Screenshot from Mawuline2.0‘s YouTube channel. As a result of a reform of the literature syllabus in secondary schools, Togolese authors are at last making their entry into the lessons of their country. Until 2018, literature syllabuses in the Togo education system, notably in secondary schools, privileged the works of foreign writers from the African continent. These consist principally of the great classics like “Maïmouna” by Senegalese Abdoulaye Sadji, “The Black Cloth” by Ivorian Bernard Dadié, “Caught In The Storm” by Malian Seydou Badian, “Houseboy” by Cameroonian Ferdinand Oyono, “The African Child” by Guinean Camara Laye , and “The Suns of Independence” by Ivorian Ahmadou Kourouma. All these works are foregrounded in school education, to the detriment of the works of Togolese authors. And yet Togo can boast a long list of authors: the first Togolese novel dates from 1929 — “L'esclave” (The Slave) by Félix Couchoro — followed by works such as “La victime” (The Victim) by Yves-Emmanuel Dogbé, “Morte saison” (Dead Season) by Gnoussira Analla, and “Gaglo ou l’argent cette peste” (Gaglo, or This Plague, Money) by Koffi Gomez. The Togolese essayist Baguissoga Satra applauds this change in the school syllabus in noting, in a study entitled The Elements of Selection of Togolese Literary Works for the National Education System, that: Certes, tout récemment (au cours de l’année scolaire 2019-2020), une légère refonte du programme de littérature a été opérée au premier cycle du secondaire. Ainsi, en classe de 6e, on introduit le “Journal d’une bonne” de Dissirama Boutora-Takpa (Prix France-Togo) et en 5e, “Des larmes au crépuscule” de Steve Bodjona. Pour cette année en cours (2021-2022), trois ouvrages sont introduits : “Atterrissage” de Kangni Alem, “Femme infidèle” de Sami Tchak, “La guerre des Aputaga” d’Ayayi Togoata Apedo-Amah. To be sure, just recently (over the 2019–2020 academic year), a light-touch recasting of the literature syllabus has been carried out in the first cycle of the secondary school [ages 11–15]. Thus, in class 6 [UK Year 7/US Grade 6], Dissirama Boutora-Takpa‘s “Journal d’une bonne” (Diary of A Maid) (Prix France-Togo, 2002), and in 5 [UK Year 8/US Grade 7], Steve Bodjona‘s “Des larmes au crépuscule” (Tears At Dusk) were introduced. For the current year (2021–2022), three works are being introduced: Kangni Alem‘s “Atterrissage” (Touching Down), “Sami Tchak‘s “Femme infidèle” (Unfaithful Wife), and Ayayi Togoata Apedo-Amah‘s “La guerre des Aputaga” (The Aputagas War). In emulation of its neighbouring countries, Togo must promote its literature. Witness thise tweet from Marthe Fare, president of Pen Club Togo, on the occasion of a promotion of Togolese works: Je suis à ce jour au lycée Bassar Ville où j'échange avec les élèves sur la littérature togolaise. Avec la maison d'édition Awoudy, cette tournée est pour faire découvrir des auteurs togolais aux élèves de Lomé à Dapaong.#TT228 #TgTwittos pic.twitter.com/yLRbDZeKRO — Marthe Fare (@Nounfoh) February 10, 2022 Today I'm at lycée Bassar Ville where I'm dialoguing with students on Togolese literature. With Awoudy publishers, this tour is to help students from Lomé à Dapaong to discover Togolese authors.#TT228 #TgTwittos pic.twitter.com/yLRbDZeKRO — Marthe Fare (@Nounfoh) February 10, 2022 To get a better grasp of the evolution and the belated recognition of this literature, Global Voices chatted with Mawusse Komlan Heka, founder of Editions Awoudy, who are based in Lomé. According to their website, Editions Awoudy first saw the light of day in 2009 after a long period of eight years of self-publishing from its founder. The company has set its sights on demythologizing publishing in Togo and fostering burgeoning and new emerging talents. The interview has been edited for style and length. Mawusse Komlan Heka (MKH): La littérature togolaise se porte au mieux de sa forme puisqu’il y a beaucoup d’auteurs qui écrivent, des éditeurs qui éditent, des activités littéraires qui se font par-ci par-là, quelques émissions littéraires qui passent sur des chaînes. Il y a toujours des lecteurs qui lisent même si ce n’est plus autant qu’avant. On peut donc dire que la littérature togolaise vit et se développe. En termes de contenus, c'est varié et on rencontre tous les genres: récits, théâtre, poésie, essais portant sur des thèmes divers. En termes de qualité, comme partout ailleurs, il y a du très bon, de l’acceptable et du moins bon, au goût du lectorat. Mawusse Komlan Heka (MKH): Togolese literature is in great shape since there are many authors writing, publishers publishing, literary activities popping up all over the place, some literary shows relayed on broadcast channels. There are stil readers reading, even if not as many as there used to be.