The streets of the Klefe Traditional Area in the Municipality of the Volta Region were bustling with activities when the Yam Festival was ushered in with a carnival.
The activities were preceded by the sprinkling of a special water soaked with herbs to purify the town to welcome the new yams from the farms and pave the way for the festival.
Residents from the three divisions and revellers, under the lead of the Klefe Paramount Chief, Togbe Koku Dzaga XI, began the yam-hailing carnival from the entrance of the traditional area, Klefe Mornu, and glided down the hills in a frenzy.
The frenzied atmosphere was ignited by ‘jama’ [Singing] groups blended with music from loudspeakers.
It was all fun as the carnival progressed through Achatime, Dome, and Demete communities, where they made a U-turn to party zone on the community park in Achatime.
Ecstatic Experience
A take-home was the arts and culture and fashion sense displayed during the carnival, the enthusiasm of patrons, and the beautifully endowed dark-skinned Klefe women.
A resident, Elizabeth who returned home for the occasion said “I missed the carnival itself, I really had wanted to participate in it. But I am loving it here at the park. The atmosphere is still charged.”
A reveller, Anita, who experienced the carnival for the first time, appreciated the efforts of the chiefs and the youth to embrace their culture and traditions and preserve them.
“This is an awesome experience; I didn’t expect anything of this magnitude, the people are really cool, and I love how they have embraced their culture and traditions. I will definitely be here next year” she said.
Celebrating Farmers
Togbe Koku Dzaga XI, explained that the carnival is also used to celebrate the end of the toils of farmers, “marking the end of hunger and the beginning of the abundance of food.”
He underscored how their forefathers were vested in farming, recognising it as a main occupation in times past, and hence celebrating at the end of the season.
He added that it also served as a medium to drive enthusiasm towards the many activities earmarked to celebrate this year’s Yam Festival.
“The street carnival mobilises the youth and everybody, basically bringing up enthusiasm to the main durbar”, he said.
Community Development
Togbe Dzaga highlighted that the festival has been a fundraising platform to finance development projects in the communities in all sectors, aiming to improve the standard of living of his people.
He said that the impressive expansion works at the community health centre, which comprises the provision of an equipped laboratory, dispensary, and a delivery ward, were undertaken with proceeds from the festival.
He added that funds from the 2023 and 2024 celebrations were injected into the construction of a 5-unit dormitory facility for the Klefe Vocational Institute.
“The purpose for this year, is to raise additional funds to put finishing touches to the dormitory structure that has already been roofed and furnish it to make it ready before the students report to school in October. We want them to have a different place of dormitory before they return”, he added.
Cultural Heritage
The Chairman of the Festival Planning Committee, Evans Buami, indicated that an inter-clan traditional music and dance contest has been added to the catalogue of activities of the festival in a bid to revive and preserve the arts elements of their culture.
Zigi, Sodoe, Asiwa, Pamprowu, and Borborbor are some of the traditional music that would be performed on the night of Saturday, 13th September 2025.
He highlighted the ancestral walk as another significant activity where they would mimic the migration and arrival of the people of Klefe to their present settlement.
He entreated the public to endeavour to participate in this essential activity scheduled to take place on the Tokpo Mountain on Saturday, 20th September 2025.