CultureAsogli Te Za, popularly known as Asogli Yam Festival is essentially a harvest festival celebrated by the Asogli State (Ho) and its surrounding areas such as Sokode, Abutia Klefe and Akrofu. The festival is celebrated annually by the Chiefs (Togbewo, Mamawo) and the people of Asogli State in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is celebrated every September to thank God and also the gods and ancestors for a bumper harvest, and as an occasion to offer prayers for good health and prosperity.
Asogli Te Za (Asogli Yam Festival) 2022 Program
Saturday 6th August, 2022
6am – Rediscovering Adaklu Mountain
Friday 12th August, 2022
6am – Clean-Up in all Asogli Divisions
Saturday 13th August, 2022
- 6am – Health Walk in Ho Township starting from Trafalgar
- Health Screening at End Point of Walk – Jubilee Park
Sunday 14th August, 2022
3pm – Football Gala between Asogli Divisions
Saturday 20th August, 2022
- 6am – Clean-Up in all Cemeteries in Asogli
- 10am – Anti Corruption Day Celebration at Asogli State Secretariat
- 1pm – Education on Acquisition of Land and Property Rights at Asogli State Secretariat
Sunday 21st August, 2022
- 7am – Memorial Services at Asogli State Palace Forecourt
- 3pm – Round 2 of Football Matches
Friday 26th August, 2022
4pm – Lawn Tennis Competition (Arrival) Tennis Court
Saturday 27th August, 2022
- 6am – Exploring Mountain Galenku to Akoefe
- 7am – 6pm – Lawn Tennis Competition (Tennis Court)
Sunday 28th August, 2022
- 7am – Vovlowo fe Nkeke at the Asogli State Palace Forecourt
- 7am – 12noon – Lawn Tennis Competition (Tennis Court)
Wednesday 31st August, 2022
- 9am – Quiz Competition between Asogli Divisions atAsogli State Secretariat
- 3pm – 3rd Place Football Match at the Ho Sports Stadium
Thursday 1st September, 2022
8am – Nubabla Purification Rites in Akoefe Avenui
Friday 2nd September, 2022
- 12noon – Moslem Prayers at the Asogli State Palace Forecourt
- 2pm – (Teyuyru) Hailing of New Yam
- 7pm – Street Jams in all Divisions
Saturday 3rd September, 2022
- 7am – (Dzawuwu) Feasting on the New Yam
- 7pm – Adanukofe Events in all Asogli Divisions
- 7pm – Street Jams
Sunday 4th September, 2022
- 7am – Church Services in all Asogli Divisions
- 3pm – Gala Finals at the Ho Sports Stadium
- Street Jams
Monday 5th September, 2022
10am – Yam Weighing Competition in Takla
Tuesday 6th September, 2022
9am – Youth Empowerment Day at OLA Assembly Hall
Wednesday 7th September, 2022
10am – Women’s Day Celebration at Akoefe
Thursday 8th September, 2022
- 10am – Summit of Ewe Chiefs from Ghana, Togo and Benin – Volta Serene Conference Hall
- 7pm – Street Jams in all Divisions
Friday 9th September, 2022
- 9am – Sitting In State at the Asogli State Palace Forecourt
- Street Jams
Saturday 10th September, 2022
- 10am – State Grand Durbar at the Jubilee Park
- 7pm – State Dinner Dance at OLA Assembly Hall
Sunday 11th September, 2022
- 9am – Thanksgiving Services in all Asogli Divisions
- 3pm – Football Match between Asogli II vrs. Accra Hearts of Oak at the Ho Sports Stadium
About Asogli Te Za
The cultivation of yam which is called “ete” in Ewe, meaning, it is swollen, was started by a hunter who found the tuber in the forest on his hunting expedition during the famine period. The cultivation then began when the hunter cooked some of the tuber for a meal and hid the rest in the soil for use some other time. When he later went back for it, it had germinated and grown bigger.
The celebration of the festival was brought into Ghana by the Ewes when they migrated from Notse in the Republic of Togo where it is still celebrated.
Cooked yam is sprinkled at the various shrines. This is done before any human being is allowed to cook and taste the real yam. There is usually a grand durbar of chiefs where the chiefs sit in state to receive homage from their subjects. The mode of celebration differs slightly from one traditional area to another.
Ban on funerals
As part of preparations towards the annual Te Za celebration of the people of Asogli, the Asogli State Council usually lays a customary ban on funerals in the entire state for a month. The ban which is an annual phenomenon observed for one month prior to the celebration of Te za is to be strictly observed, implying that all funerals and burial ceremonies are to be suspended until the ban is lifted.
Durbar
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