TOGO: Celebration of the 10th edition of the «Ahézan» festival to great popular acclaim
The sons and daughters of the canton of Ahépé (70 km west of Lomé in the prefecture of Yoto) remember the tribulations suffered by their ancestors who left Notsè for Kpowla. Ahézan marks the meeting of the natives of Ahépé, and the local people are once again reminiscing about the journeys of their ancestors.
The celebrations, which this year focused on economic and cultural development, were attended by a number of local personalities, traditional figures and local executives.
The events marking the climax of the Ahézan festival in Ahépé took place on the Kpowla site. Delegations from the interior of the country as well as from Benin, Ghana and the United States added their presence to the sparkle of these festivities, which are now part of the agenda of the peoples of the Yoto prefecture, united by history and tradition.
The theme chosen for this 10th edition of Ahézan is: «Culture and traditions faced with the challenges of sustainable development» To mark the occasion, the local people showcased the cultural richness of their heritage through song and dance.
The honourable Djissenou Kodjo, a native of the area and a local executive, conveyed to the people the warm and fraternal greetings of the President of the Republic, Faure Gnassingbé, who, he said, is «attached to the habits and customs of the land and bases his policy on reconciliation between generations and different communities, for the emergence of all»
The challenges facing the world in general, and Togo in particular, in terms of sustainable development, should encourage the Togolese to reflect on how to safeguard, preserve, promote, disseminate and enhance their culture.
The meeting is also an opportunity for them to reflect on local development issues and to raise public awareness of agriculture and the fight against terrorism.
