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Our Culture Culture-Rich-Stic The Odwira Festival Besides graceful ceremonies and occasions on the yearlong calendar of Ghana, festivals and durbars are yet another occasion to meet distant relatives, make new friends and re-live history. The ‘Odwira’ festival is the main festival of the Okuapeman Traditional Area, constituting of about 18 towns on the ridge. It is celebrated in ‘Akropong’ where the paramount seat of Okuapeman is situated. ‘Odwira’ meaning ‘purification’ is a celebration of the cleansing and purification of the people, town and its chieftaincy stools. It lasts for a week (7days), with activities lined up for each day. The week-long celebration extends from Monday to Sunday with friends, family, the people on the ridge, royals, dignitaries, etc. all assembling to grace the occasion. Below are the days and their specific activities that are usually outlined; To begin the celebration, a forty day period known as ‘adabutum’ is set aside for resting and meditation. The people and ancestors require these days off to spiritually prepare themselves before the seven day ‘Odwira’ festival begins. During this period, a ban is placed on drumming, singing, and dancing on the ridge. The‘Mawerehene’ of Akuapem graces the celebration by holding a grand yet special durbar as part of the Odwira Festival. 48
Monday This is the first morning, ushering in the celebration for the week. The morning is actually the beginning of the Odwira festival, it is filled with both anguish and excitement. Men from the three royal families in the town go and clear the path to their ancestral burial grounds. This is the sacred cemetery or “Ammamprobi”. This is symbolically done to invite the (ancestors) to join in the festivities. Tuesday This is one of the busy days for the executioners. The Bamu Hene and Adum Hene are guarded by executioners or ‘abrafo’, who would sing, chant and shoot fire arms on this day. The men from the royal family go to the sacred cemetery to get the ancestors’ permission to begin the festival. On their arrival, the entire towns coupled with other surrounding towns gather along the streets to welcome and cheer them. A message from the Abrafo hene is then sent to the paramount chief to begin festivities. The ban is lifted on the eating of the new yam; which is usually bought and kept ahead of time. The new yam is introduced to the people, and the strongest men in the town “battle” against each other to grab one of these new yams to take home to cook. One yam is introduced at a time until all six of them have been exhausted. This yam game shows who the strongest man is in the town. Wednesday This is referred to as a mourning day; it is reserved for mourning. The day begins on an empty stomach, mostly amongst the royals of the town. On this day, 49
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Monday<br />
This is the first morning, ushering in the celebration for the<br />
week. The morning is actually the beginning of the Odwira<br />
festival, it is filled with both anguish and excitement. Men<br />
from the three royal families in the town go and clear the path<br />
to their ancestral burial grounds. This is the sacred cemetery<br />
or “Ammamprobi”. This is symbolically done to invite the<br />
(ancestors) to join in the festivities.<br />
Tuesday<br />
This is one of the busy days for the executioners. The Bamu<br />
Hene and Adum Hene are guarded by executioners or ‘abrafo’,<br />
who would sing, chant and shoot fire arms on this day. The<br />
men from the royal family go to the sacred cemetery to get the<br />
ancestors’ permission to begin the festival. On their arrival,<br />
the entire towns coupled with other surrounding towns gather<br />
along the streets to welcome and cheer them. A message from<br />
the Abrafo hene is then sent to the paramount chief to begin festivities. The ban<br />
is lifted on the eating of the new yam; which is usually bought and kept ahead of<br />
time. The new yam is introduced to the people, and the strongest men in the town<br />
“battle” against each other to grab one of these new yams to take home to cook.<br />
One yam is introduced at a time until all six of them have been exhausted. This<br />
yam game shows who the strongest man is in the town.<br />
Wednesday<br />
This is referred to as a mourning day; it is reserved for mourning. The day begins<br />
on an empty stomach, mostly amongst the royals of the town. On this day,<br />
49
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