Etienne Eyadema was the longest serving leader in Africa when he died in 2006. He claimed to process superpowers and his long rule where he did stand for election does provide some evidence. His powers were so great that his son replaced him and just recently won reelection. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
This stamp issue was a farm out issue of famous paintings related to the Crucifixion of Christ in celebration of Easter. In this case by Raphael. When the President has superpowers and only about a quarter of the country is Catholic, I find it hard to believe Easter is that important to Togo.
Todays stamp is issue A253, a 70 Franc stamp issued by Togo in 1983. It was a three stamp issue in various denominations that was also available as a souvenir sheet. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents cancelled to order.
Etienne Eyadema was born into a poor Kabye tribe family from the interior of Togo. As a young man he joined the French Army for whom he fought in Indo China and Algeria. In the early 1960s he returned home to now independent Togo and was commissioned an officer in the Togo Army. He was a Coronel when he participated in the 1963 coup where he personally murdered President Olympio. He stayed in the Army a few more years until there was another coup and he was ready to become President. He maintained close relations with both Germany and France, the former colonial powers and the French were still active in the economy where there was a fairly lucrative bauxite mine. As President, he banned all other political parties except his personal Rally of the Togolese People.
A President needs to have some ability to intimidate to avoid the next revolution. In 1974 there was a plane crash of a Togo Air Force C47 that was taking Eyadema from the capital to his hometown. The fact that he walked away from the deadly crash was proof of his superhuman strength and the plane must have been sabotaged by evil forces that opposed his plan to nationalize the bauxite mine. Soon there were comic books with Eyadema cast as Superman and even male wristwatches where his portrait would appear and disappear every 15 seconds. His entourage began to include 1000 girls who would sing and dance his praises. The date of the plane crash became a national holiday and excuse for a national feast remembering his victory over the forces of evil. Eyadema even changed his first name in honor of the crash.
Naturally there were political opponents who would have rather him disappeared permanently from their watches. To end a riot, Eyadema granted an amnesty that allowed exiles to return to Togo in 1991. The opposition met in a forum and immediately declared itself a sovereign national assembly with a new Prime Minister but Eyadema still a ceremonial President. Surprisingly this was allowed as Eyedema waited for the inevitable infighting between the opposition to ease out his opponents one by one. In a few years he was back in total control despite have allowed rival political parties and Presidential candidates. In addition to his superpowers, a source of strength has been the the still French managed bauxite mine belonged personally to him and now his son.
Eyedema died in 2006 aboard a Gulfstream jet taking him to France after suffering a heart attack. The head of the Army of Togo then declared his son President. His son has as his last name the new first name Eyadema made up after the plane crash. Opposition leaders complained that the transfer of power was unconstitutional but then 15 seconds later Eyadema’s portrait again appeared on their watches.
Well my drink is empty and so I will just have to wait until next January 24th for the still celebrated Feast day. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.