Tava Colo, here surrounded by part of her family, October 12, 2017. – Ornella LAMBERTI / AFP
A resident of Mayotte, Tava Colo, among the oldest in France, died on Saturday at the presumed age of 118, we learned from her family.
This woman, whose funeral took place on Sunday, was supposed to have been born on December 22, 1902, the date which appears on her identity card. But the Mahorais civil status being questionable, there remains a doubt about this date.
She never left Mamoudzou
Sister André – real name Lucile Randon – is the official dean of the French and even of the Europeans: she survived the Covid and celebrated her 117th birthday last February in Toulon.
Tava Colo, commonly known as “Coco”, was born under colonial rule in 1902 in Passamainty, in the commune of Mamoudzou. She never left the village.
She married four times but only had children with her first husband, two daughters born in 1930 and 1935 who died before her.
Nicknamed “the library” for its very good memory
In 2019, according to a count made at the Mayotte University Center, Tava Colo had 10 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and 59 great-great-grandchildren. They described her as “a humble, fighter and very generous woman”.
She was staying with one of her granddaughters. She had lost the use of her legs but kept a very good memory, hence her nickname, “the library”.
Tava Colo had worked as a traditional midwife. What was his secret to longevity? She figured her very healthy diet had a lot to do with it.