Hogbetsotso which literally means 'the Hogbe exodus' is the festival celebrated by the people of the Volta region in Ghana to commemorate the scheming and escape of its people from the tyrannical rule of the infamous King Agorkoli in Notsie, Togo is here again.
The Exodus festival also known as Hogbetsotsoza is a great time for the people because it marks a significant time
in their history, serves as a time for settling disputes, getting to know each other and bringing to the fore, developmental projects.
For the people of Anlo, all roads leads to the Anlo chief city, Anloga near Keta, where most of the activities marking the Hogbetsotsoza is being held. The event which is already underway has seen procession from School Children adorned in their colorful Kente cloths and accessories on Wednesday and the reconciliation process which forms a very important aspect of the festival on Thursday. TGIF, the festival will be thrown into a state of frenzy with the arrival of illustrious sons and daughters of the land, jamming to performances from seasoned artistes from Ghana and beyond, followed by a colorful durbar of Chiefs and their subjects on Saturday amidst drumming and dancing and the crowning of the Miss Hogbe before the inter-denominational thanksgiving to thank God for yet another successful year of its people.
Finally, the celebration every
year marks the burning desire of the Anlos to remember, celebrate and re-affirm
their identity as Ewes and re-enact the historic character of the journey through explicit expression of their culture.
The Anlo state is made up of 36 states with Anloga as their Chief City. They can be located in the southern part of the Volta region in Ghana with most of the towns lying along the Gulf of Guinea. Their economic activities mostly includes fishing, farming and a well-developed Kente weaving industry and until recently retailing of already made goods.
Below are some of the pictures and video footage from Anloga
The Anlo state is made up of 36 states with Anloga as their Chief City. They can be located in the southern part of the Volta region in Ghana with most of the towns lying along the Gulf of Guinea. Their economic activities mostly includes fishing, farming and a well-developed Kente weaving industry and until recently retailing of already made goods.
Below are some of the pictures and video footage from Anloga
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| Little Warriors chanting and dancing to war songs |
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| School children depicting the exodus from Notsie |
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| School girls portraying the rich culture of the Anlos |
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| Warriors in their regalia chanting war songs |
The festival also known as
festival of exodus is a great time for the people because it marks a great time
in their history and also serves as a time for settling disputes and also
getting to know each other. There is a general cleaning in town which starts
from the estuary of the Volta Region to the Mono River in Benin.
The Anlo state is made up of 36
states with Anloga as their Chief City. The Anlos can be located in the
southern part of the Volta region in Ghana with most of the towns lying along
the Gulf of Guinea. Their economic activities mostly includes fishing, farming
and a well-developed Kente weaving industry and until recently retailing of
already made goods.
This year’s festival is the second
in succession after about 13years strife among the Royal Clans after the demise
of their Awoamefia Togbui Adeladza II. This situation halted developments in
all the state as there was no Awoamefia to push for developmental agendas until
the traditional Council and the people of the Anlo State loosened up to iron
out their differences for the Paramount Chief, the Awoamefia Togbui Sri III to
be installed and hence the re-enactment of the festival.
However, the month long festival which
is supposed to be the 50th celebration of the Hogbe was launched at the British Council in Accra under the
kingship of Togbui Sri III, the Awoamefia of the Anlos has reached its peak as its
illustrious sons and daughters from around the world are returning home to
witness their culture on display.
- See more at: http://alfredkpodo.blogspot.com/2012/10/hogbetsotso-za.html#sthash.vrs0YgFd.dpuf | |||
| colorful display of culture by these School Children |
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| A group of drummers being pulled on truck during the Procession |
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| A section of the some elders with Awoamefia (inset) at the Community Shrine |
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| A cross section of the shrine where the reconciliation was held |
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| The Awoamefia's Spokesperson and the 2ic of the Anlo Overlord, Togbui Boni addressing the reconcilers |
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| A Sub-Chief addressing the gathering at the Shrine |
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| Some elders preparing the herbs that will be brewed for the reconciliation ceremony |
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| Clad in white on your left is Nyigblanua, the Chief Priest of the Anlo Traditional Area |
The festival also known as
festival of exodus is a great time for the people because it marks a great time
in their history and also serves as a time for settling disputes and also
getting to know each other. There is a general cleaning in town which starts
from the estuary of the Volta Region to the Mono River in Benin.
