Sylvanus Olympio

A Descendant of Afro-Brazilians and the First President of Togo

Abstract

Sylvanus Epiphanio Kwami Olympio was born on September 6, 1902, in Kpandu, a town located in the German colony of Togo at the time of his birth, but which was later transferred to the Gold Coast (later Ghana), an English colony. Sylvanus was the eldest of thirty children born to his father, Epiphanio Francisco Olympio, who in turn was the son of Francisco Olympio da Silva, the founder of the Olympio family in Africa. Sylvanus Olympio was the first president of Togo after the country gained independence from France in 1961. This article provides an introduction to the history of the Olympio family in West Africa. It examines the professional and political life of Sylvanus Olympio, who rose to leadership in Togo when it was a French colony. It will also discuss his assassination on January 13, 1963, and its aftermath.