Savalou Yam Festival

At Savalou the new yam may not be eaten until the king has eaten it, and the festival that marks that permission is held each August at the royal court: masked appearances, drumming, the ritual eating of the first yam and a gathering that draws the town and the surrounding villages. It is among the better known of the yam festivals held across the region and it runs over several days.

What you actually see

• The first yam - the ritual eating that permits the harvest to be consumed.
• The masked appearances - the performances at the royal court.
• The drumming - the music that runs through the days of the festival.
• The royal court - the palace ground the festival is centred on.

When to go

Mid-August is the festival and the dates are set locally each year. Outside it there is nothing to see. The rains are ending around this time.

Honest expectations

Dates are announced locally and shift; the festival cannot be planned around from far off. Accommodation in Savalou is very limited and fills. Photography of the ceremonies needs permission.

Nearby

Dankoli Shrine is south, and Dassa-Zoumè is southeast.