Ehui Konin Joseph becomes eighth village chief of Kotobi in Côte d’Ivoire

Koffi Kpli II, the chief of the Ahua tribe in Arrah, Côte d’Ivoire, officially installed Ehui Konin Joseph as the new chief of Kotobi village on November 8, 2026.

The ceremony took place at the local youth center in the Arrah department. Koua Tano Nicolas, the land chief of the Ahua tribe, explained that the community chose Ehui Konin Joseph based on matrilinear succession rules. Because his mother originated from Kotobi, he became the eligible successor according to local customs.

These customs dictate that the position passes to the son of the eldest woman from the village's founding families or to the person next in the lineage. The village's founding families and local community members approved of the selection. Dr. Ahoba Assande Maurice stated that Ehui Konin Joseph is the eighth person to lead Kotobi, succeeding Nanan Assoa Kouassi. The installation ends a period where the village lacked a customary leader for approximately two to three years. Dr.

Aka Marcelin, who led the organizing committee, asked the residents to support the new chief to improve social cohesion and unity within the village. The ceremony included several traditional leaders and officials. Deputy Ahondjon Nguessan Mathias, who represents the Arrah-Krégbé-Kotobi area, urged the population to respect traditional authority to maintain peace. Ehui Konin Joseph is the third village chief appointed by Koffi Kpli II since the tribal leader took power.