List of festivals in Ghana

Last updated

Festivals in Ghana are celebrated for many reasons pertaining to a particular tribe or culture, usually having backgrounds relating to an occurrence in the history of that culture. Examples of such occurrences have been hunger, migration, purification of either gods or stools, etc.

Contents

Reasons for celebrating festivals

The importance of each festival's celebration includes:

List of traditional festivals and their month of celebration

Festival in GhanaEthnic group that celebrates
Bakatue [1] Elmina (Fante)
Homowo [2] Ga
Aboakyer [3] Efutu (Winneba)
Kundum [4] Nzema [5]
Foo (Fao) Navrongo [ citation needed ]
Kpini Chugu (Guinea fowl Festival) Dagombas, Mamprusis, Nanumbas, Kokombas and Basaris [6]
Ohum [7] Akim, [8] Akuapem [9]
Hogbetsotso [10] Anlo [11]
Ngmayem Krobo [12]
Volo (Me/Lomo)Volos
Yam [13] Ho [14]
Buɣum Chuɣu (Fire Festival) [15] [16] al) Dagomba [17] Dagbon, Gonja, Mamprusi and Nanumba
Beng Gonja [18]
LukusiVe (Near Hohoe)
Danyiba Kpando [19]
Fetu Afahye [20] Oguaa [21] (Cape Coast)
Adae Kese Ashanti [22] Etc.
Adae [23] Asante, [21] Akim, [8] Akwamu [24]
Asafotufiam [25] Ada [26]
Dzawuwu Festival [27] Agave [28]
Fiok [29] Builsa
Apafram [30] Akwamu [31]
Osudoku Festival [32] Asutsuare [33]
Afenorto Festival [30] Mepe [34]
Papa Festival [35] Kumawu [36]
Opemso Festival [ citation needed ] Kokofu-Anyinam
Ɔvazu Festival [ citation needed ] Akposo
Damba festival Dagomba people, Gonja, Mamprusi
Apoo festival Techiman, Wenchi [37]

Below is a list of all traditional, religious commemorative festivals celebrated throughout the year in Ghana. [38] These may not entirely consist of festivals of Ghanaian descent.

Commemorating farming season

Commemorating migration

Religious

Others

Oti Region)]]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volta Region</span> Region of Ghana

Volta Region is one of Ghana's sixteen administrative regions, with Ho designated as its capital. It is located west of Republic of Togo and to the east of Lake Volta. Divided into 25 administrative districts, the region is multi-ethnic and multilingual, including groups such as the Ewe, the Guan, and the Akan peoples. The Guan peoples include the Lolobi, Likpe, Akpafu, Akyode, Buem, Nyagbo, Avatime, and Nkonya. This region was carved out of the Volta Region in December 2018 by the New Patriotic Party. The people of the Volta Region are popularly known as Voltarians (French: Voltaiens. This group includes the Ewes, Guans and other minor tribes living in the Volta Region. The people of the Volta Region are popular known for their rich cultural display and music some of which include Agbadza, Borborbor and Zigi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Languages of Ghana</span>

Ghana is a multilingual country in which about eighty languages are spoken. Of these, English, which was inherited from the colonial era, is the official language and lingua franca. Of the languages indigenous to Ghana, Akan is the most widely spoken in the south. Dagbani, Dagare, Sisaala, Waale, and Gonja are among the most widely spoken in the northern part of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Prinzenstein</span> Danish fort in Keta, Ghana

Fort Prinzenstein is a fort located at Keta, Ghana, which was used in the slave trade. Many such forts were built in Africa, but Prinzenstein is one of the few that lie east of the Volta River. Keta served as an open port until the Tema Harbour commenced its operation to the west in 1962. The fort has been designated a World Heritage Site because of its historical importance and testimony to the Atlantic slave trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Tongu</span> Constituency in Ghana

Central Tongu is one of the constituencies represented in the Parliament of Ghana. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. Central Tongu is located in the North Tongu district of the Volta Region of Ghana.

