Ghana, Togo and Benin: Millet Festival 2020
13 Days / 12 Nights

GHANA, TOGO AND BENIN:
Millet Festival by Krobo Tribe

13 Days / 12 Nights

Scheduled departure dates from Lome
2020

October 22nd

Minimum 2 - Maximum 16 participants

The celebration of the Millet Festival, among the Krobo people, is an incredible feast, rich in colours and jewels, taking place every year during the harvest season.

Apart from this specific festival, our fantastic cultural odyssey will bring us to the most remote regions of Ghana, Togo and Benin to discover lost tribal worlds ruled by traditional chiefs and ancient spirits.

Along the coast, in the heart of voodoo original regions we encounter practitioners, watch trance-dances and learn about the great influence voodoo spirits still have on people.

Heading inland from the forest to the savannah, we discover the Taneka tribe on a rocky mountain, then the Tamberma with their fairy-tale clay adobe castles and finally we enter the Ashanti kingdom in Kumasi forests.

We end our tour exploring the former Gold Coast, with the largest European castles in Africa; centuries remain of gold and slave trade.

Indeed the most complete and spectacular way to discover West Africa rich patrimony of Tribes, Kingdoms, festivals and ceremonies.

Great experience combined with the choice of comfortable accommodations.

For travellers who want to get acquainted with this unique region … and love Africa!

Apart from Krobo festival, participants to the tour will attend the following events:

- an interesting voodoo ceremony
- a spectacular fire dance
- an “Ashanti funeral”: festive celebration that consecrates the return of the spirit of an ancestor.

Day 1	Lome, Gulf of Guinea - TOGO
Day 2	Voodoo, from Lome to Agbodrafo (100 km - time of drive 3 hr) - TOGO
Day 3	“Brazilian” city, from Agbodrafo to Ouidah (70 km - time of drive 2 hr) - TOGO & BENIN
Day 4	Royal Palace, from Ouidah to Dassa (250 km - time of drive 5 hr) - BENIN
Day 5	Fetish hills, from Dassa to Natitingou (350 km - time of drive 8 hr) - BENIN
Day 6	Fire Dance, from Natitingou to Sokode (180 km - time of drive 4 hr) - BENIN & TOGO
Day 7	Rainforest, from Sokode to Kpalime (290 km - time of drive 5 hr) - TOGO
Day 8	Glass beads, from Kpalime to Akosombo (150 km - time of drive 4 hr) - TOGO - GHANA
Day 9	MILLET FESTIVAL, Akosombo (transfers) - GHANA
Day 10	Ashanti, from Akosombo to Kumasi (250 km - time of drive 6 hr) - GHANA
Day 11	Golden Kingdoms, Kumasi (transfers) - GHANA
Day 12	Slaves’ Castles, from Kumasi to Anomabu (250 km - time of drive 4 hr) - GHANA
Day 13	Metropolis, from Anomabu to Accra (180 km - time of drive 3 hr) - GHANA

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Lome, Gulf of Guinea - TOGO

Arrival in Lome (Togo) and transfer to the hotel.

Meals: own arrangements
Overnight: Hotel Onomo or similar (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Day 2: Voodoo, from Lome to Agbodrafo (100 km - time of drive 3 hr) - TOGO

Lomé, the vibrant capital of Togo, is the only African city which was a colony of the Germans, the British and the French. It is also one of the few capitals in the world bordering with another nation. These elements have led to the development of a unique identity reflected in the life style of its inhabitants and in the architecture of the town: Lomé is indeed a cross point for people, trade and cultures, a cosmopolitan city in small size. We will visit: the central market with its famous “Nana Benz”, women who control the market of the expensive “pagne” (=cloths) coming from Europe and sold all over West Africa; the colonial buildings in the administrative quarter where the flavour of colonial time is still very present.

Stop at the fetish market where we can find an eclectic assortment of all the necessary ingredients for love potions and magical concoctions.

In a remote village we will join a Voodoo ceremony: the frenetic rhythm of the drums and the chants of the adepts calls in the voodoo spirits who then takes possession of some of the dancers. They fall into a deep trance: eyes rolling back, grimaces, convulsions, insensitivity to fire or pain. Sakpata, Heviesso, Mami Water are just some of the voodoos divinities who can manifest. In this narrow village, surrounded by the magic atmosphere of the ceremony, we will finally understand what people mean when they say: “In your Churches you pray God; in our voodoo shrine we become Gods!”

