Festivals · August · Volta

Agbamevoza

The Agotime festival of kente

Agbamevoza, the Kente festival, is held by the chiefs and people of the Agotime Traditional Area at Kpetoe, east of Ho in the Volta Region. Over a week in late August or early September there are kente weaving competitions for speed and design, and the festival ends with a grand durbar where chiefs and people wear their finest kente.

Bring cashKpetoe is a weaving town: the cloth on sale here comes straight off the looms.

Chiefs and elders in bright kente seated at the Agbamevoza durbar
Chiefs in kente at the durbarJY midey · CC BY-SA 4.0
When
Usually late August or early September, over a week
Where
Agotime-Kpetoe, Volta Region
Kept by
The Agotime, led by the Konor of Agotime
Name
Agbamevo means “loom cloth” in Ewe
Region
Volta

What Agbamevoza celebrates

Agbamevo means “loom cloth” in Ewe. The Agotime say they brought kente weaving to the area, and Kpetoe is one of the biggest weaving centres in Ghana; the festival was started in 1995 to celebrate and promote the craft.13

What happens

The week includes weaving competitions for the fastest weavers and the most inventive designs, exhibitions and a Miss Kente pageant, and it ends with a durbar of chiefs and people in kente.13 The 20th edition, in 2015, ran from 6 to 13 September with the durbar on Saturday 12 September; around 7,000 guests were expected.2

Good to know if you go

  • Where: Kpetoe is about 20 minutes east of Ho, near the Togo border.
  • Buying kente: you can visit weavers and buy directly. Ask before photographing people at their looms.
  • Dates: the week sometimes starts in the last week of August and the dates can be set late. Check before travelling.
  • Respect the rites: some rituals are sacred and not for cameras. Ask before photographing chiefs, priests or anyone taking part, and follow what the ushers ask.

Questions people ask

What is Agbamevoza?

The Kente festival of the Agotime people at Kpetoe in the Volta Region, with weaving competitions and a durbar in kente.

When is the Kente festival at Kpetoe?

Usually over a week in late August or early September.

What does Agbamevo mean?

Loom cloth, in Ewe.

Sources

  1. “Agbamevo Festival”, Wikipedia.
  2. “Kente Festival launched at Agotime Kpetoe”, Graphic Online, 18 August 2015.
  3. “Agbamevoza: Agotime Traditional Area Kente Festival”, African Craft.

Last checked 16 October 2026. Spotted something wrong or know this year’s dates? Tell us.

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