People of Anlo launch 50th Anniversary festival

The people of Anlo in the Volta Region on Friday launched its 50th Anniversary Hogbetsotso festival to create awareness and educate all and sundry on the unique features of their culture.

This year’s celebration is under the theme “Deepening our Reconciliation, Unity and Peace towards Accelerated Development” and is dubbed: “Golden Jubilee Hogbe 2012 Reloaded.”

Torgbi Sri III, the Awoamefia of Anlo State said the Hogbetsotso festival is celebrated on the first Saturday of every November where a grand durbar of chiefs and people of Anlo are held at Anloga, the traditional home of Anlo-speaking Ewes.

He said the durbar marks the climax of events and activities celebrating Hobgetsotso, the festival of the migration of the Anlo.

Torgbi Sri III said last year, the people of the Anlo Traditional Area loaded the celebration of the Hogbetsotso festival after a thirteen year break.

He said as part of the celebration, there would be a sod cutting ceremony for the Awoamefia Palace Project and some of the activities lined up include community clean-up exercise, public lecture, presentation of traditional rulers, football gala, floats and inter-denominational thanksgiving service.

Torbgi Awusu Agbesi, Chief of Awadada of Anlo said the festival commemorates the historic journey of the Anlos together with their Ewe affine from Notsie.

He said the journey was also part of the great movements of the African people across the continent in search of more habitable settlements.

Tobgi Agbesi added that, the commemoration of the journey every year marks the burning desire of the Anlos to remember, celebrate and reaffirm their identity as Ewes and re-enact the historic character of the journey.