Agotime Kente Festival 2026: Celebrating heritage, culture and the future of kente [Photos]

The people of Agotime in the Volta Region have once again celebrated their rich cultural heritage at the 2026 Agotime Kente Festival, held in Kpetoe under the theme, “Agotime Kente – Honouring Our Heritage, Safeguarding Our Future.”

The annual festival celebrates the community’s long-standing kente weaving tradition while promoting unity, traditional leadership, cultural identity and the preservation of the craft for future generations.

Water-carrying procession

The festival activities began on Friday with the traditional Asialetorme, a colourful water-carrying procession in which women carried pots of water on their heads and paraded through the town.

The procession reflects the important role of women in the community while symbolising dignity, unity and respect for tradition. It also set the tone for the main celebrations, featuring music, colour and vibrant cultural displays.

Grand durbar

The climax of the festival came on Saturday with a grand durbar at Kpetoe, bringing together chiefs, queen mothers, traditional authorities, community members and invited guests.

The event featured traditional drumming and dancing, speeches, cultural performances and impressive displays of Agotime kente, with chiefs and queen mothers adorned in colourful traditional regalia.

A major focus of the durbar was the proposed Kente Village and Centre of Excellence, an initiative aimed at supporting local weavers, preserving traditional kente designs, creating employment opportunities and positioning Agotime as a major destination for cultural tourism.

The main guest of honour at the durbar was Alex Segbefia, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Vice President.

Mr Segbefia described kente as a powerful symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage, while encouraging continued support for the proposed Kente Village and Centre of Excellence.

The 2026 celebration therefore served not only as a showcase of Agotime’s rich cultural traditions but also as a renewed call to protect, promote and modernise the kente weaving industry for generations to come.

Below are some photos captured during the events by Samuel Moore.