Places to Belong
How a Togolese family in Cedar Rapids braids a life of different cultures.
Gabby Drees | Director of Photography
Alayna Larson | Director of Visuals
Alice Cruse | Director
Alayna Larson | Director of Visuals
Alice Cruse | Director
When Roger Atchou arrived at JFK airport in February 2003 to begin his life in the United States, his ride never showed up.
“That was a good welcome,” Roger said, laughing.
Roger hails from Togo, a West African nation wedged between Ghana and Benin. Though the country measures half the size of Iowa, its population of over 9 million is three times that of the Hawkeye State.
Roger came to the U.S. after learning English at his university in Togo and decided that moving stateside might open a new world of opportunities for him. In New York City, he readily fell into the hustle required of American big-city life.
“When I finally got a job, three places called me,” Roger said. “I said, ‘Why not?’ I need this money. Let me go for all three of them.”
“That was a good welcome,” Roger said, laughing.
Roger hails from Togo, a West African nation wedged between Ghana and Benin. Though the country measures half the size of Iowa, its population of over 9 million is three times that of the Hawkeye State.
Roger came to the U.S. after learning English at his university in Togo and decided that moving stateside might open a new world of opportunities for him. In New York City, he readily fell into the hustle required of American big-city life.
“When I finally got a job, three places called me,” Roger said. “I said, ‘Why not?’ I need this money. Let me go for all three of them.”
But the economic downturn following the 2008 crisis, coupled with a growing feeling of loneliness, caused Roger to first consider relocating. He wanted to get married, and hadn’t had luck finding a partner he wanted to settle down with in New York.
In 2014, a matchmaking connection via his cousin led him to begin a long-distance relationship with Catherine, a fellow Togolese living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
In contrast to Roger’s eagerness, Catherine was extremely reluctant to leave her home country. It was her uncle, not her, who entered her name in the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, often called the "green card lottery."
“[He said] ‘Do you want to go to America?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t speak English. I don’t want to go there,’” Catherine said. “Everybody wants to go to America, but I didn’t have anything to do in America.”
Catherine began her life overseas in the Midwest, originally coming to Moline, Illinois. In Togo, she worked as a nurse, but without the necessary language abilities, she was unable to continue that work in the U.S.
And at 31, learning English proved extremely difficult.
“[He said] ‘Do you want to go to America?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t speak English. I don’t want to go there,’” Catherine said. “Everybody wants to go to America, but I didn’t have anything to do in America.”
Catherine began her life overseas in the Midwest, originally coming to Moline, Illinois. In Togo, she worked as a nurse, but without the necessary language abilities, she was unable to continue that work in the U.S.
And at 31, learning English proved extremely difficult.
“I end up alone in a country that I don’t know. I don’t speak the language. So all the time I’d just cry, because I miss home,” Catherine said.
Eventually, she found solace by braiding hair in a salon in Chicago, and later at another in Missouri. Many of her clients were fellow French-speaking immigrants, granting her an opportunity to reconnect with her culture through language.
And meeting Roger, she said, brought even greater relief. Both halves of the Atchou couple agreed they had met their perfect match in one another.
“We dance on the same beat,” Roger said. “I think that’s the most [important] thing that keeps us together, that we understand the same language — like not language, language — but you know, the same way of doing things.”
In 2015, long-distance telephone rings were replaced by wedding rings — the couple were married. Roger resettled in Cedar Rapids, and their daughter, Grace, was born there the following year.
And meeting Roger, she said, brought even greater relief. Both halves of the Atchou couple agreed they had met their perfect match in one another.
“We dance on the same beat,” Roger said. “I think that’s the most [important] thing that keeps us together, that we understand the same language — like not language, language — but you know, the same way of doing things.”
In 2015, long-distance telephone rings were replaced by wedding rings — the couple were married. Roger resettled in Cedar Rapids, and their daughter, Grace, was born there the following year.
When Grace was two, Roger and Catherine sent her to live in Togo with her grandmother. It was a very emotional decision for the parents. She returned at age eight, and Roger and Catherine were able to secure papers for her grandmother to return with her too.
At her grandmother’s house in Togo, Grace had spoken Ewé , the native language of her parents, while her grammar school was taught in the national Togolese language of French. When she returned to Iowa, she spoke very little English, putting her in a position reminiscent of her mother’s years ago.
“I just felt like an outcast because I couldn’t talk really well,” Grace said.
But, aided by her younger age and the full language immersion of the first grade, she eventually adapted to speaking English with ease.
Now 16 years old, Grace still speaks Ewé, but admits she is losing her French ability.