In several Akan nations of Ghana, the Omanhene is the title of the supreme traditional ruler ('king') in a region or a larger town. The omanhene is the central figure and institution of the nation. Officially, he has no function in the current Ghanaian political setup, but, has enormous influence on the people that constitute it. Today 'Hene' can be found in titles of other rulers in Ghanaian nations. For example, the chief of the Dagomba in the north of Ghana is known as the 'Dagombahene'.

The Guan or Guang people are an ethnic group found almost in all parts of Ghana, including the Akyode people who speak Gikyode, Krachi people Nkonya tribe, the Gonja, Anum, Larteh, Akposo, Etsii in the Central Region, Nawuri, Nyagbo and Ntsumburu. The Guan are believed to have been the first settlers in modern day southern Ghana, migrating from the Mossi-Dagbon region of modern Ghana and Burkina around 1000 A.D. The Gonja of the Guan are however late settlers in northern Ghana, invading eastern Dagbon in the 1600s, capturing Daboya and many towns.

The Fetu Afahye is a festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Cape Coast in the Central region of Ghana. The festival is celebrated on the first Saturday in the month of September every year. The Oguaa people of Cape Coast celebrate the Fetu Afahye every year because there was once a disease outbreak among the populace that resulted in a large number of fatalities. The people prayed to the gods to help them get rid of the disease. Thus the festival is celebrated to keep the town clean and to prevent another epidemic befalling the people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hogbetsotso festival</span> Festival in Ghana by the Anlos

The Hogbetsotso festival(pronounced Hogbechocho) is celebrated by the chiefs and people of Anlo in the Volta Region of Ghana. Some major Anlo towns include Anloga (capital), Keta, Kedzi, Vodza, Whuti, Srogboe, Tegbi, Dzita, Abor, Anlo Afiadenyigba, Anyako, Konu, Alakple, Atsito, Atiavi, Deʋegodo, Atorkor, Tsiame and many other villages. The festival is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in the month of November at Anloga, the customary and ritual capital of the Anlo state. The name of the festival is derived from the Ewe language and translates as the festival of exodus. or "coming from Hogbe (Notsie)". The celebration of the festival was instituted about four decades ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avenor Ewe</span> Ethnic groups in Ghana

The Avenor Ewe are a sub-tribe of the Ewe people of Ghana. The origin of the name Avenor is not known. Avenor could be loosely translated as forest dwellers.

Akuapim-Mampong is a town in the Akuapim North district of the Eastern Region of Ghana. It shares boundaries with Mamfe. It is famous for being the first place cocoa was planted in Ghana by Tetteh Quarshie.

Prosper Douglas Kwaku Bani is a Ghanaian international aid and development manager and politician who is a former Chief of staff of Ghana and a former Minister for Interior. He is a senior manager and specialist in international peace-building and development processes. For over 15 years, he led innovative processes in peace and development with the United Nations in several locations, worldwide.

Dawu is a town in the Okere District Eastern Region of Ghana. It shares border with Abiriw and Awukugua

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ada West District</span> District in Ghana

Ada West District is one of the twenty-nine districts in Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Originally it was formerly part of the then-larger Dangme East District in 1988, which was created from the former Dangme District Council, until the western part of the district was split off to create Ada West District on 28 June 2012; thus the remaining part has been renamed as Ada East District. The district assembly is located in the eastern part of Greater Accra Region and has Sege as its capital town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander R. Hottordze</span> Ghanaian politician (born 1969)

Alexander Roosevelt. Hottordze is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Central Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kobla Mensah Wisdom Woyome</span> Ghanaian politician (born 1971)

Kobla Mensah Wisdom Woyome is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the South Tongu in the Volta Region on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress.

Dzawuwu Festival is an annual traditional and thanksgiving festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Agave Traditional Area in Dabala in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is usually celebrated in the month of February.

The Ayimagonu Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Dofor Traditional Area in the North Tongu District. It is located at a few kilometers east of Juapong in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is usually celebrated in the month of November.

