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Agotime celebrates Agbamevorza - a festival of the royal fabric, kente
The Volta Region has entered a season when almost every traditional area celebrates one festival or the other to commemorate occasions such as the migration of the Ewes from Notsie, or to mark an escape from disaster.
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Some areas have festivals where rice, cassava, yam, oil palm, corn or maize, among other crops are celebrated.
The fact that traditional areas are able to organise their kinsmen, both home and abroad, for festivals and reunions for such occasions can be attributed to the political stability that the nation has enjoyed since democracy was reintroduced in 1992.
One festival that will be celebrated from September 4 to 11 is the “Agbamevorza” or the Kente festival of the people of Agotime traditional area in the Agotime-Ziope District. A grand durbar is to be held at Kpetoe on Saturday, September 10.
The theme for the festival this year is: “Projecting the cultural values of Kente for unity and development.”
The traditional area has many communities which can be found in Ghana and the Republic of Togo. Those in Ghana are Kpetoe, Afegame, Akpokope, Beh, Adzakpa, Kpadzahu, Akwetey, Abenyirase, Agohokpo, Wotsikpo, Agohokpo, Agbesia, Akpokorfe,Akpesia, Sarkofe,Adedome, Batume junction, Kporta, Zoglaze, Kporta, Zogladze, Oblama, Segbale and Wodome,
Those in the Republic of Togo are, Nyitoe, Batume, Zukpe,Letsukope, Adame, Wutegble, Kodze, Kpordzahor, Adzakpa, Amouzukodzi, Lakui, Vakpor, Kporhazor, Wutegble and Letsukope
Kente has a resounding heritage which has been difficult to replicate by the advanced technologies of the developed world.
It is a treasure of the people of Agotime and elsewhere in Ghana, who adorn themselves in the kente fabric to mark occasions such as ‘’outdoorings’’ and naming ceremonies of newly born babies, weddings, puberty rites, marriage ceremonies, funerals, among other social activities of the people.
Indeed, there are over 500 designs of kente, and weavers continue to discover more designs by intuition.
Palanquin artistry
One of the notable side attractions of the festival is the palanquin artistry that is glamorously executed by the riders. It is a game in itself as the artists or riders are carried shoulder high and displayed to the admiration of the large crowd that usually gather to catch a glimpse of them.
Another interesting feature of the festival is the visit of women to the riverside to fetch water for visitors who grace the festival.
It is a tradition of the people of Agortime, where the old are kept alive by younger generations, and that also demonstrates hospitality. It is an activity for old ladies and pure maidens when great men and women pass on or “go to the village.”
The beauty of this event, dubbed, “Asialetorme”, is portrayed when all the women return from the riverside in a single file, clad in different Kente fabrics, carrying water bottles to be poured into a traditional pot at the forecourt of the paramount chief for use by visitors amid music and dancing.
Tourism values
From 2005, the Agotime Kente Festival has attracted several tourists from home and abroad to witness the rich culture of the people.
The Ministry of Tourism has also constructed two edifices at Kpetoe to buttress the significance of kente. Many private investments have also been made in the hotel industry with several other investments in other sectors. The hotels are Mawumenenyo, Connie “A”, Buggie and Pleasant Dreams.
The chiefs and people have appointed Mr Philippe J. Kradolfer as Nene Dunenyo I, and Ms Regula Kradolfer as Manye Zevideka I, both Swiss citizens based in the United States of America (USA), as kente ambassadors. Their influence has led to more inflow of tourists from the USA and other countries over the past four years.
One key strategic investment of the people is the deliberate documentation, projection and marketing of Agotime as the cradle of kente. It is a fact that Agotime is famous for quality kente and weavers, but this has not been sufficiently documented, projected and marketed.
As part of efforts to claim their place in history, the people are now consciously documenting and telling their story to the rest of the world. A kente picture book has been published through the help of Nene Dunenyo to tell the Kente story and a more comprehensive one is about to be published shortly.
A website has been developed to project kente and the festival to the international community. The page has over 50,000 followers worldwide. This has helped to increase participation of tourists from around the world.
Proposal for one-stop shop
An eco-tourism and a kente weaving centre was built through the initiative of the community with support from the government and other stakeholders to receive visitors and information on kente and culture as a people.
The centre houses the most experienced and best weavers and provides visitors with first-hand experience of how kente is woven. The centre has an office and gallery where various kente designs and patterns are on display. The history and background of each cloth is provided through the help of a tour guide. Plans are underway to build a modern one-stop shop cultural centre to provide the visitor more information on kente.
Apart from being the home of best kente, Agotime is also renowned for its rich culture and tradition, hence the formation of the African cultural troupe to entertain visitors in costume expressed in kente.