are also many modern buildings, like the headquarters of the BCEAO, the BTCI, the magnificent edifice of ECOWAS, Hotel de la Paix, the Hotel Mercure Sarakawa, Palm Beach Hotel and the famous 2 Fevrier Sofitel Hotel
2 Fevrier Sofitel Hotel
Hôtel du 2 Février in Lomé, Togo on Place De L'Indépendance street is by far the tallest building in Togo, standing at 102m. Because it is the only high-rise in Lomé , it is visible from just about anywhere in the city. It has 36 floors, and it was finished in 1980. It was formerly managed by the...
, rising to 102 metres.
Lomé Grand Market
Lomé Grand Market is a colossal market place in the city of Lomé, the capital of Togo.Located near Lomé Cathedral near the city centre, the market often has live African music by performers....
, with a large 3-storey hall. It sells everything from red pepper
Capsicum
Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its species are native to the Americas where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, but they are now also cultivated worldwide, used as spices, vegetables, and medicines - and have become are a key element in...
s, green lemon
Lemon
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking...
s, and dried fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, to combs, travel bags, and traditional medicinal remedies. On the first floor is the Nana Benz, which is noted for its clothing. Nearer the centre of the city, there is the Akodessewa market, which is much more specialized than the general market. There are fetishes, gongons, and gris-gris
Gris-gris (talisman)
Gris-gris, also spelled grigri, is a voodoo amulet originating in Africa which is believed to protect the wearer from evil or brings luck, and in some West African countries is used as a method of birth control...
.
The coast is considerably less frantic than the market, with local fishermen quietly pushing their large boats out to sea. To the west of the city is a residential area that faces the sea. The area has long streets, dotted by official government buildings excluding the Palace of Justice and the various embassies and consulates. Farther north, near the Monument of Independence, is the house of the Rally of the Togolese People
Rally of the Togolese People
The Rally of the Togolese People is the ruling political party in Togo. The President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, is also the National President of the RPT....
(RPT), a major convention center, within which lies the Togo National Museum
Togo National Museum
Togo National Museum is the national museum of Togo. It is located in the capital of Lomé.Founded in 1975, it houses ethnographical, cultural and artistic exhibits....
. The museum contains collections, jewelry, musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
s, doll
Doll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
s, pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, weapons and many other objects showing the arts and traditions.
Education
The University of LoméUniversity of Lomé
The University of Lomé is the largest university in the African country of Togo. Located in the city of Lomé, it was originally founded in 1970 as University of Benin before changing its name.-2011 student riots:...
(previously called University of Benin) is located in Lomé Tokoin Campus. Also, The British School of Lome
The British School of Lome
The British School of Lomé was established in 1983 to serve expatriate families based in Lomé, Togo, who favoured an international education within a British framework....
is located in the city.
Transportation
The city is served by the Lomé-Tokoin AirportLomé-Tokoin Airport
Lomé-Tokoin Airport , also known as Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport, is an airport in Lomé, the capital of Togo. In 2004, the airport served 234,557 passengers...
. The tallest building in Lomé and in all of Togo is the 2 Fevrier Sofitel Hotel
2 Fevrier Sofitel Hotel
Hôtel du 2 Février in Lomé, Togo on Place De L'Indépendance street is by far the tallest building in Togo, standing at 102m. Because it is the only high-rise in Lomé , it is visible from just about anywhere in the city. It has 36 floors, and it was finished in 1980. It was formerly managed by the...
building. The former railway line to Blitta
Blitta
Blitta is a prefecture and town located in the Centrale Region of Togo.- References :...
runs from the airport to the city. In Lomé, and in many other places in Togo, moto-taxis are a common form of transportation. Motorcycle drivers fill the streets and passengers flag them down for a ride on the back for a small charge.
Notable residents
- Emmanuel AdebayorEmmanuel AdebayorSheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a striker on loan from Manchester City. He plays in the same position for the Togo national team. Adebayor previously played for Metz, Monaco and Arsenal and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008...
, footballer for TogoTogo national football teamThe Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
and Manchester City F.C.Manchester City F.C.Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... - King MensahKing MensahKing Mensah known as "The Golden Voice of Togo", is one of the most popular musical acts from Togo, West Africa. Though based in Lomé, he regularly records and promotes his albums in Paris, and has embarked on several world tours since 2005...
, popular Afropop musician, and philanthropist - Moustapha SalifouMoustapha SalifouMoustapha Salifou is a Togolese footballer who plays as a midfielder for 1. FC Saarbrücken in Germany's 3rd Liga. He is notable for spending time in England with Aston Villa...
, footballer for TogoTogo national football teamThe Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
and Aston VillaAston Villa F.C.Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... - Nicole CosteNicole CosteNicole Valérie Coste is a former Air France flight attendant from Togo. From 1997 until late 2002 or early 2003, she had a relationship with Albert II, Prince of Monaco, which produced a child, Alexandre Coste, who was born in August 2003. She also has two sons from a previous marriage...
, Air France flight attendant, mother of Alexandre Coste (the son of Albert II, Prince of Monaco)