The 2025 edition of Hogbetsotso Za is in full swing and today marks its grand climax along the Anloga-Keta corridor. The streets and durbar grounds are buzzing with colour, music, and the steady beat of drums, as thousands of visitors, both local and from abroad, join in one of the Volta Region’s most important cultural celebrations.
This year’s theme, “Building Bridges – From a Common History to a Common Destiny,” is clear in every part of the festival. Spectators have been treated to the reenactment of the Glimetoto exodus, vividly showing how the Anlo people escaped from Notsie and settled in their present homeland.
The Agbadza dance, with its intricate steps and hypnotic drum rhythms, fills public squares and ceremonial grounds, while children’s durbars, unity concerts, and the Mama Hogbe Pageant add to the energy, giving families and youth a strong sense of pride in their heritage.
Among the festival’s key moments is the attendance of prominent chiefs, including Togbi Sri III, Awoamefia of Anlo; Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, Akwamuhene, Special Guest; and Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, Awadada of Anlo.
Their presence highlights the festival’s focus on unity, tradition, and cooperation between communities, while the Akwamuhene’s visit sends a strong message of peace and collaboration between the Anlo and Akwamu states.
Hogbetsotso Za 2025 is also making a big splash economically. Hotels and guesthouses along the Anloga-Keta stretch are fully booked, restaurants and pubs are buzzing, and petty traders selling traditional foods, drinks, crafts, and souvenirs are enjoying brisk sales. The festival’s musical concerts, arts showcases, roadshows, and side events in Woe, Keta, and Adidome are providing temporary work for transport operators, performers, and event staff, while driving more demand for local goods and services.
Local business owners are already expecting this year’s celebrations to generate significant revenue, proving once again that Hogbetsotso Za is more than just a cultural event, it’s a major boost for regional commerce.
Organisers and traditional leaders have made it clear that Hogbetsotso Za isn’t only about celebrating culture; it’s also a platform for regional development and community building. The Awadada of Anlo, Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, has stressed how such events complement education, infrastructure, and youth empowerment initiatives, including the push to upgrade Ohawu Agricultural College into a university, which could create new opportunities in agriculture, research, and employment.
With activities spread along the entire Anloga-Keta corridor, including mini-events in Adidome and gatherings in Woe and Keta, the benefits of the festival are reaching multiple towns. Traders, artisans, and service providers are already feeling the ripple effect, showing that Hogbetsotso Za is not just a cultural landmark but also a driver of livelihoods and regional commerce.
As the Grand Durbar celebration continues, the mix of colourful regalia, traditional music, lively dancing, and the presence of chiefs and dignitaries perfectly captures the festival’s significance.
Hogbetsotso Za 2025 is a living celebration of the Anlo people’s history, a demonstration of unity across communities, and a boost for the region’s economy all coming together in a weekend that locals and visitors will remember for years to come.
