(Carnival)
(Durbar of Chiefs)
(War Festival)
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Festival | |
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Tribal Group | |
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Cultural Signifigance | |
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Time of Celebration | |
| Adae Kese/Akwasidae | Ashanti | Occasion when the Asantehene, riding in a palanquin and adorned with gold ornaments, comes out to receive homage from his sub-chiefs and people These regular festivals are held in honor of the ancestral spirits. | January: Celebrated once every 6 weeks throughout the year | |||||||||||
| Dipo Puberty Rites | Krobo | A puberty festival celebrated by the Krobo people. A parade and initiation ceremony to commemorate the transition of girls at an adolescent age into womanhood. | May: Celebrated on the first Saturday of the month. | |||||||||||
| Aboakyer | Fante | Exciting, competitive and famous hunting festival.Two hunting groups are sent out to capture a live antelope. The first group to present its catch to the Chief and elders is declared the winner | May: Celebrated on the first Saturday of the month. | |||||||||||
| Asafotufiam | Ada/Ga | An annual festival to commemorate the victories of warriors who fought in battles and honor those who died. Historic battles are re-enacted, purification ceremonies are held and a durbar of Chiefs takes place. | July/August: Takes place on last Thursday in July to the first weekend of August. | |||||||||||
| Damba | Upper East | Ushers in new Yam (tuber crop) season. Originally linked to the Islamic religion to mark the birth of Mohammed. The two-day festival has gradually taken a traditional rather than an Islamic tone, with pageantry and showmanship. | July/August | |||||||||||
| Batakue | Fante | A Royal procession of Chiefs and Queenmothers, riding in well-decorated palanquins through the principal streets of Elmina to a sacred shrine where the Chief's Linguist pours libation and sprinkles sacred food. A Regatta is held on the Benya Lagoon. | July: First Thursday of the month | |||||||||||
| Homowo | Ga | Highlight of this festival consists of a procession of twins dressed in white through the streets of Accra, sprinkling traditional festive food (Kpoikpoi) to the Gods and ancestors of the Gas to signify the end of a historic famine. | August/September | |||||||||||
| Fetu Afahye (Carnival) |
Fante | A grand festival with a procession of Chiefs, drumming and dancing, and firing of musketry. The diversity and uniqueness of this festival underscored by the traditional attire of the various warrior groups. A sacrifice is made to the Gods of Oguaa (Cape Coast) | September: First Saturday of the month | |||||||||||
| Odwira (Durbar of Chiefs) |
Akuapim | A period of remembrance and thanksgiving to the Gods for their mercy, and renewal of family and social ties. Celebrated with royalty and pageantry of Chiefs and queens | September/October | |||||||||||
| Kundum | Nzema/Ahanta | Celebrated by coastal people at weekly intervals. Rituals include purification of stools and prayers to the ancestors for a bumper harvest. | August through November | |||||||||||
| Hogbetsoto (War Festival) |
Anlo | Celebrated in commemoration of the migration of the Anlos who escaped from the tyrannical ruler, King Ago Koli of Ille Ife in Nigeria to their present homeland. Drumming and dancing are central to this festive occasion. | November/December | |||||||||||
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