Paul Ahyi

Paul Ahyi (January 15, 1930 – January 4, 2010

Ahyi was known for his massive outdoor artworks, reliefs and sculptures, including his contributions to the Independence Monument in Lomé, which commemorates the country's independence from France. Other outdoor sculptures and statues by Ahyi can be found on buildings and in parks throughout Togo, as well as the Vatican, Senegal, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and South Korea.

Biography Paul Ahyi was born to Togolese parents on January 15, 1930, Ahyi attended school in Dakar, Senegal, from 1949 until 1952. The red square symbolized bloodshed in the struggle for independence.

Ahyi's reliefs and sculptures have been installed and displayed at the United Nations in New York City, as well as Canada, South Korea, West Africa, Italy, Japan, and Paris, France. Irina Bokova, the director-general of UNESCO, called Ahyi's death, "a great loss for Togo and Africa and also for UNESCO, which had appointed him as one of its advocates for peace and social cohesion."