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight: Hotel du Lac or similar (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Day 3: “Brazilian” city, from Agbodrafo to Ouidah (70 km - time of drive 2 hr) - TOGO & BENIN

Benin border crossing (Hilla Kodji / Save Kodji)

Drive to Ouidah. Ouidah was conquered by the Dahomey Kingdom during the 18th century to become one of the main slave ports. Today Ouidah enjoys an Afro-Brazilian architecture, and the python temple faces the Catholic Cathedral. The laid-back attitude of the locals blends in harmoniously with the thunder of the distant waves and the rhythm of the drums - a timeless atmosphere well described by Bruce Chatwin in his book "The Vice-Roy of Ouidah". On foot we visit the Python Temple and the Portuguese Fort, now a small but interesting museum on the history of Ouidah and the transatlantic slave trade. We end the visit following the “slave road” to the beach, the point of “no return” where slaves were shipped to the “new world”.

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight: Hotel Casa del Papa or similar, ocean front bungalows, wild beaches, swimming pool. (all bungalows ensuite with aircon)

Day 4: Royal Palace, from Ouidah to Dassa (250 km - time of drive 5 hr) - BENIN

We cross Lake Nokwe with a motorized boat to reach Ganvié, the largest and most beautiful African village on stilts. The approximately 25,000 inhabitants of the Tofinou ethnic group build their wooden huts on teak stilts. Fishing is their main activity. Ganvié has managed to preserve its traditions and environment despite the long-lasting human presence in a closed setting; and the lake is not over-fished. Daily life unfolds in the dugout canoes that adults and children row with ease using brightly coloured paddles. From these canoes men fishing, women expose goods at the “floating market”, children go to school and play.

Returned on the mainland we drive to Abomey where we visit the Royal Palace. The walls of the palace are decorated with bas-reliefs representing symbols of the ancient Dahomey kings. At the height of power the King has up to 4.000 wives living in the harem. Nowadays a museum, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage, displays items belonging to the ancient kings: thrones, cult altars, statues, costumes and weapons. A Kingdom whose economy was for a long time based on the slave trade: a permanent state of war made it possible for the kings to capture thousands of prisoners whom they then sold as slaves. The royal army included a female battalion feared for its boldness and cruel war behaviour. In the centre of the royal courtyard we discover a temple built with a mixture of clay, gold dust knead with the blood of thousands human sacrifices.

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight: Hotel Jeko or similar (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Day 5: Fetish hills, from Dassa to Natitingou (350 km - time of drive 8 hr) - BENIN

Early morning departure for a long but intense day. First stop will be at Dankoli Fetish, a unique shrine for ancient animistic cults still practiced: thousands of short sticks are pushed in and all around the fetish as testimony of the countless prayers for a good harvest, a happy wedding, an easy delivery, success at school etc. Once the prayers are answered, people come back to sacrifice what they had promised, according to the nature of the prayer. Fresh traces of sacrifice, palm alcohol and oil on the fetish are witnes that many prayers and requests have been fulfilled.

In the afternoon we discover old Taneka villages located on a mountain with the same name. The villages are made up of round adobe huts covered with a conical roof protected at the top by a terra cotta pot. The upper part of the village is inhabited by the young initiated and by the fetish priests who only cover themselves with a goat skin and always carry a long pipe. This ethnic group has been living on an archaeological site for centuries, in fact it looks as if the first inhabitants (from Kabye tribe origins) moved to the mountain during the IXth century. Since then, other ethnic groups have joined thus forming melting-pot where despite the fact that each group kept its own cults and initiation rites, common religious and political institutions were defined.

As we wander among the villages along alleys bordered by rocks with ancient and mysterious carved marks, only witnesses of populations who in the past have lived in these places.

We may come across young initiated, wearing only with a cover sex and magical amulets, or elders fetiche priest dressed with a skin. Taneka believe that in order to “become” a man, it is necessary to combine time, patience and many sacrifices. Initiation is a lifetime process life itself becomes a rite of passage, therefore life should not be conditioned by a “before” and an “after” but rather as following a continuous path.

