TOGO: French woman crowned as the queen of a traditional village in Togo

Marie Claude Lovisa arrived in Togo an ordinary French woman, just eight years ago. After moving away from the noise and pollution of the capital Lome, she bought a farm in the region of Kloto, about 80 kilometres north west of Lome. There, she built a house away from the noises and pollution of Lome. Now she has been made a traditional chief. From her first moment in the area she worked to help the local population improve their way of life. She helped send sick people to hospital and register children in school, all from her own pocket. Lovisa soon became a central character of the village, who adopted and welcomed her in their midst. Since her arrival, Lovisa used all her international and NGO contacts to build a school and a health centre. She also helped dig wells, providing drinking water for the community. This selfless approach to settling in the community impressed both the traditional and political authorities in the region. They decided to honour her and make her a traditional chief. At a ceremony on Sunday (November 5) she was given the name of Queen Mawulolo (which in local language Ewe means 'God is great') The villagers will chant her name, and respect her like a royal. Their own community's name will change its name to "Lovisakope" or "The village of Lovisa." This is also celebrated by the family she has started in the village. She has already adopted around a dozen children, who live on her farm. Regularly she also organises distribution of clothes to other children in the village and to those of neighbouring villages.

ITN Source | November 11, 2006

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