The Hogbe Institute and Thirty-six (36) States of Anlo in the Volta region jointly launched this year’s Hogbetsotso Festival under the theme “Shoring up our Cultural Capital: Uniting in Commonwealth and Resolve”.
The event brought together Chiefs, Queens, and elders from Ghana and beyond to ‘Torgbuikope’ (Banana-Inn), a suburb of Accra, on Saturday, September 15, to witness the community launch of the this years edition of the annual festival which comes off on 3rd, November.
The ceremony was chaired by the Awadada of Anlo Torgbui Agbesi Awusu II, who called on Anlos to project their ancestral culture.
The Awadada in an opening address, urged the youth to “exhibit the legacy of bravery that the Anlos are known for in the past” but to harness this bravery towards the development and improvement of a quality of life in Anlo as there are no more wars as it was in the past.
He bemoaned the disunity among kinsmen in recent times, saying: “…the many divisions in Anlo Kingdom over the years have jeopardized our development as a people with a common ancestry.”
A former IGP and an elder of the Klikor Paramountcy of Anlo, C.K. Dewornu, launched the festival on behalf of former President J. J. Rawlings, who was the Guest of Honour.
Mr. Dewornu was grateful to the Hogbe Institute for the theme of the year’s festival which he said “harmonizes efforts to unite all Ewes who migrated to our location in present day Ghana.
He however, condemned the disloyalty of some Ewes in the diaspora to their traditional identities, and called for commitment to the Anlo-Ewe unification crusade.
He opined that the unification would promote the unique cultural endowment of Ewes and build a stronger cohesion for their development.
A board member of the Hogbe Institute Dan Abodakpi, also lamented the increasing cultural alienation of Ewes, generally and lauded efforts of the Institute at reviving this cultural capital.
The Chief Executive of the Hogbe Institute and Master drummer Dr. Kwashie Kuwor led a group of traditional drummers and dancers to entertain the audience.
Those who wish to support the festival should contact the CEO of the Hogbe Institute on 0208220221.
