On Thursday 3 September 2026, Glidji will hold Epé-Ekpé, the Guin New Year. At its heart is a ceremony with a plain name: the taking of the sacred stone. Glidji sits close to Aného, about 50 km from our apartments in Kégué. Here is how to get there from Lomé, and how to make a full day of it with Aného and Lake Togo.
What Epé-Ekpé is
Glidji is the spiritual centre of the Guin people. Every year it hosts Epé-Ekpé, the “taking of the sacred stone”, which marks the start of the Guin new year. The 2026 ceremony will be the 363rd.
The rite centres on a sacred stone that is brought out for the occasion. Its colour is read as the deities’ message for the year ahead.
The ceremony takes place at Glidji-Kpodji, in the sacred forest of Glidji, at Avé-Gbatso.
A date set afresh each year
Epé-Ekpé has no fixed date. It always falls on a Thursday between late August and September, and that Thursday is set by a ritual count a few weeks beforehand. In 2024 it was held in late August. This year it is 3 September.
For later years, the date is announced by Glidji’s traditional authorities. Dates already known for the region are listed in our events calendar for Lomé and Togo.
Getting to Glidji from Lomé
Kégué to Aného is 48 km, around 45 minutes. That figure assumes no traffic and no stops, so treat it as a minimum. Glidji is right next to Aného.
The easiest option is to go with a driver. We arrange car rental with or without a driver, priced on request. You enjoy the day and someone else deals with the road. If you would rather drive yourself, an international licence is accepted for stays of under three months.
Either way, plan to be back before dark. The French foreign ministry advises against driving at night in Togo, as road signs are almost non-existent.
At the ceremony
Epé-Ekpé is a religious ceremony first and a spectacle second. Keep a low profile, give the rite some room and follow any instructions given on the day.
Ask before you photograph anyone: many people in Togo would rather not be photographed. Leave the drone at home, as flying one requires permission.
As for the weather, early September is the tail end of the short dry season. Sources put the start of the short rainy season in early or mid-September, so pack a light rain jacket.
Make a day of it: Aného and Lake Togo
Aného is worth a stop. Once called Petit-Popo, it was twice the capital of Togo, from 1886 to 1897 and again from 1914 to 1919. The town lies between the ocean and Lake Togo. Look out for the Afro-Brazilian houses, the colonial buildings, the neo-Gothic cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul and the regional museum in the Zébé quarter.
Agbodrafo, on Lake Togo, is 34 km from Kégué, so closer to Lomé. From there, pirogues cross the lake to Togoville, the village that gave the country its name. We describe the outing on our day trips from Lomé page. One rule: no swimming in the lake. The Routard guide strongly advises against it because of bilharzia.
Where to stay for Epé-Ekpé
All three of our apartments are in Kégué, Lomé, so Glidji is an easy day trip without changing base:
- Le Nid des Lys, for two, with its terrace;
- La Petite Cachette, for two, in a quiet spot;
- Le Cocon Coloré, two bedrooms for up to four, if you are travelling as a family or with friends.
Simone welcomes you with Chantal. If you are flying in, she can also arrange your airport transfer, at 10,000 FCFA (about €15) per ride. Everything is on our apartments page, and you can pay by card or by Mobile Money (Flooz, TMoney).
Our tip
Leave early and keep the whole day free. Glidji first, then Aného, and Lake Togo last, as it is closer to Lomé. Ask for the driver quote when you book the apartment: the date is already set, so there is no reason to leave it to the last minute.
FAQ
When is Epé-Ekpé in 2026?
Thursday 3 September 2026, at Glidji-Kpodji near Aného. The date changes every year and is set by a ritual count a few weeks ahead.
How long does it take to get from Lomé to Glidji?
Aného, right beside Glidji, is 48 km from Kégué: about 45 minutes without traffic. Allow longer when the roads are busy.
Can you swim in Lake Togo?
No. The Routard guide strongly advises against swimming in the lake because of bilharzia. A pirogue trip is the better way to enjoy it.
