Earlier this week, the Akuapem Traditional Council organized a mini event to officially launch the 2019 Odwira Festival as part of preparation towards this year’s festival which promises to be one of the best the country has witnessed in decades.
The official theme of this year’s celebration as revealed by the planning committee is ‘Odwira Unlimited 2019- Okuapeman te ase’ which when translated into the local dialect means ‘The Akuapem Kingdom is alive’.
Queen mother of the Akuapem Traditional area, Nana Afua Nketia Speaking at the launch emphasized the importance of the festival, stating it was an important period for the people of Akuapem to spiritually cleansed themselves and go into a mood of sober reflection.
She also hinted that the celebration will have special activities to welcome African-Americans who ended up in the west due to the slave trade which first took off some 400 years ago. This according to the organisers, it’s to incorporate the festival into the Year of Return programme launched by the government of Ghana.
The Odwira Festival is celebrated by the people of Akropong, Lateh and Amanokrom in the Eastern region Ghana and is generally seen as one of the most important festivals in the country due to its popularity and the high profile dignitaries it attracts every year.
As a yam festival, Odwira is usually celebrated in the month of August or September every year, same months for the harvest of yam. During the festival, foods made from yam abound, and there is something for everyone to enjoy as the people thank their ancestors for bumper harvest and pray to them for protection, peace and unity.
This year’s celebration will commence on 16th September 2019 and come to an end on 22nd September 2019, making it a week-long celebration.
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