By: Tim Dzamboe
The 20th edition of the annual “Agbamevorza“ or the Kente Festival of the people of the Agotime Traditional Area in the Volta Region has been launched at Agotime Kpetoe. The festival marks the celebration of kente as a key economic product of the people, as well as a cultural heritage. t was launched on the theme, “Preserving the Kente for Eco-Tourism Development”. More than 37 Agotime communities in Ghana and Togo are expected to celebrate the festival from September 6 to 13. Launching the festival last Saturday, the Konor of Agotime, Nene Nuer Keteku III, asked kente weavers to insist on the manufacture of quality products, stressing that their focus must not be on profit.
He encouraged the weavers to add more artistic values to their works to attract more tourists to the area. He hinted that a quality control board would be set up to test the products to ensure that consumers had value for money. Nene Keteku III said customary rites associated with the use of kente such as puberty rites, marriage rites and child naming ceremonies should not be seen as fetish, because they were relevant cultural practices. The Agotime/Ziope District Chief Executive, Mr Michael Kobla Adzaho, said the festival had made the area popular and commended the people for uniquely packaging the festival for people from outside the traditional area as well.
The secretary of the planning committee, Mr Elvis Ativoe extended an invitation to all to attend the durbar slated for Saturday, September, 12 and be part of the expected 7,000 guests. The chairman of the planning committee, Asafoatse Michael Gamor, said activities lined up for the festival include a kente weaving competition, an exhibition, a quiz, palanquin artistry, drumming and cultural displays.
http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/48062-kente-festival-launched-at-agotime-kpetoe.html
