TILO FREY THE BLACK WOMAN WHO MADE SWISS POLITICAL HISTORY
DTOA — Descendants of the Taken Ones
In 1971, Swiss women finally gained the right to vote and stand for election at the federal level. That same year, a woman born in Cameroon helped change the face of Switzerland’s democracy.
Her name was Tilo Frey.
She became the first Black woman elected to Switzerland’s National Council, joining the first eleven women elected to that chamber. Her victory placed a woman of African heritage in a national institution that had long excluded women. Swiss Parliament
Born on May 2, 1923, in Maroua, Cameroon, Frey was the daughter of a Swiss father and a Cameroonian mother. She grew up in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, and built a career in education, serving as a teacher and later as a school director.
Before entering national politics, she gained experience in local government. She served in Neuchâtel’s city legislature and then in its cantonal parliament, building a record of public service before her historic federal election. Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
Her work extended beyond being the first.
Representing the Free Democratic Party, Frey served in the National Council from 1971 to 1975. She advocated equal pay for women, the decriminalization of abortion, and stronger cooperation with countries in the Global South. Her priorities linked political representation to practical questions: Who receives fair pay? Who controls decisions that affect women’s lives? How should Switzerland relate to countries beyond Europe?
Decades later, her name became part of the Parliament Building itself. In 2023, an artwork titled “Tilo,” created by Renée Levi’s studio, was installed on the building’s north façade. Its 246 ceramic tiles—one for each parliamentary seat—honor Frey’s legacy. The Swiss Parliament’s tribute. Frey died on June 27, 2008, at age 85. Her life belongs in the histories of Switzerland, women’s political rights, and the African diaspora. Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
For DTOA, her story reminds us to look beyond familiar borders when we tell Black history. A daughter of Cameroon became an educator, a legislator, and a pioneer in European democracy.
Remember her name: Tilo Frey.
A woman of African heritage who helped reshape who could represent Switzerland.
We are DTOA—Descendants of the Taken Ones. We recover overlooked stories and honor the people who made them.