The Somè Traditional Council is positioning the 2026 Somètutuza celebration as a platform to harness the potential of young people in preserving cultural heritage, promoting tourism and advancing development in the traditional area.
The annual cultural festival, scheduled for September 13 to 27, will bring together indigenes, residents, visitors and stakeholders for a series of cultural, educational, health and community development activities.
This year’s celebration is being held under the theme: “Harnessing the Potential of Youth for Socio-Cultural Preservation, Economic Prosperity, and Tourism Development to Foster Peace and Unity.”
The Traditional Council said the theme was intended to place young people at the centre of efforts to safeguard Somè’s cultural identity while creating opportunities for economic growth, tourism development, peace and social cohesion.
The celebrations will begin on September 13 with traditional prayers and libation at the forecourt of the Makosor Palace.
A reconciliation programme will follow across communities in the Somè Traditional Area on September 14, alongside visits to tourist sites designed to expose participants to the area’s cultural and tourism potential.
The programme will also feature a strong educational and youth development component, including the Somè Fugo Students Quiz Competition and Somè Fugo Youth Summit on September 15.
The Somè Fugo Students’ Durbar will be held on September 17 at the Denu Chicago School Park, while September 18 will feature communal labour, the Somè Wego Students Quiz Competition and a musicians’ parade.
Health and entertainment activities will also form part of the celebration, with a Mega Health Walk, fireworks night, music jam and Food and Drinks Buzza Night scheduled for September 19.
Christian prayers will be held on September 20, followed by the finals of the Somè Fugo and Wego Students Quiz Competition on September 22.
Other activities will include communal labour, a mega float, food and drinks events, a students’ durbar and a kite and craft exhibition.
The celebration will climax with a grand durbar on Saturday, September 26, at the Somè National Park in Agbozume from 10:00 a.m., where the cultural heritage of the traditional area will be showcased.
Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is listed as the Special Guest of Honour for the grand celebration.
The Traditional Council has also instituted measures intended to maintain a peaceful atmosphere throughout the festivities, declaring September 14 to 27 as a period of no drumming and noise-making.
Funeral rites have also been suspended throughout the Somè Traditional Area during the period.
The Council said the grand durbar would provide an important opportunity to strengthen cultural identity while encouraging young people to take an active role in heritage preservation, tourism and community development.
The festival will officially conclude on September 27 with a thanksgiving ceremony.
The Traditional Council has invited indigenes, residents, visitors and other stakeholders to participate in the activities and support the broader objective of using Somètutuza to promote culture, peace, unity and sustainable development.
