The Mafi Traditional Council has officially announced the 77th edition of the Mafi Hogbetsotso Festival, a week-long celebration that will bring together chiefs, community members, and guests from across Ghana and the diaspora to commemorate one of the most significant events in Ewe history.

Scheduled from Monday, December 8, through Saturday, December 13, the festival will culminate in a spectacular grand durbar of chiefs and people at Mafi Adidome, the traditional capital of the Mafi State in the Volta Region.

A Theme Rooted in Progress

This year's celebration carries the powerful theme "Fostering Unity, Peace, and Love for Development," reflecting the Traditional Council's strategic vision to harness cultural heritage as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation.

The theme speaks directly to contemporary challenges facing traditional communities across Ghana, emphasising that sustainable development cannot be achieved without the foundational elements of social cohesion, peaceful coexistence, and collective purpose.

Journey to the Ancestral Homeland

The festival's programme features several profound traditional ceremonies, beginning with the sacred ancestral pilgrimage to Kpordoave, the original settlement of the Mafi people following their historic escape from Notsie in present-day Togo.

In accordance with time-honoured custom, the chiefs of Mafi will cross the River Volta to reach Kpordoave, retracing the steps of their forebears who fled the oppressive rule of the tyrannical King Agorkorli.

At this hallowed site, sacred ancestral rites will be performed to officially inaugurate the festival, invoking blessings and guidance for the Mafi people in the year ahead.

This pilgrimage serves not merely as a ceremonial formality but as a spiritual reconnection with the ancestors whose courage and determination secured the freedom and future of the Mafi State.

Honoring the Warriors' Legacy

Another highlight of the festival will be the Traditional Procession to Adidome Torkor, a revered site symbolising the battlegrounds and struggles of Mafi's ancestors.

This symbolic journey by chiefs and community members pays homage to the courage, sacrifices, and resilience displayed by those who defended Mafi's land and heritage against various threats throughout history.

The gathering at Torkor represents more than historical commemoration; it serves as a powerful educational moment for younger generations, connecting them to the values of bravery, unity of purpose, and unwavering commitment to community that defined their ancestors' lives.

A Grand Celebration of Culture

The festival will reach its crescendo on Saturday, December 13, with the grand durbar of chiefs and people.

This spectacular gathering promises to be a feast for the senses, showcasing Mafi's rich cultural heritage through traditional drumming, vibrant dance performances, magnificent regalia, and the formal display of the chieftaincy hierarchy.

The durbar will bring together distinguished guests from across Ghana, the Volta Region, and members of the Mafi diaspora community, creating a unique convergence of tradition and modernity, history and aspiration.

A Call for Unity and Participation

Speaking about this year's celebration, Togbe Asafo Buatri IV, Acting Paramount Chief and Acting President of the Mafi Traditional Council, emphasised the festival's forward-looking orientation while honouring the past.

"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 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 Acting Paramount Chief issued a clarion call to all sons and daughters of Mafi, whether residing in the traditional area or scattered across Ghana and the world, to participate fully in the festivities.

He also extended invitations to friends of Mafi, corporate institutions, development partners, and cultural enthusiasts to support the festival and contribute to the community's developmental agenda.

The Mafi Hogbetsotso Za holds profound historical significance, commemorating the great escape of the Ewe people from the brutal tyranny of King Agorkorli of Notsie. According to oral tradition, the Ewe people, including the Mafi, endured severe oppression under Agorkorli's despotic rule, which included forced labour, excessive taxation, and various forms of cruelty.

The escape from Notsie represents a defining moment in Ewe history—a collective assertion of the right to freedom and self-determination.

Walking backwards to confuse their pursuers, the Ewe people made their way to present-day Ghana, where various groups, including the Mafi, established new settlements and rebuilt their communities.

The annual celebration of this event serves multiple purposes: it preserves historical memory, reinforces cultural identity, educates younger generations about their heritage, and provides a platform for community cohesion and development planning.

A Festival for All

The Mafi Traditional Council has extended a warm invitation to all citizens, stakeholders, cultural enthusiasts, tourists, and the general public to participate in the 77th Mafi Hogbetsotso Za.

Organisers promise that the celebration will be spiritually fulfilling, culturally vibrant, and development-orientated, offering something meaningful for every attendee.

The festival presents a unique opportunity for domestic and international visitors to experience authentic Ghanaian traditional culture, witness centuries-old customs and rituals, and engage with a community deeply committed to preserving its heritage while embracing progress.

Looking Ahead

As the Mafi Traditional Council prepares for this milestone celebration, the 77th Hogbetsotso Festival represents more than an annual ceremony—it embodies a community's determination to honour its past while building a prosperous future.

The theme of unity, peace, and love for development suggests a mature understanding that cultural preservation and modernisation need not be antagonistic forces but can work in harmony to uplift communities.

With the festival just days away, anticipation is building throughout the Mafi State and beyond. The coming week promises to be a time of reflection, celebration, reunion, and renewed commitment to the values that have sustained the Mafi people through centuries of challenges and triumphs.