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight: Hotel Tata Somba or similar (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Day 6: Fire Dance, from Natitingou to Sokode (180 km - time of drive 4 hr) - BENIN & TOGO

We enter the land of the Somba & Tamberma who live in adobe fortified dwellings. Similar in form to small medieval castles, they are one of the most beautiful examples of traditional African architecture. Their style impressed Le Corbusier vanguard architect that describe it as «sculptural architecture». In fact the houses are hand built, layer of clay after layer, adding round mud balls and shaping them as per the plan of the house. A kind of sensual gesture mixing strength, care and beauty. Their strong animistic beliefs are witnes by large shrines - of phallic form - at the entrance of their homes. With the permission granted to us by the elders we enter their homes to better understand their way of life. Actually their houses are a projection of their cosmology - the ground floor, with its darkness, represents death and is the place of the ancestors; the second floor, open to the sky, represents life and is the place where grandmothers keep babies until they “find out” which ancestor has come back as the new life - only then will the baby be allowed to come down from the terrace. All - family, food supplies and stock - are kept inside the fortified house, for safety and survival in case of attack by enemies. For centuries these populations have been seeking refuge in the Atakora Mountains to escape Muslim slave traders coming from the north.

Togo border

In the evening, we arrive at the villages of Tem tribe to discover the fire dance. At the centre of the village a large fire lights up the silhouette of the participants. They dance to the hypnotic beat of the drums eventually leaping into the glowing embers, picking up burning coals, passing them over their bodies and even putting them in their mouths and swallowing them. all this without hurting themselves or showing any sign of pain. It’s difficult to explain such a performance. Is it matter of courage? Self-suggestion? Magic? Maybe it really is the fetishes that protect them from the fire.

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight Hotel Central or similar (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Day 7: Rainforest, from Sokode to Kpalime (290 km - time of drive 5 hr) - TOGO

We will head southwards, with a stop on the way in Atakpame, a typical African small town built on hills where all the products coming from the nearby forests can be found. Through their skilled work on small weaving looms, men of the region make the large brightly coloured fabric called “Kente”.

From Atakpame we move to the tropical forests surrounding Kpalime, a town with a rich colonial past which is now an important cocoa and coffee trading market. Night Walk in the forest to discover the mysterious world of the tropical forest in the darkness and so meet with the majesty profile of tropical trees, the sounds of tam-tams and the echoes of wild animals. Under the guidance of a local entomologist, we will learn about endemic butterflies and colourful insects.

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight: Hotel Gess or similar (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Day 8: Glass beads, from Kpalime to Akosombo (150 km - time of drive 4 hr) - TOGO - GHANA

Ghana border crossing and continuation to the Volta Region.

Krobo tribe is known for its glass beads. Krobo people produce and wear glass beads for ceremonies and aesthetic purposes. We will visit an artisan community of beads producers and even experience the process of making our one bead. The craftsmen have been producing beads following the same long lasting traditional technique for centuries. They use scrap glass that is grounded into a fine powder. The glass powder is then meticulously made into patterns and placed into hand-made clay moulds covered in kaolin. The beads are cooked then decorated, washed and eventually strung.

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight: Afrikiko Resort Hotel or similar (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Day 9: MILLET FESTIVAL, Akosombo (transfers) - GHANA

A day fully dedicated to enjoy the incredible atmosphere of the spectacular Millet Festival, a celebration full of colors and jewels.

The festival consists in seven days of religious and social celebration during which people renew their love, unity and solidarity and express their gratitude to God for all the blessings received (good harvests, abundance, good health and protection from enemy).

In the past there was the Ngmayem Festival celebrated only by priests however, in the 1940s, the late paramount king “Konor Oklemekuku nene Azu Mate Kole II” transformed this celebration into the communal festival we know today, to promote solidarity and development among people.

This festival also provides youth with the opportunity to learn their culture, make friends and choose spouses.

Traditional chiefs arrive with their entire court and are dressed in their most beautiful attires; an enthusiastic crowd surrounds them and the parade is accompanied by the rhythm of the drums.

The friendly behavior of the crowds will give us a unique opportunity to feel part of a real African ceremony.

