His Majesty Tchiffy Jean Gervais Zié has passed away: Africa loses a visionary of continental renaissance

13 September 2025

//

Africa mourns the loss of a great visionary leader

The Forum of Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Africa (FSLTA) is in mourning. The pan-African organisation announced, with deep dismay, the passing of its Permanent Secretary General, His Majesty Tchiffy Jean Gervais Ziéon 28 August 2025 in Italy, at the age of 73. A loss that deeply marks not only Côte d'Ivoire, his native land, but the entire African continent, which loses one of its most influential traditional leaders.

Index

A giant of traditional African leadership departs

The news of His Majesty Tchiffy Zié's passing has shaken the world of traditional African leadership. In a statement signed by the Dr Jido Franklin, First Chancellor and Executive Director of the FSLTA, the Chancellery presented its condolences to the family of the deceased, to the traditional Payopa chefferie as well as to all the crowned heads of Africa, founding members of the Forum. 'Africa and its diaspora have just lost an outstanding personality', emphasises the text, acknowledging the enormous void left by this extraordinary .

Originally from the village of Payopa in the sub-prefecture of Gagnoa in the centre-west of Côte d'Ivoire, Tchiffy Zié passed away in Italy after a long illness. His death plunged not only the Gôh region into sadness, but a wide circle of Africans who recognised in him a symbol of dignity and wisdom.

Tchiffi-Zie-with-Nelson-Mandela

A path marked by pan-African engagement

The rise of a visionary leader

The life of His Majesty Tchiffy Jean Gervais Zié was characterised by an impconstant support for Africa's unity and development. Enthroned 263rd King David by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church of Africahe was the first Permanent General Secretary of the FSLTA, an organisation he helped to shape from its inception.

The Forum of Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Africafounded on 28 August 2008 in Benghazi, Libya, with the support of the former leader of the Libyan revolution Muammar Gaddafi, is today one of the most important coordination platforms for traditional authorities on the continent. Under the leadership of Tchiffy Zié, this organisation has acquired an extraordinary continental dimension, bringing together 535 African kings, sultans, sheikhs and other traditional leaders.

A bridge between tradition and modernity

What most distinguished His Majesty Tchiffy Zié was his exceptional ability to combining ancestral values with contemporary needs. He was not just a custodian of traditions, but an innovator who saw traditional chefferie as a 'tool worth supporting' by the African Union.

His influence extended far beyond the village of Payopa. Internationally recognised as a humanitarian, visionary and activist for African development, he had advised the African Union and addressed its General Assembly and Heads of Government on several occasions. He was recognised by the Pan-African Parliament as a sober thinker and philosopher and had interacted with leaders of major blocs such as the European Union

Commitment to peace and mediation

A respected mediator

One of the most significant dimensions of Tchiffy Zié's work was his role in the mediation of African conflicts. Very involved in African mediation, he had been sent by his peers in September 2022 to facilitate the resolution of the Ivoirian-Malian crisis that arose from the arrest of 49 Ivorian soldiers in Bamako, Mali.

For more than five months, he led facilitation and lobbying efforts with traditional leaders, political and institutional figures in order to promote dialogue between Mali and Côte d'Ivoire. This intervention testifies to the trust African leaders placed in his mediation skills and diplomatic wisdom.

His philosophy was clear: traditional African mediation represents an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. He believed deeply in the power of tradition to build unity and harmony, seeing traditional chefferie as an essential partner for modern states in the development process of the continent.

Visionary projects: KOSAHÄ and beyond

An ambitious multi-sectoral programme

Among the most significant projects promoted by His Majesty Tchiffy Zié are KOSAHÄan ambitious multi-sectoral programme focusing on agriculture, environment and health. This project represented his concrete vision of African renaissance, combining sustainable development and the valorisation of local traditions.

The international NGO RAFUDESC-Benin, partner in the project, salutes the memory of a 'great man, visionary and unifier'. Through this partnership, His Majesty Tchiffy Jean Gervais Zié had succeeded in creating a vast platform of African experts from all disciplines, at the service of the African renaissance. As stated by Édouard V., president of the organisation: "No sacrifice will ever be too great for the KOSAHÄ project to be realised for the benefit of African people".

Tchiffi-Zie-Jean-Gervais-avec-le-President-de-l-OUGADA

United Kingdoms of Africa: a pan-African dream

Besides his role in the FSLTA, Tchiffy Zié was also the founding president of the United Kingdoms of Africa Associations organisation and initiator of the United Kingdom of Africa concept. This organisation, officially formed in 2015, includes the official endorsement of 535 Kings, Sultans, Sheikhs and other Traditional Leaders in Africa through the Forum of Sovereigns and Traditional Leaders, collectively representing the voices of nearly one billion people on the African Continent.

The United Kingdoms of Africa Association is an advocacy platform for non-political social development that acts as a unified voice for civil society, working in support of national presidencies and governments, institutions and citizens to support the African governments' National Development Plans, the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The legacy of a bridge builder

An example of reconciliation

Tchiffy Zié's life was also marked by his commitment to the national reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire. During the 2011 post-election crisis, while many villages in the Gagnoa region, President Laurent Gbagbo's home area, were the scene of violence, Payopa was spared by the Republican Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FRCI) in their advance on Abidjan.