At her grandmother’s house in Togo, Grace had spoken Ewé , the native language of her parents, while her grammar school was taught in the national Togolese language of French. When she returned to Iowa, she spoke very little English, putting her in a position reminiscent of her mother’s years ago.
“I just felt like an outcast because I couldn’t talk really well,” Grace said.
But, aided by her younger age and the full language immersion of the first grade, she eventually adapted to speaking English with ease.
Now 16 years old, Grace still speaks Ewé, but admits she is losing her French ability.
Languages and Ethnic Groups of Togo
Roger, Catherine, Grace and Yayra visit family in Togo in August 2024.
Photo provided by Roger Atchou.
Photo provided by Roger Atchou.
The Atchous’ second child, Yayra Moses, who is seven years old, has been raised wholly in the U.S. But the family still takes trips to Togo whenever possible so that both their children can be exposed to the culture dear to their parents’ hearts.
“I think it’s good for them to know that there’s something out there,” Roger said. “Don’t just live here and think that’s all there is in the world. You have to go where Mom and Dad are from and learn where they are coming from.”
Roger and Catherine said a significant value in Togo is a strong sense of togetherness. But he also said he respects and sees value in the American culture.
“We have a big community life where we’re from, but coming over here, everybody’s kind of individualistic,” he said. “I don’t see that as an issue. More like an opportunity.”
In Iowa, he and Catherine are working to set their children up for success in American life, while still retaining their Togolese values.
“We want them to be the best version of themselves, definitely,” Roger said. “That’s the main reason why we came here. We wanted to see our kids be the best version of themselves, not just for themselves but for the community also, you know. Being part of the community, giving back to the community.”
And the Atchou couple is setting the example.
“We want them to be the best version of themselves, definitely,” Roger said. “That’s the main reason why we came here. We wanted to see our kids be the best version of themselves, not just for themselves but for the community also, you know. Being part of the community, giving back to the community.”
And the Atchou couple is setting the example.
Roger works with the nonprofit SAT-Iowa (Solidarié Amicale Togo – Iowa). The group, whose name in English roughly translates to ‘Solidarity and Friendship between Togo and Iowa, is headquartered in Cedar Rapids and aims to aid Togolese immigrants in navigating their new Midwestern life.
Roger acted as the groups’ president from 2020-25, before the groups’ term limits forced him to step down from the role. His motivation to serve largely stems from remembering his own first moments in the U.S.
Roger works with the nonprofit SAT-Iowa (Solidarié Amicale Togo – Iowa). The group, whose name in English roughly translates to ‘Solidarity and Friendship between Togo and Iowa, is headquartered in Cedar Rapids and aims to aid Togolese immigrants in navigating their new Midwestern life.
Roger acted as the groups’ president from 2020-25, before the groups’ term limits forced him to step down from the role. His motivation to serve largely stems from remembering his own first moments in the U.S.
“At JFK, I didn’t have anybody to help,” he said. “So yeah, we kind of do that.”
The couple also owns the Koffi Grill in Lindale Mall. Catherine, equipped with knowledge from business school and talent in the kitchen, is the driving force behind the restaurant. Their menu offers food from many African and Caribbean countries.
Catherine also continues braiding hair out of her home, including her daughter Grace’s. She said having her family helped her to finally find joy in America.
“I’m happy [my uncle] forced me to come here, I’m happy now,” Catherine said.
And like her mother, daughter Grace has found peace in Iowa. For her, she said this came by accepting her dual identities— one distinctly American, one uniquely Togolese.
“I’m happy [my uncle] forced me to come here, I’m happy now,” Catherine said.
And like her mother, daughter Grace has found peace in Iowa. For her, she said this came by accepting her dual identities— one distinctly American, one uniquely Togolese.
“I like making other friends based on your language and your culture…you know, being able to like [have] two different worlds and different perspectives,” Grace said.
Grace said she has been inspired by her mother’s pursuits in her restaurant and hopes to go to business school after high school. Roger said Yayra, like many seven-year-olds, has a different answer about his aspirations every day. His latest idea is to become a governor.
Catherine has an idea for a career path she’d like to see one of her children pursue.
“I just want them to go to school and become what they want to be,” Catherine said. “[But] I personally want there to be one lawyer…one to be an immigration lawyer, so they can understand us.”
Grace said she has been inspired by her mother’s pursuits in her restaurant and hopes to go to business school after high school. Roger said Yayra, like many seven-year-olds, has a different answer about his aspirations every day. His latest idea is to become a governor.
Catherine has an idea for a career path she’d like to see one of her children pursue.
“I just want them to go to school and become what they want to be,” Catherine said. “[But] I personally want there to be one lawyer…one to be an immigration lawyer, so they can understand us.”
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