The crocodile feeder of Ivory Coast
By John James
For visitors to Yamoussoukro, the official capital of Ivory Coast and the birth place of its first president, the crocodiles are a major attraction, especially at feeding time.
For close to four decades Dicko Toki, originally from neighbouring Mali, was in charge of feeding the sacred animals.
He knew them all by name and they responded to his call - Capitaine, Chef de Cabinet, Commandant - authoritarian names, for these were the guardians of Ivory Coast's founding father, Felix Houphouet-Boigny, who governed for 33 years and shared Dicko's nickname - Le Vieux (the old).
(continued, it doesn't end well.)
