The people of Klefe in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region held a vibrant procession last Sunday, September 7, from Galenkui Hill to Klefe-Demete to mark the hailing of the new yam.
This symbolic ritual, known locally as teyuyru, ushers in the season for consuming freshly harvested yams.
For 2025, the Klefe Yam Festival is dedicated to raising funds to support infrastructure development at the Klefe Technical Institute.
Celebrations are being held under the theme “Youth Employment – The Future of Our Community,” and will climax with a grand durbar on Saturday, September 27, at Klefe-Demete.
Chairman of the festival planning committee, Evans Kwami Buami, revealed to Graphic Showbiz that dignitaries expected include Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and Volta Regional Minister James Gunu. He added that the durbar is projected to attract over 10,000 attendees.
According to Togbe Koku Dzaga XI, Paramount Chief of Klefe, the Yam Festival is not only a thanksgiving celebration to the gods and ancestors for abundant harvests but also a prayer for prosperity, health, and cultural continuity.
Beyond its spiritual essence, the festival is a vibrant homecoming for the community, showcasing traditional music and dance, offering a platform to reconcile disputes, and strengthening social ties.
Traditionally, the first harvest of yam is offered to the deities before being shared and consumed by the people, preserving the cultural significance of this age-old festival.