Togo’s Évala 2025: A week at the Heart of Kabyè tradition
From July 19 to 27, 2025, the Kozah mountains of northern Togo will resonate with the energy of Évala, the renowned traditional wrestling festival of the Kabyè people. More than mere physical combat, this ancestral event marks a rite of passage for young initiates (“Évalou”) into adulthood, drawing thousands of local and international visitors each year.
Across Pya, Tcharè, Lassa, and Soumdina, villages will transform into vibrant stages of living heritage through ritual songs, dances, and wrestling matches.
For Kabyè youth, participating in Évala represents the ultimate test of strength, courage, and community belonging the culmination of intense physical and spiritual preparation.
Beyond its cultural significance, Évala has become an engine of local development.
Hotels, artisans, restaurateurs, and tour guides thrive during this annual influx of visitors.
The festival now incorporates trade fairs, cultural exhibitions, and youth education campaigns blending tradition with contemporary opportunities.
The regular attendance of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, himself a native son of the region, underscores the event’s national importance as a celebration of unity, pride, and enduring heritage.
Mark your calendars for July 2025 to experience this unforgettable immersion into Togo’s living cultural legacy where ancient traditions meet modern vitality in the heart of Kabyè country.
Kodjovi Makafui
