page_title: Sokodé
section_title: Festivals
hierarchical_section_title: Sokodé / Culture / Festivals
caption_attribution_description: English: Women dancing during Adossa-Kosso, Sokodé Français&#160;: Femmes dansant durant la fête d'Adossa-Kosso, Sokodé
context_page_description: Sokodé is the second largest city in Togo and seat of the Tchaoudjo and Centrale Region in the center of the country, 339 kilometres north of Lomé. With a population of 86,500, currently at around 118,000, the city is situated between the Mo and Mono rivers, and it is a commercial center for the surrounding agricultural areas. It is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious city, but is dominated by Islam. It is an administrative center where the majority of Kotokolis live, Muslims whose cloths are reminiscent of North Africa.Then men wear big boubous and women the veil above beautiful colorful outfits.
context_section_description: 'Gadao-Adossa-Kosso': the main Kotokoli festival consists of three days of festivities, from Friday to Sunday. Celebrated the evening before Adossa, Gadao's function is to thank the ancestors for abundant harvests. Adossa, or the Festival of Knives, is an initiation rite originating with Semassi warriors who demonstrate their strength and courage by undergoing physical challenges. The next day is Kosso, the Festival of Women, in which women dance in the Municipal Park in Sokodé City.
  Among others, major festivals are held by different Sokodé clans. In most festivals traditional dancers are invited from the region, as well as riders mimicking the Semassi warriors, spinning at full speed in the middle of the crowd.
caption: Dancers
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