Mafi Council launches 77th Hogbetsotso Festival for heritage
The Mafi Traditional Council has announced that the 77th Mafi Hogbetsotso Festival will run from Monday, 8 December to Saturday, 13 December, culminating in a grand durbar at Mafi Adidome, the traditional capital of the Mafi State in the Volta Region.
Under the theme “Fostering Unity, Peace, and Love for Development”, the council aims to leverage cultural heritage as a catalyst for socio‑economic transformation across the community.
The week‑long programme begins with a sacred pilgrimage to Kpordoave, the original settlement of the Mafi people after their historic escape from Notsie in present‑day Togo, where chiefs will cross the River Volta and perform ancestral rites.
Later, a traditional procession will move to Adidome Torkor, a site that symbolizes the battlegrounds of Mafi ancestors, serving both as a tribute to past warriors and an educational moment for younger generations.
The festival reaches its climax on Saturday, 13 December with a spectacular durbar featuring drumming, dance, colourful regalia and the formal display of the chieftaincy hierarchy, drawing dignitaries, diaspora members and cultural enthusiasts.
“This year’s festival will be another layer of building blocks on the strong foundation laid by our forebears and our recent efforts,” Togbe Asafo Buatri IV, Acting Paramount Chief, stated. “It is meant to unite all citizens of Mafi, both home and abroad, around a common purpose of development. Our unity, peace and love remain the bedrock upon which we will build a prosperous future for Mafi.”
The council has called on all sons and daughters of Mafi, as well as friends, corporate partners and development agencies, to participate and support the event’s developmental agenda.
Historically, the Hogbetsotso Za commemorates the Ewe peoples’ daring escape from the tyrannical King Agorkorli of Notsie, a defining moment that affirmed their right to freedom and self‑determination.
Organisers promise a spiritually fulfilling, culturally vibrant and development‑oriented celebration that offers tourists and locals alike a chance to experience authentic Ghanaian traditions while contributing to community progress.
With anticipation building across the Mafi State, the upcoming festival is poised to reinforce cultural identity, promote unity and spark socio‑economic growth for the region.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