Jintigi (Fire) Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Gonja Traditional Area in the Savannah Region, formally the Northern region of Ghana. Damongo which is the capital of Gonjaland serves as the epicenter of the festival. It is usually celebrated in the month of April.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Togoland Rebellion</span> Separatist conflict in eastern Ghana since 2020

The Western Togoland Rebellion is an ongoing separatist revolt led by the Ewe nationalist organization Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF) against the government of Ghana. The group seeks the independence of former British Togoland.

Awukugua is a town in the Okere District Assembly in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It shares border with Abiriw and Dawu.'

References

  1. ↑ "Bakatue Festival , 2019 - GWS Online GH". www.ghanawebsolutions.com. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  2. ↑ "Homowo Festival". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  3. ↑ "Aboakyer Festival". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  4. ↑ "Kundum Festival". www.travel-to-discover-ghana.com. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  5. ↑ "National Commission On Culture". www.ghanaculture.gov.gh. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  6. ↑ "The Northern Region of Ghana - ghanagrio.com - ghanagrio.com". www.ghanagrio.com. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  7. ↑ "OHUM STARTS". Modern Ghana. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  8. 1 2 "Akyem People of Ghana". Africani Sankofa. 2017-11-22. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  9. ↑ "Choirmaster for Awukugua Ohum". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  10. ↑ "Hogbetsotso Festival". www.travel-to-discover-ghana.com. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  11. ↑ "The Anlo-Ewe people of Ghana". This Is Africa Lifestyle. 2017-07-10. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  12. ↑ "The Krobo People of Ghana to 1892: A Political and Social History". Ohio University Press • Swallow Press. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  13. ↑ "Asogli promises another exciting yam festival this year". www.myjoyonline.com. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  14. ↑ "Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana". www.ghanadistricts.com. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  15. ↑ "Ghana Festivals". ghanakey.com. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
  16. ↑ Cof, Katja (2016-03-05). "Buɣum Chuɣu Fire Festival in Northern Ghana". Safari Junkie. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  17. ↑ "Dagomba kingdom | historical kingdom, Africa". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  18. ↑ "A Brief History of Northern Ghana - Focus on Gonja". www.ghanaweb.com. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  19. ↑ "Kpando Municipal Assembly – Official Website of Kpando Municipal Assembly" . Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  20. ↑ "Oguaa Fetu Afahye Festival, Cape Coast". Afro Tourism. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  21. 1 2 "Oguaa Fetu Afahye Festival, Cape Coast". Afro Tourism. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  22. ↑ "Asante | people". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  23. ↑ "Adae | Akan festival". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  24. ↑ "Ghana Ethnic Groups, Akwamu". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  25. ↑ "About". Ada Asafotufiami Festival. 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  26. ↑ "ADA PEOPLE: THE TRADITIONALIST DANGME PEOPLE AND THEIR UNIQUE ASAFOTUFIAMI FESTIVAL". ADA PEOPLE. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  27. ↑ Editor (2016-02-24). "Festivals in Ghana". touringghana.com. Retrieved 2019-01-26.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  28. ↑ "Agave Afedome - GhanaPlaceNames". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  29. ↑ "FESTIVALS OF GHANA". www2.gsu.edu. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  30. 1 2 Dzaho, Jerome. "Festivals". Ghana Tourism Authority. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  31. ↑ "Akwamu | historical state, Africa". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  32. ↑ "Osudoku Aadegbor Festival Launched". Modern Ghana. 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  33. ↑ "Figure 1: Shai Osudoku District Map (where Asutuare Area Council lies)..." ResearchGate. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  34. ↑ "Mepe Community Site". mepe.objectis.net. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  35. ↑ "Papa Festival". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  36. ↑ "National Commission On Culture". www.ghanaculture.gov.gh. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  37. ↑ "Visit Ghana - Apoo Festival". Visit Ghana. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  38. ↑ "Festivals". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  39. ↑ "Festivals in Ghana". Dear Ghana. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  40. ↑ GNA (2016-02-02). "Suma-Ahenkro launches Akwantukese". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  41. ↑ "Festivals in Ghana". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.