Great Festivals of Ghana (Western Africa)

Western Africa comprises of Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Mali regions. Africa is a land of wild social events and colorful tribal festivals. You can find a range of indigenous and unique Afro-music, style and art forms reflecting many ethnic groups and communities in Africa. These festivals are celebrated for various reasons such as welcoming a new harvest, religious significance, victory, joy and cultural events.

There are numerous festivals and events in this region of Africa, but here are some of the most popular:

• Akwasidee festival is a seven day grand event known as the ‘festival of kings’, celebrated by the Ashantis tribal chiefs to pay homage to their ancestors. The festival is celebrated every 42 days and usually begins on Friday (Adaefofie in the native tongue). The next day is called Memenada Dapaa, where many people perform special prayers; an interesting act also performed during this festival is the purification of ancestral hand carved chairs. This event is not open to the public, only few Ashantis are allowed, and they consider it a very sacred ritual. The third and final day is called Akwasidee, where the Ashantis people pay homage to their ancestors in open durbars.

• Aboakyer Festival is celebrated by Simpa or Winneba people to mark their migration from the ancient Sudan Empire to Ghana. The god Otu guided Simpa people safely through the migration from Sudan to Ghana. In order to show respect, the god asked his people to sacrifice a young member of the Royal family each year. Later they appealed to the god and used a live animal (from the wildcat family) instead of a Royal heir. Before the festival begins, the people capture an animal, usually a live “bush buck” (similar in appearance to a deer), and behead it for sacrifice. Today this festival is celebrated each year during the month of May, with feast and joy.

• Panafest is also known as the Pan African Festival, and it is a popular festival among Africans and the entire Diaspora community. It is a biannual festival mixed with African dance, music and other performing arts. This event is entirely dedicated to the pan-Africanism and development of the African continent. It is celebrated with much zeal and spirit by African nationals as well as the rich Diasporas.

• The Homowo Festival is a great harvest festival of Ghana; it is celebrated by Ga people from the greater Accara region of Ghana. The main idea of the homowo festival is to mark the migration of Ga people to Ghana, and their agriculture success in the new settlement.

• Ever year during the the month of November, the Hogbetsotso festival is celebrated in Ghana, on the first Saturday of the month. The festival is celebrated by the Anlo Ewes of the Volta region of Ghana. The main attraction of this festival is the magnificent durbar of tribal chiefs and chieftains. Generally called the festival of exodus, it is held annually to remember the escape of Anlo Ewes community from the tyrannical rulers of Notsie.

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