The chiefs and people of Somé Traditional Area in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta region, have launched their annual cultural festival, “Sométutu Zā” with a call on all indigenes and residents to unite and pull together for the socio-economic development of the area.
The festival which is celebrated in November each year, had not been held for some years now due to some chieftaincy related issues and other challenges.
Having lined up some activities to make it a memorable one, the 2023 edition of the festival is set to be a conduit for uniting, reviving and redeveloping the once socio-economically vibrant and culturally rich area.
The activities include; a mini durbar, cultural display, arts and crafts exhibition, unity torch relay, youth forum, health walk, sports and games, music jamboree, health screening, children’s durbar among others.
The festival would be climaxed with a grand durbar of Chiefs and Queen mothers and Elders on Saturday, November 25, in Agbozume the traditional capital.
Torgbi Adamah III, (Makorsor) Paramount Chief of the Somé Traditional Area, launching the festival in Accra, Saturday, said, it had been his desire to revive the festival since his ascension to the throne as Paramount Chief some eight years ago, but could not do so due to the many disputes and chieftaincy issues he has had to battle with.
“It has always been my heart’s desire to revive our festival, the “Somé tutu Zā” to bring all of us together and to sell our culture, heritage and traditions to the world, but my hands have been tied due to the incessant disputes and misunderstandings that have characterized my enstoolement some eight years ago – but by the help of the Almighty God and your support, those disputes and misunderstandings have become things of the past and Somé can now take it’s rightful place in the Ghanaian traditional landscape,” Torgbi Adamah said.
The Paramount Chief who is also the President of the Somé Traditional Council appealed to all the indigenes both home and in the diaspora to bury all differences, put the past behind them and unite for the forward march of the area.
“We must all understand that we are one people from one ancestry with a common destiny and purpose. Divisions squabbles and rancour will only retard our progress as a people – let us all put the past behind us and work hand-in-hand with fellow feeling for one another and by the help of the Almighty God, we can achieve our objectives and see a better and prosperous Somé,” he said.
Torgbi Adamah called on all Indigenes of the area and for that matter all the people of the Volta region to be proud of their origin as Ewe people and inculcate the habit of speaking the Ewe language and the cultural values of the Ewe people in the younger generation, adding it was disheartening to see some Ewes especially the youth shying away from speaking their mother tongue.
The Makorsor of Somé advised the youth to eschew social vices and hold fast to only what was good and beneficial to society as they were the future leaders of the area and the nation as a whole.
He assured of his continuous commitment to the cause of the Traditional Area and promised to continue to work with all his Divisional and Sub Chiefs as well the Queen mothers and Elders towards a peaceful, united and prosperous Somé.
Numo Blafo Akotia Amaetu III, a board member of the National Peace Council (NPC) who graced the launching event, enjoined all people of Somé to rally behind their Paramount Chief towards a memorable and successful festival and for the realization of collective development goals for the area.
He said it was the mandate of the Peace Council to work with all traditional councils in the country to ensure peaceful coexistence, unity and development at all times, adding no nation can develop in an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy, but in peace, togetherness and unity of purpose.
To this end Numo Blafo Akotia Amaetu, assured of the Peace Council’s commitment to supporting the Somé Traditional Council and and all Traditional Council’s in the country to ensure peace, unity tolerance and development at all times.
He advised all Indigenes not to be lukewarm in the affairs of the traditional area, but to contribute their quota towards its progress and development.
The 2023 “Sométutu Zā” is being celebrated on the theme: “Uniting all of Somé for her total development.”
By Leo Nelson || Ghananewsonline.com.gh