A section of the youth in their cultural wear at the Mini Hogbe za

Culture and tradition were given an ele­vation on Saturday when the chiefs and people of Dzelukope in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region celebrated this year’s Mini Hogbetsotso Za (festival).

The ‘Mini Hogbe’as it’s popularly known, is cele­brated as a prelude to the main Hogbetsotso Za slated for today at Anloga.

It serves as a dressed re­hearsal for the main event and rotates from one para­mountcy to another among the 36 Anlo communities.

The almost eight-hour programme was intersperse with cultural drumming and dancing from the Af­rica-Africa cultural troop, the Asafo women, Volcano group, the Anyako Asafo group with the Keta Senior High School brass band providing music.

It attracted dignitaries including Nana Adu Gyamfi Ampem II, Asante Akyem Agogo Amantise Hene, the former Member of Parliament of Keta, Awoa­mezitor Dan Abodakpi and Mr Sylvester Mensah who represented the former President John Dramani Mahama.

Togbui Dzelu IV, the host and chairman of the Lo­cal Planning Community commended the people for turning out in their num­bers, an act he explained would engrave the areas name in the history books.

The Awadada of Anlo, Togbui Agbesu Awusu II, said the theme signified that Dzelukope was ready to facilitate its local devel­opment through its cultural heritage despite its differ­ences and challenges.

He called for reconcili­ation among the chiefs to promote unity and peace for the socio-economic de­velopment of the area.

The occasion was also used to raise funds for the construction of a library complex for the area.