The Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II is expected to arrive in Keta in the Volta Region as the special guest of honor at the 2022 Hogbetsotso festival.
The annual festival of the Anlos of the Volta Region is celebrated to commemorate the exodus of the Ewe people from the oppressive tyranny of King Agorkorli in Togo.
This year’s celebration will mark the 60th anniversary of the festival and the Asantehene has been invited to attend.
The Asantehene is expected to arrive with an entourage of about 500 persons including Chiefs and attendants.
Many have enquired about the historical relationship between Asantes and Anlos, if any.
This portal has learned from a post made by one Mustapha Hameed on Facebook that the historical relationship between the two states dates back to the 18th century.
In a Facebook post, Mustapha Hameed, a former parliamentary aspirant for Asawase in the Ashanti Region under the banner of the NPP wrote,
“When the Late ruler of Anlo, Torgbui Adeladza II died in 1998, the then Asantehene Otumfuo Opoku Ware II sent gold dust and other items for burial of the Awoamefia of Anlo.
Traditionally, the Asantehene is the one who buries the Anlo Awoamefia.The relationship between the two parties which took the form of military alliance dates back to the mid-1750s of the 18th century (Damfo Relation).
At times Anlo state sent emissaries to the courthouse of Asantehene to relate messages from the Awoamefia and the war councils.
Due to the cold relationship between Asantes and the British and their allies, whenever the trading ports of the Asantes were blocked directly, the Anlos act as middlemen and supply Asantes with large quantities of firearms and ammunition.
They also supplied Asantes with salt. Asantehene Kofi Karikari subsequently presented a sword to Awadada Axorlu I, the military commander of Anlo to seal the alliance between Asante, Anlo and Akwamu.
The sword is still preserved today and is among the regalia of the Kaklalu Stool of Anlo.It is this strong alliance that made Asantehene give the Anlos a vast land to settle on in Kumasi in large numbers and name the new place Anloga or Anloga Junction after their original home in the Volta.
Kotoko was conferred on them, “Anlo Kotoko”.Today, a “Royal Anlo Ewe” can easily form part of the Asantehene’s circle to perform rituals in the sacred stool house during Akwasidae or Odwira.
The old Asante-Anlo alliance still stands today. On Saturday, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will be at Anloga to celebrate Hogbetsotso Za.Long live Asante Kotoko and Anlo Kotoko.Asante-Anlo brotherhood, beautiful relationship which politicians have tried so hard to destroy”.
GhanaFeed