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight: Afrikiko Resort Hotel or similar (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Day 10: Ashanti, from Akosombo to Kumasi (250 km - time of drive 6 hr) - GHANA

Kumasi is the historical and spiritual capital of the old Ashanti Kingdom. The Ashanti people were one of the most powerful Kingdoms in Africa until the end of the 19th century, when the British annexed Ashanti Country to their Gold Coast colony. The tribute paid today to the Asantehene (=King) is the best evidence of their past splendour and strength. With nearly one million inhabitants, Kumasi is a sprawling town with a unique central market, one of the largest in Africa. Every kind of Ashanti craft (leather goods, pottery, Kente cloth) is found here, along with just about every kind of tropical fruit and vegetable.

The program includes a visit to the Ashanti Cultural Centre: a rich collection of Ashanti artefacts housed in a wonderful reproduction of an Ashanti house. In the afternoon we participate - if available - in a traditional Ashanti funeral, attended by mourners wearing beautifully red or black togas. We say “funerals” but it means a “festive” celebration: thanks to this ceremony the deceased return as an ancestor and will protect his family. Relatives and friends gather, socialize and celebrate his/her memory. The chief arrives surrounded by his court under the shade of large umbrellas while drums give rhythm to the dancers whose intricate moves are highly symbolic in war and erotic meanings.

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight: Miklin Hotel or similar (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Day 11: Golden Kingdoms, Kumasi (transfers) - GHANA

In the morning continuation of the tour of Kumasi, with the visit of the Royal Palace Museum hosting a unique collection of gold jewels worn by the Ashanti court. In the afternoon visit of Ashanti villages with traditional clothing and carving.

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight: Miklin Hotel or similar (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Day 12: Slaves’ Castles, from Kumasi to Anomabu (250 km - time of drive 4 hr) - GHANA

Drive to the coast.

Elmina Castle, the oldest European building in Africa, erected by the Portuguese in the 15th century. At different times the castle has been used as a warehouse to trade gold, ivory, and eventually slaves. The castle we visit today is the result of successive extension works and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The old Dutch Cemetery in Elmina goes back to 1806. Outside the castle, a spectacular fishing village with lots of large colourful fishing boats - every day these wooden large pirogues conducted by skilled fishermen across strong ocean waves and currents, “fighting” to earn a living. In the old town we will see the Posuban, the shrines of the ancient “Asafo companies” - the warriors who used to put their offerings on the large colourful statues. The alleys in the old town have a very lively atmosphere, bringing us back to a time when Elmina was a busy colonial town.

Meals: B - L - D
Overnight: Anomabu Beach Resort or similar, Ocean front resort with comfortable bungalows on the beach. (all bungalows ensuite and with aircon)

Day 13: Metropolis, from Anomabu to Accra (180 km - time of drive 3 hr) - GHANA

Drive to Accra.

Accra, the capital of Ghana, has maintained its unique identity despite the fast-paced development currently underway in this intriguing African city. The program includes a visit to the National Museum (if open), one of the first works of independent Ghana - the idea inspiring the Museum is to relate Ghanaian art to the rest of the continent and to prove the existence of an African history as part of the general history of humanity. We explore the old quarter of James Town, inhabited by the local population known as the Ga. Our tour ends with the visit of a workshop where they specialize in building fantasy coffins. These special handcrafted coffins can reflect any shape: fruits, animals, fish, cars, airplanes…. the only limit being imagination! Started in Africa, these flamboyant coffin designs are by now collected worldwide and exposed in museums.

In the evening transfer to the airport for the flight out.

Meals: B - L
Day-use: Rooms in day-use till 18.00 hrs (all rooms ensuite and with aircon)

Download Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Hotel Onom or similar,Lome, Togo
Day 2: Hotel du Lac or similar, Agbodrafo, Togo
Day 3: Hotel Casa del Papa or similar, Ouidah, Benin
Day 4: Hotel Jeko or similar, Dassa, Benin
Day 5: Hotel Tata Somba or similar, Natitingou, Benin
Day 6: Hotel Central or similar, Sokode, Togo
Day 7: Hotel Gess or similar, Kpalime, Togo
Day 8 - 9: Afrikiko Resort Hotel or similar, Akosombo, Ghana
Day 10 - 11: Miklin Hotel or similar, Kumasi, Ghana
Day 12: Anomabu Beach Resort or similar, Cape Coast, Ghana