Anlo Set to Celebrate Hogbetsotso Festival with a Call for Unity and Shared Destiny

ANLOGA, VOLTA REGION – The historic town of Anloga is poised to come alive with colour, culture, and reflection this Saturday, 1st November, as it hosts the annual Hogbetsotso Festival at the Hogbe Park, commencing at 9:00 AM.

This year’s celebration is anchored on the powerful and evocative theme: “Building Bridges: From Common History to a Common Destiny.” The theme underscores a forward-looking agenda, urging the Anlo people and Ghanaians at large to leverage their shared historical experiences as a foundation for a more united and prosperous future.

The grand durbar of chiefs, the centrepiece of the festival, will be graced by eminent traditional rulers. The event will be headed by Togbi Sri III, the Awoamefia of Anlo, who will preside over the ceremonies. He will be joined by a distinguished Special Guest, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, the Akwamuhene, whose presence symbolizes the building of inter-ethnic bridges and strengthens the cultural tapestry of Ghana.

Adding to the high-profile gathering will be Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, the Awadada of Anlo, a key figure in the traditional military structure of the Anlo state, who will play a central role in the proceedings.

The Hogbetsotso Festival, often described as one of Ghana’s most intellectually stimulating festivals, commemorates the epic migration of the Anlo Ewe people from the ancient walled city of Notsie in present-day Togo to their current homeland in the coastal plains of Ghana. The name “Hogbetsotso” translates to “the act of exodus from a place of bondage,” marking their escape from the tyrannical rule of King Agorkoli.

The festival is not merely a remembrance of a journey but a vibrant reaffirmation of the values of courage, wisdom, and unity that enabled their ancestors’ survival and success. Traditional activities include a peace-making period (Hogbe), the sprinkling of symbolic “water of liberation” (Adehoxe), and energetic drumming and dancing performances.

This year’s theme, “Building Bridges,” is expected to resonate through the speeches and performances, highlighting the importance of reconciliation, collaboration, and harnessing the collective strength of the people for developmental goals.

Residents, descendants of Anlo, tourists, and all well-wishers are cordially invited to converge at the Hogbe Park in Anloga this Saturday to witness a rich display of Anlo heritage. The event promises to be a profound cultural experience, blending solemn remembrance with a vibrant celebration of identity and a collective call to forge a common destiny.

Event Details at a Glance:

• Event: ogbetsotso Festival Grand Durbar
• Date: Saturday, 1st November
• Time: 9:00 AM Prompt
• Venue: Hogbe Park, Anloga
• Theme:“Building Bridges: From Common History to a Common Destiny”
• Chairman: Togbi Sri III, Awoamefia of Anlo
• Special Guest: Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, Akwamuhene
• Dignitary: Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, Awadada of Anlo

Source: Wins Media