The Pan African Writers Association has sent a condolence message to the President and members of the Togolese Writers Association on the passing of a renowned Togolese writer and elder, Koffi Gomez.
Koffi Gomez who was born on February 28, 1941, in Lomé and died on September 22, 2026, in the same city, was a Togolese writer, playwright, and author of children’s literature.
He was also known by the pseudonym Gemzo Kiffo. He became known to the general public with his novel Opération marigot, winner of the Eyadéma Literary Prize in 1986.
In 2025, specifically on November 7, during the celebration of International African Writers’ Day organized in Lomé by the Togolese Writers’ Association, he received an honorary distinction in recognition of his distinguished career on the Togolese cultural scene.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in tropical geography (1968) and a master’s degree in geomorphology (1969) from the University of Dakar, Koffi Gomez began his professional career in teaching, first in Côte d’Ivoire (1969-1972) and then in Gabon (1973-1974).
Returning to Togo in 1974, he joined the civil service as an administrator in the Directorate General of Planning and Development.
His literary work is rooted in the Togolese socio-political context of the 1970s and 1980s, marked by rural development policies, cultural shifts, and social tensions.
His texts frequently address themes such as corruption, administrative abuses, social crises, and traditional values.
In 2008, he resumed publishing his works under the pseudonym Gemzo Kiffo, notably with the re-release of his play Gaglo ou l’Argent cette peste
Koffi Gomez wrote novels, plays, and books for young people. His writing was characterized by a social and critical dimension, depicting the political and moral realities of Togolese society
The novel Opération marigot has been the subject of academic analysis, particularly in studies devoted to the representation of social unrest and development strategies in Togolese literature
His work primarily dealt with rural development, governance and public administration, social transformations, and especially conflicts between modernity and tradition.
May his dear soul rest in perfect peace. Amen
