Emblem of Togo
The National Emblem of Togo was adopted on 14 March 1962.
| National Emblem of the Togolese Republic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armiger | Togolese Republic |
| Adopted | 14 March 1962 |
| Crest | Two standards with two National Flags (two on each side) and a ribbon argent with the National Motto. |
| Blazon | A shield or with the letters RT (République Togolaise) sable. |
| Supporters | Two lions rampant gules each of them holding an arrow in dexter hand and a bow in sinister hand sable. |
| Motto | Travail, Liberté, Patrie "Work, Liberty, Fatherland" |
| Other elements | An emblem is placed on an oblong argent bordure vert. |
In the device, two standing red lions are to be seen, which symbolize the bravery of the people. Both lions are armed with bow and arrow, symbolizing a call for all citizens to be active in the defense of freedom of the country. Between the lions, a golden shield with the letters RT (République Togolaise) is displayed. Above it, the flag of Togo is displayed twice. On a ribbon stands Togo's motto: "Travail, Liberté, Patrie" (Work, Liberty, Homeland).[1][2]
After Togo's 1991 National Conference, multiple versions of this emblem proliferated, even within the Togolese government.[3] In June 2008, however, a Constitutional Court decision clarified which version was correct.[4]
Earlier coats of arms
Proposed arms 1914
In 1914, the German government decided to assign coats of arms to its overseas colonies, including Togoland. Arms were designed, but World War I broke out before the project was finalised, and the arms were never actually taken into use. Giving the colonies their own insignia in time of war could let them have a symbol to rally around in case of rebellion. The arms proposed for the Protectorate of Togoland depicted a tree supported by two cobra snakes and the German imperial eagle on a chief. The eagle and the imperial crown on the shield was the same for all the proposed colonial arms.[5]
See also coats of arms of German colonies.
Seal of French Togoland
Seal of the Territory of Togoland
References
- Togolese constitution (1992) at UNHCR
- Togolese constitution (2002) at African Legislatures Project Archived 2012-02-14 at the Wayback Machine
- "Armoiries: voici le bon modèle!". République Togolaise. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 12 Jan 2012.
- "A quelles armoiries se vouer?" (in French). République Togolaise. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 12 Jan 2012.
- Schurdel, H.D. . Battenberg (1995). Flaggen & Wappen Deutschland - Heraldik, Hymnen, BRD & DDR Flaggen und Wappen, Deutsche Ostgebiete, ehem. deutsche Kolonien u.v.m.