Krachi Yam Festival at Kete Krachi, Oti Region

Krachi Yam Festival

Thanks for the yam harvest

The Krachi Yam Festival is held each September at Kete Krachi in the Oti Region to welcome the new yam and give thanks for the harvest. It runs for a week of cultural and social events and ends with a durbar led by the Krachiwura, with masquerades and yam pounded in the open as a sign of a good harvest.

What happens

The festival welcomes the new yam with a week of cultural and social events, ending in a durbar of chiefs and people led by the Krachiwura, Nana Mprah Besemuna III.¹ At the 2015 durbar there were masquerades and an open pounding of yam as a sign of a bumper harvest.²

The Krachiwura has said the festival was set up to bring the Krachi and their yam-growing neighbours together to thank God for the harvest, alongside the older Nanaba festival rather than in place of it.²

Good to know if you go

Where: Kete Krachi is the capital of Krachi West. See the Oti page for places nearby.
Check the dates: the traditional council sets them each year. Local radio and the national press carry the announcement.
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 the Krachi Yam Festival?

The annual yam festival of the Krachi at Kete Krachi in the Oti Region, ending with a durbar led by the Krachiwura.

When is the Krachi Yam Festival?

In September.

Sources

“Oti Region: the tradition and cultural heritage of Oti Region”, National Commission on Culture.
Sebastian Syme, “Release land for infrastructure projects”, Graphic Online, 28 September 2015.

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