The Anlo state is made up of 36
states with Anloga as their Chief City. The Anlos can be located in the
southern part of the Volta region in Ghana with most of the towns lying along
the Gulf of Guinea. Their economic activities mostly includes fishing, farming
and a well-developed Kente weaving industry and until recently retailing of
already made goods.
This year’s festival is the second
in succession after about 13years strife among the Royal Clans after the demise
of their Awoamefia Togbui Adeladza II. This situation halted developments in
all the state as there was no Awoamefia to push for developmental agendas until
the traditional Council and the people of the Anlo State loosened up to iron
out their differences for the Paramount Chief, the Awoamefia Togbui Sri III to
be installed and hence the re-enactment of the festival.
However, the month long festival which
is supposed to be the 50th celebration of the Hogbe was launched at the British Council in Accra under the
kingship of Togbui Sri III, the Awoamefia of the Anlos has reached its peak as its
illustrious sons and daughters from around the world are returning home to
witness their culture on display.
- See more at: http://alfredkpodo.blogspot.com/2012/10/hogbetsotso-za.html#sthash.vrs0YgFd.dpuf |
| Togbui Sri III, The Awoamefia of the Anlo State clad in his ceremonial dress with a symbolic staff at the Shrine |
Keep looking up for more graphical information
The blogger tweets @vilejah
The festival also known as
festival of exodus is a great time for the people because it marks a great time
in their history and also serves as a time for settling disputes and also
getting to know each other. There is a general cleaning in town which starts
from the estuary of the Volta Region to the Mono River in Benin.
The Anlo state is made up of 36
states with Anloga as their Chief City. The Anlos can be located in the
southern part of the Volta region in Ghana with most of the towns lying along
the Gulf of Guinea. Their economic activities mostly includes fishing, farming
and a well-developed Kente weaving industry and until recently retailing of
already made goods.
This year’s festival is the second
in succession after about 13years strife among the Royal Clans after the demise
of their Awoamefia Togbui Adeladza II. This situation halted developments in
all the state as there was no Awoamefia to push for developmental agendas until
the traditional Council and the people of the Anlo State loosened up to iron
out their differences for the Paramount Chief, the Awoamefia Togbui Sri III to
be installed and hence the re-enactment of the festival.
However, the month long festival which
is supposed to be the 50th celebration of the Hogbe was launched at the British Council in Accra under the
kingship of Togbui Sri III, the Awoamefia of the Anlos has reached its peak as its
illustrious sons and daughters from around the world are returning home to
witness their culture on display.
- See more at: http://alfredkpodo.blogspot.com/2012/10/hogbetsotso-za.html#sthash.vrs0YgFd.dpuf
The festival also known as
festival of exodus is a great time for the people because it marks a great time
in their history and also serves as a time for settling disputes and also
getting to know each other. There is a general cleaning in town which starts
from the estuary of the Volta Region to the Mono River in Benin.
The Anlo state is made up of 36
states with Anloga as their Chief City. The Anlos can be located in the
southern part of the Volta region in Ghana with most of the towns lying along
the Gulf of Guinea. Their economic activities mostly includes fishing, farming
and a well-developed Kente weaving industry and until recently retailing of
already made goods.
This year’s festival is the second
in succession after about 13years strife among the Royal Clans after the demise
of their Awoamefia Togbui Adeladza II. This situation halted developments in
all the state as there was no Awoamefia to push for developmental agendas until
the traditional Council and the people of the Anlo State loosened up to iron
out their differences for the Paramount Chief, the Awoamefia Togbui Sri III to
be installed and hence the re-enactment of the festival.
However, the month long festival which
is supposed to be the 50th celebration of the Hogbe was launched at the British Council in Accra under the
kingship of Togbui Sri III, the Awoamefia of the Anlos has reached its peak as its
illustrious sons and daughters from around the world are returning home to
witness their culture on display.
- See more at: http://alfredkpodo.blogspot.com/2012/10/hogbetsotso-za.html#sthash.vrs0YgFd.dpuf
