8 popular festivals in Ghana and the month they take place
What comes to mind whenever you hear the word “festival”? Celebration, that’s right.
The Ghanaian calendar is imbued with a sequence of festival dates that usher its people into celebratory mode. Cultural and state festivals carry the same weight because Ghanaians usually come out in large numbers to enjoy and imbibe the spirit of camaraderie and family regardless of the purpose.
Traditional wear, dance, drinks, and food do not begin to explain what a typical festival looks like in Ghana. The insatiable hunger for preserving cultural heritage has retained Ghana’s love for pompous celebrations.
How many festivals are there in Ghana a year?
Ghanaians have dynamic celebratory patterns with over 70 major annual festivals which mark different seasons such as cleansing, migrating, and harvesting.
The 8 most popular Ghanaian festivals are…
HOMOWO
Homowo refers to ‘hooting at hunger.’ The festival is organized to urge the gods to furnish their food stores with endless food supplies. The elders and chiefs pour libations, dot the city with a traditional meal called kpokpoi as a means to drive away streaks of famine, and pray for a bountiful harvest. This harvest is commemorated in remembrance of the famine that once infested pre-colonial Ghana.
When it takes place: August
Location: Greater Accra Region
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Meaning ‘hunting for game’, this festival is organized to commemorate the migration of the Simpafo people. They honor the ceremony by going on a hunting spree to appreciate the gods for protecting them during the migration. The initial object of the hunt was a leopard, after which elders would perform rituals to appease the gods and a ceremony initiated by chiefs, elders, and queen mothers to cap the experience.
When it takes place: May
Location: Central Region – Winneba
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BAKATUE
The Elmina people along Ghana’s South Coast set the stage for a successful fishing season. They honor the gods by offering them their first catch as a way of seeking exponential fishing blessings. Pomp and color fill these celebrations with flamboyant canoe displays, drumming, and dancing. Elmina was home to the first European settlers who stripped off its wealth and made it a slave channel. Still, the cultural heritage is alive and well despite the unnerving historical injustices.
When it takes place: July
Location: Elmina
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ASAFOTUFIAM
The people in the eastern region indulge in this festival in memory of past victories and defeats. The people of Ada fought many battles to mark territories for their people. The ritual was organized to welcome and honor returning warriors. Currently, the people re-enact the ritual by dressing in traditional combat gear and creating mock battles.
When it takes place: August
Location: Greater Accra Region – Ada
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OGUAA FETU AFAHYE
This festival, unlike others, is observed with minimal celebratory acts. The festival is celebrated on the first Saturday of September by the Oguaa people to wade off diseases and epidemics. For example, before the occasion, there is no drumming, ululation, music, or fishing. The rituals are devoid of noise-making, and slaughtering livestock and offering libations are preferred ways of respecting the 77 deities.
When it takes place: September
Location: Central Region – Cape Coast
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CHALE WOTE STREET FESTIVAL
This festival hinges on street art aimed at reconciling creativity between local artists and international contemporaries. The festival seeks to showcase nascent cultural performances and express the growth in artistic expressions and technology.
When it takes place: August
Location: Greater Accra – James Town Area
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NKABOM LITERARY FESTIVAL
This festival assigns the gathering of literati’s such as novelists, poets, scholars, and orators with artists such as painters, thespians, and photographers. The event’s sole purpose is to marry the diverse artistic capabilities to brew an intoxicating pot of creative genius.
When it takes place: TBC
Location: Greater Accra Region
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ACCRA PREMIUM FOOD FESTIVAL
The food festival is the mother of all festivals. Any self-respecting society has its culture centered on food, and Accra has a reputation for flooding the festival with mind-bending cuisines. People get the opportunity to sample traditional food, drinks and marinate in invigorating local music.
