Asogli Te Za (Yam Festival) facts for kids
The Asogli Yam Festival is a special yearly celebration. It is held by the people of Asogli in the city of Ho. This city is found in the Volta Region of Ghana. Every September, people celebrate the growing of yam. The festival started because a hunter once found a yam in the forest.
Long ago, the hunter hid the yam he found. Later, it grew much bigger! This is how people in Asogli started growing yams. The Ewe people of Ghana brought this festival with them. They moved from Notse in the Republic of Togo. The festival is still celebrated there today.
In 2004, Togbe Afede XIV helped bring the Yam Festival back. It had not been celebrated for over ten years. The festival aims to teach and entertain people. It shares Asogli traditions with Ghanaians and visitors. You can enjoy traditional music, dance, and stories. The festival ends with a big gathering called a durbar. Togbe Aƒede XIV has worked to unite many chiefs. These chiefs come from the Volta Region and other parts of Ghana and Togo. Many of them attend the Yam Festival.
On May 8, 2018, the Asogli state announced a change. They held a press conference in Ho. The festival's name was changed to Te Za (Yam Festival). This new name better shows the history and culture of the people.
What is Yam and How Did it Start?
In the Ewe language, yam is called “ete.” This word means "it is swollen." Stories say a hunter found the yam in the forest. This was during a time when food was scarce. Instead of taking the yam home, he hid it in the ground. When he returned later, the yam had grown much bigger! This is how people learned to grow yams.
Why the Festival Began
The Ewes brought the Yam Festival from Notse. This place is in the Republic of Togo, where the festival is still celebrated. Growing yam is very hard work. In the past, some people who tried to grow it did not live to enjoy their harvest. It took a lot of effort and was sometimes dangerous. There is a saying that means: if yam was eaten on the day it was planted, a goat would never taste its peel. This shows how much hard work was needed. People asked for help from their gods and ancestors. They wanted guidance from planting to harvesting.
During harvest time, usually in September, the gods and ancestors are honored first. They are given boiled and mashed yam. This yam is often white and mixed with red oil. It is called “bakabake.” No one else eats the yam until this special offering, called "Dzawuwu," is done. After that, everyone shares the mashed yam. This shared meal is a symbol of unity. It helps families, clans, and the whole community come together.
Goals of the Celebration
- To thank God, the gods, and ancestors for a good harvest.
- To pray for good health and success for everyone.
- To bring people together through forgiveness and peace.
- To review the year's work, especially farming.
- To gather people and resources in Asogli State. This helps create jobs and wealth.
- To show loyalty to the Agbogbome stool every year. This is done by all chiefs and their people in Asogli State.
See Also
- Asogli State website article on the Yam Festival