This act of wisdom was greeted with gratitude by Tchiffy Zié, who, despite the looting of his residence in Abidjan, solemnly acknowledged the responsible behaviour of the FRCI by handing them the sum of one million CFA francs. "There were problems in some villages of Gagnoa, but God spared Payopa".he declared, demonstrating his ability to look beyond conflicts towards peace building.

Le Roi jung President le President d Unganda la reine l

A lasting continental influence

His Majesty Tchiffy Zié's impact on the African traditional leadership landscape cannot be underestimated. His active participation in the Pan-African Council of Traditional and Consuetudinary Authorities (CPATC) and his collaboration with other continental platforms have contributed to a stronger and more coordinated voice for African traditional leaders.

He was recognised as a figure who had the ability to speaking for tradition without rejecting modernitya delicate but essential balance for contemporary Africa. His vision of a united Africa, respectful of its traditions but open to progress, continues to inspire leaders and communities across the continent.

International recognition

A globally respected leader

Tchiffy Zié's international stature went far beyond Africa. As the former CEO of an Italo-Italian investment company, he had built economic and cultural bridges between Africa and Europe, demonstrating that traditional leadership could also play a significant role in the modern economy.

Mr.Romano Prodi ancien premier ministre Italien heureux d

His title as the 263rd King David, recognised at Aksum in Ethiopia after Emperor Haile Selassie, testified to the respect and veneration he enjoyed not only in Côte d'Ivoire but throughout the continent. This symbolic recognition placed him in a spiritual and cultural lineage that goes back to the deepest roots of African civilisation.

The vision for Africa 2030

A strong Africa open to the world

The 3rd Summit of Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Africa, organised under his leadership in November 2024 in Lomé, Togo, had as its central theme the FSLTA's vision for 2030: "a strong, peaceful Africa, rich in its resources, cultural heritage and ancestral values, whose traditional institutions participate effectively, together with states, in restoring its dignity and prosperity, for the benefit of its peoples".

This vision represented the essence of Tchiffy Zié's thinking: an Africa that does not renounce its roots but projects itself confidently into the future, where traditional institutions work together with modern states for the common good.

A void difficult to fill

The impact of his disappearance

For many actors of development and traditional chefferie, the disappearance of the sovereign constitutes an immense loss. His actions, his convictions and his role as a builder of unity will remain engraved in the recent history of the continent. As the NGO partner RAFUDESC-Benin still insists: 'No sacrifice will ever be too great for the KOSAHÄ project to be realised for the benefit of the people of Africa'.

In Payopa, as in the other localities of Gôh, the consternation is immense. The populations are already organising themselves to pay the homage due to his rank, mixing customary rites and official recognition. For his loved ones and for the entire African community of traditional chiefs, his passing opens a void that is difficult to fill.

A legacy that lives on

However, beyond the pain, the assurance remains that his name will remain associated with the promotion of African identity and the search for lasting peace. In leaving this world, His Majesty Tchiffy Zié Jean Gervais left behind him a spiritual and cultural legacy whose splendour will not be extinguishedremembering that some figures, through the strength of their commitment, live on through collective memory.

Towards the future: honouring the memory of a visionary

Next steps

The funeral programme and the accompaniment of His Majesty Tchiffy Jean Gervais Zié to his final resting place will be announced later by the FSLTA Chancellery. This moment will undoubtedly be an opportunity for the whole of Africa to pay tribute to one of its most illustrious sons.

His vision of an Africa united in respect for diversity, strong in its traditions but open to the world, continues to guide the work of thousands of traditional leaders across the continent. The projects he initiated, the institutions he helped create, and above all the spirit of unity and sustainable development he fostered, are the most valuable legacy he leaves to future generations.

A message for future generations

The example of His Majesty Tchiffy Jean Gervais Zié shows that it is possible to be deeply rooted in one's own culture and at the same time open to dialogue and progress. His life teaches that genuine leadership is not about imposing one's will, but about serving one's community and building bridges between peoples.

At a time when Africa faces complex challenges - from climate change to governance issues, from economic development to cultural preservation - Tchiffy Zié's legacy offers a valuable roadmap. His vision of traditional institutions collaborating with modern states for the common good represents a development model that respects both cultural continuity and necessary innovation.

Sa Majeste Tchiffi Zie avec les laureats de l'organisation

The immortality of the idea of His Majesty Tchiffy Jean Gervais Zié

The disappearance of His Majesty Tchiffy Jean Gervais Zié marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new phase for traditional African leadership. As is often the case with true leaders, his influence transcends his physical presence. The ideas he promoted, the institutions he helped build, and above all the spirit of African unity he embodied, will continue to inspire and guide future generations.

Africa lost a giant, but gained an immortal legacy. In the words, projects and institutions that bear his name, Tchiffy Zié will live on, reminding everyone that true African development passes through respect for traditions, the unity of peoples and constructive cooperation between all components of society.

Sa Mageste Chef ZIE Jean Gervais SECRETAIRE GENERAL PERMA

Farewell, Gnê Zêlé. May his soul rest in peace, and may his vision for a strong, united and prosperous Africa continue to guide the continent's path to a better future.

Sources:

Leave a comment Cancel reply

A.E.D.I.C. Consulting

Ivory Coast - Abidjan
Cameroon - Yaounde
Italy - Gorizia

ACIA-ASSOCIATION-ITALIA-AFRICA-1