"A Historic Gathering: Ewe Chiefs Summit at Volta Serene as Part of Asogli Te Za 2025”

On 2 October, Volta Serene Hotel in Ho became the venue for a landmark meeting of traditional authority among the Ewe people, as the Summit of Ewe Chiefs convened in conjunction with the Asogli Te Za (Yam Festival). The summit brought together rulers from Ghana, Togo, and Benin in a show of pan-Ewe unity and cultural diplomacy.

Asogli Te Za and the Ewe Tradition

The Asogli Te Za, often called the Yam Festival, is a central cultural event of the Asogli State (in Ho Municipality, Volta Region). It celebrates the yam harvest, gives thanks to ancestors and deities, and fosters reconciliation, unity, and cultural renewal among the Ewe people.

Over the past few years, the festival has evolved to include intellectual and traditional leadership forums. One such development is the annual Summit of Ewe Chiefs, which has become a key highlight of Te Za.

Highlights of the Summit

• Attendance & Scope: The 2025 summit was the 4th edition of this gathering. About 200 rulers from across Ghana, Togo, and Benin were expected to attend.
• Vision for a Traditional Leadership Union: A central theme was the push to formalize an African Traditional Leadership Union. Togbe Afede XIV (Agbogbomefia of Asogli) has long championed this cause, seeing the union as a means to elevate the role of traditional authority in governance and continental development.
• Institutional Anchors: At previous meetings, the African Traditional Leadership Institute (ATLI) was announced as the institutional arm to conduct research and policy work in support of the union.
• Cultural and Symbolic Importance: The summit was not just a political forum; it was deeply symbolic. The gathering emphasized cultural continuity, heritage preservation, and solidarity among Ewe polities across national borders.
• Venue & Setting: The choice of Volta Serene Hotel was strategic — the facility includes conference infrastructure (auditorium, banquet halls, partitioned meeting rooms) that can host large traditional gatherings.

          Implications & Forward Path

The summit is more than ceremonial. It seeks to reposition traditional authorities into continental conversations on development, peace, and cultural identity. In 2025, participants were urged to contribute to communal goals such as heritage tourism, cultural education, and conflict resolution.

The hope is that through these gatherings, the Ewe people’s shared history can catalyze cross-border collaboration in areas like infrastructure, culture, youth exchange, and governance.

Reflections

The 2025 Summit of Ewe Chiefs stands as a compelling instance of how cultural festivals can evolve into platforms for political, developmental, and intellectual engagement. As part of Asogli Te Za, it bridges past and future — honoring traditional authority while envisioning structures fit for the 21st century.