Festivals play an integral role in how each clan in Ghana connects with their ancestors and preserves cultural traditions.
In Ghana, numerous festivals such as the Akwasidae festival of the Ashantis, the Kwafie festival of the Dormaa, Berekum, and Nsoatre people, the Odwira festival of Akropong-Akuapim, and the Hogbetsotso festival of the Ewes, among others, are celebrated by different ethnic groups.
This article, in particular, shines a spotlight on the Homowo Festival celebrated by the Ga tribe, focusing on some of their key activities during the festival, including the sprinkling of “Kpokpoi” and other cultural practices.
The origin of the name Homowo:
The word “Homo,” from the Ga language, means hunger, while “Wo” translates to hoot at.
Historically, as the Ga people journeyed to Ghana, they endured famine and other misfortunes.
After some time, they settled and set up farms, and during the harvest, they ‘hooted at hunger’.
Hence the celebration of the ‘Homowo’ to hoot at hunger.
Pre-Festival:
Before the main Homowo celebration in the Gamashie community, a pre-festival is held, during which the seven priests of the Gamashie people sow millet (“Nmaa”).
The millet is sowed in a specific order by the priests: Dantu on Monday, Sakumo on Tuesday, Naa Korle and Naa Afieye on Friday, Gua on Saturday, Naa Dede on Sunday, and Nai the following Tuesday.
During the sowing of the wheat, a strict noise ban, known as ‘Koninfemo’, is enforced to ensure the crops grow without distractions.
This ban lasts for four weeks and two days, after which specific drum beats called Odadaa are played to signal the end of the noise ban.
The Ga Native Year, according to the native calendar, begins on the last Monday of April or the first or second Monday of May.
The Homowo Festival is celebrated on different dates in different cities. Lante Dzanwe begins the celebrations, followed by Tema six days later.
Nungua celebrates soon after the Odadaa is played, on the first Sunday in July.
The general Homowo celebration of Gamashie (from Osu, Accra, to Teshie) begins eight days after Tema, and Ningo and Gboogbla celebrate ten days later.
Before the festival, people from neighboring towns and villages, known as “Soobii” (or “Thursday people”), arrive in the Ga communities to join the celebrations. Once they arrive, they split into local groups and march together.
Twins’ Yam Festival:
The Twins’ Yam Festival falls on the Friday following the Gamashie area’s Homowo celebration. This happens just before the main Homowo celebration on Saturday.
On this day, ‘Ga twins’ dress in white and celebrate with feasting, music, and dancing.
This festival stems from the Ga belief that twins lead different lives and behave differently from their non-twin counterparts.
During the Twins Yam Festival, a pair of buffalo horns, typically preserved in a shrine, are brought out for ritual ceremonies.
Twins are expected to wear matching clothing, share gifts, and react similarly in certain situations.
Rites performed during the celebration:
Several rites are performed during the Homowo celebrations, including the Shaayo Laitso Kee, Akpade, and the sprinkling of “Kpokpoi” to honor the gods.
Shaayo Laitso Kee:
The Shaayo Laitso Kee is a rite to promote a good relationship between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law.
During the celebration, a log is exchanged between them, as well as between sons-in-law and fathers-in-law. T
The logs are used to make bonfires for the souls of deceased relatives who are said to return during Soobii.
Akpade Rite:
The Akpade rite involves elderly women plastering two side doors with red clay on the Friday of the Twins Yam Festival.
At this same time, elderly men fire musket bullets to expel evil spirits.
Libation:
The head of the family traditionally sprinkles “Kpoikpoi” in a process called Nishwamo.
This is usually done on Saturday.
On this day, family heads and leaders of the Ga traditional community throw “Kpokpoi” around to symbolically “hoot” at hunger.
Drinks are also poured on the ground to honour ancestors after preparing the Homowo food.
”Kpokpoi”
“Kpokpoi” is made from corn grown by the seven priests during Nmaadumo.
The corn is then turned into dough, steamed, kneaded in a wooden bowl, and mixed with palm nut soup, with optional cooked okro.
During the Homowo festival, people visit many Ga households in the Gamashie area to share this particular food with them.
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