Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I to guest at 2026 Hogbetsotso Festival

The Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, is scheduled to make a historic visit to Anloga in the Volta Region on November 7, 2026. He will attend the Hogbetsotso Za festival as the Guest of Honour, a move intended to deepen cultural ties and historical cooperation between the Gonja and Anlo people. The invitation for the visit was formally extended by Togbui Amey Zegu II on behalf of the Awoamefia of Anlo Dukor, Togbi Sri III, during a visit to the Jakpa Palace in Damongo.

The 2026 festival is being organized under the theme "Anlo, Our Heritage and Our Values: Striving to Build One Ghana for a Better Tomorrow." The event commemorates the migration of the Anlo-Ewe people from Notsie and serves as a major platform for showcasing traditional heritage. By hosting the Yagbonwura, the Anlo traditional leadership aims to foster a spirit of national unity and resilience, drawing on the shared histories of Ghana's various ethnic groups.

During the celebrations, the Yagbonwura will join other national dignitaries for the traditional sitting-in-state of the Awoamefia and his paramount chiefs. Beyond its cultural significance, the festival is expected to provide a substantial boost to local tourism and support businesses in the Volta Region. The Yagbonwura expressed optimism that his participation would renew the bonds between the two kingdoms and pave the way for enhanced collaboration in the future.