The Chiefs and people of the Peki Traditional Area in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region marked this year’s Easter festivities with the annual Asafotudada Festival.
The festival was instituted to commemorate the bravery of the Pekis at war and the sacrifices of the forebearers who fought to secure their present settlement.
The Asafotudada Festival also served as a platform to celebrate the warfare of the people of Peki, who were known to be one of the toughest traditional areas that fought to protect the Ewe land in the pre and colonial eras.
On Easter Saturday, Warlords of the 7 Divisions lead their warriors to parade the streets, mimicking how they form to battle in the past. The day was used to perform special customary rites to signify the beginning of the Asafotudada festival.
In a sheer display of arts and culture amid musketry, they paid glorious tribute to their forefathers. History has it that women played vital roles at the war front to defend the territories of Peki.
Addressing the grand durbar, the Paramount Chief of Peki, Diega Kodzo Die IV, appealed to his Divisional and Sub-Chiefs to continue to protect the peace and unity in the area for the common good of Peki.
He stressed that the traditional area suffered retrogress when it wasn’t represented at the House of Chiefs due to disputes, leading to the area losing its glory.
“I observed that we have missed a lot because we were not represented at the Regional nor National House of Chiefs. This time that we are back to the Regional House of Chiefs, I have seen a lot of transformation, and I want us to maintain and build on this. We must eschew chieftaincy disputes because it will only retard our development”, he said.
He advised his subjects to continue to sell Peki to their friends and investors to promote socioeconomic growth of the area.
Diega Kodzo Die IV appealed to the youth to exercise restrain and seek clarity on issues from the traditional authorities before making judgments and taking to social media to express their views on emerging issues.
“When we do that, it means we don’t respect our Chiefs and Queens. You assign someone to lead you and you only make derogatory comments about him or her, the community will not develop. When you don’t understand an issue, ask for explanation. Do not go to social media and make unsavory comments”, he said.
He lauded the successful confirmation of the South Dayi District Chief Executive, Courage Kwame Kokroko and entreated him to ensure equitable distribution of development projects.
“I am expecting that the new role assigned to him would bring development to the area. It shouldn’t be that a particular area would benefit more than the other. We all clamored for the creation of the district to bring development to all of us, just as we want it for the Peki Traditional Area”, he summed up.
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi and Majority Chief Whip in parliament, Rockson-Nelson Defeamekpor expressed gratitude for the roles the people of Peki played, leading to the victory of the National Democratic Congress in the December 2024 general elections.
He stressed that he would use his positions to ensure that the Peki Traditional Area and the entire constituency receive the needed development projects to enhance the livelihoods of his constituents.
He said that his office would collaborate with the District Chief Executive and the Assembly to deliver on the government’s developmental agenda.
“We are expectant that Peki, Kpali, Kpeve, Tongor, Kpale Traditional areas will see the needed development under this collaboration. My rule is to collaborate with the DCE irrespective of his party affiliation. So, I and Mr. Kokroko will work together to bring development to Peki”, he said.
There were musketry displays and traditional dancing by the 7 Divisions of the Peki Traditional Area to climax the 2025 Asafutudada Festival. They are Adzokoe, Tsame, Avetile, Dzake, Afeviofe, Wudome and Dzogbati.
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