Eveza: The Pot That Preserves the Bond Between Twins

 By Priscilla Makafui Kuwornu 

For centuries, the Ewe people of South Tongu in Ghana’s Volta Region have upheld traditions centred on family, community, and ancestral spirituality.

Ewe Traditional women dancing

 At the heart of these customs is the Eveza, a sacred twin pot crafted at the birth of twins. While it may resemble simple moulded clay to an outsider, in Ewe cosmology it serves as a living vessel of identity that preserves the lifelong spiritual connection shared between twins.

The twin pot ritual

In South Ewe culture, Twins are seen as a divine double blessing that brings  joy to the entire household. However, welcoming them also carries a profound spiritual responsibility. Mr Veno Dogbe says, “Eveza is not mere decoration or just a birth ornament, it is an enduring ancestral inheritance”.

In Lume Avete, a quiet community in the South Tongu District, this tradition became a deeply personal journey for the Kpabli family. Mr and Mrs Kpabli are blessed with two sets of twins: Afi and Atsufe, followed by Atsu and Etse.

The twin children of Mr and Mrs Kpabli

 Yet, when the children were born, the family chose to forego the traditional Eveza ritual, partly due to the difficult circumstances surrounding their birth and conflicting personal beliefs.

Mr and Mrs Kpabli

At first, ignoring the custom seemed like a harmless decision. But as time passed, hardship settled over the household. Mrs Kpabli’s once-thriving business ground to a complete halt, Mr Kpabli’s livelihood collapsed, and the twins suffered from persistent illnesses and unsettling behaviour. 

Desperate for relief, the family sought refuge in church prayers. Tragically, a family member passed away just three days later, and the family's suffering only intensified.

Seeking answers, they turned to their uncle, Togbe Nyakpo, who recognised that their misfortune aligned with neglecting their spiritual roots and advised them to perform the missing rites.

 Elder Dr Addo Bruce says, “Christians who go back to fetishes are lost souls because they are supposed to bring them to Christ,”

According to Togbe Edem Awono, neglecting these sacred rites causes families to stumble financially and prevents twins from truly thriving. Restoration required undergoing specific cleansing customs, dietary taboos, and sacred food preparations. 

During the ritual, the participants stripped away modern distractions, walking barefoot, unclothed, and uncombed and were led in procession seven times before entering a sacred room. After solemn prayers recited seven times, they entered a period of strict silence to honour the spiritual shift.

Returning to Lume Avete five months after the ceremony, the transformation was unmistakable. Mr Anas Ameku, a family representative, noted remarkable improvements in the children’s health, behaviour, and schooling, alongside the family’s steady financial recovery.

 For the Kpablis, performing the Eveza was not a retreat from their faith, but a peaceful homecoming to their cultural roots, proving that the twin pot remains a timeless symbol of identity, belonging, and ancestral protection.

The twin pot