Thrugh

The Hogbetsotso Festival, celebrated by the Anlo-speaking people in the Volta Region of Ghana, takes place every first Saturday of November. Known as “Hogbe” or “Hogbetsotso Za,” the festival commemorates the Anlo people's escape from the tyrant King Agorkoli of Notsie in present-day Togo. The name "Hogbetsotso" means “The festival of crossing over,” derived from words meaning uproot, day, and crossing over. According to tradition, the Anlo people weakened the clay walls of Notsie by pouring water on them and escaped by walking backwards to confuse their pursuers. Pre-festival ceremonies include a peace-making period to resolve disputes and a purification of the traditional stool by pouring libation. A clean-up exercise starts from the Volta River and ends at the Mono River in Togo. The festival culminates in a grand durbar in Anloga, the capital of the Anlo state, where traditional chiefs in ceremonial attires receive homage. Traditional dances like Agbadza, Atsiagbekor, and Akpalu are performed, and foods such as akple with aborbitadi or fetridetsi, and aborbidzekple are featured.The Hogbetsotso Festival celebrates heritage, unity, and resilience, showcasing the rich cultural traditions of the Anlo people and attracting tourists from around the world.