«` La belle Djougou que nous avons Perdue !´ Histoire interconnectée d’une « Colonie-Modèle » au cœur des rivalités franco-allemandes du 19e siècle. »

Abstract

Taking an interest in the 'crossed history' (Werner / Zimmermann, 2004) between Germany and France at the centre of the colonial scramble for Africa seems anachronistic today, at a time when the Franco-German couple, the driving force behind the European Union, has changed from rivalry to complementarity in international relations. However, viewed from the perspective of a global/interconnected history of Africa, this concern gains currency and should ideally even draw on the analytical materials of history in equal measure (Bertrand 2011). Failing this, the present study follows a postcolonial stance (Mudimbe 1888; Mbembe 2002), which shows that it is indeed possible to understand African societies by examining the 'colonial library'. I attempt to understand functionalisation of the kingdom of Djougou in the proclamation of Togo as a 'model colony' by the German coloniser by analysing various sources (diaries, correspondence, official sources, etc.) re-edited by the German historian Peter Sebald (1934-2018).