Homowo Festival 2021 Takes Another Level

The Paramount King of the Ga Traditional Area, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II and his kinsmen have taken this year's celebration of the Homowo Festival by the Ga people to the highest level in history of the Ga Kingdom.

The Ga Mantse and his kinsmen toured over 35 royal homes, sprinkling the traditional meal ‘kpokpoi’ at main entrances to the homes thereby seeking permission to enter them. 

In reaching the main courtyards, sprinkling was done at doorways as well as sacred places reserved for traditional rites. 

Sprinkling was also done on the main streets as customs and rites demanded.

King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II sprinkled the festal meal in the full glare of hundreds of people.  

This commemorative act was done by their ancestors to show gratitude to the deities for their blessings in providing the people with food after a long famine.

The four-hour tour saw the Ga Mantse fully engaged and connected with his 'fathers-of-old' and prayed for the citizenry as he sprinkled the kpokpoi in their courtyards.

The citizenry could not hide their joy as they hailed and wished the Ga Mantse a successful reign.

The joyful atmosphere created by the thousands of people was so overwhelming.  

The day was characterised by a cultural display of drumming, and the singing of traditional songs, while the women, provided the complimentary dance during the period. 

The peaceful nature of the activities kept the people stuck to the Ga Mantse's trail all the time that he was performing his annual royal duties. This exhibited his full authority over the Ga people on Saturday, August 14, 2021.

Ga was literally lit in red as the Divisional chiefs and the people were clad in red apparel and regalia with matching beads on their necks, wrists and ankles to mark the occasion.

The warriors of the various clans, known as the Asafos, also fired several rounds of muskets as a show of force and warning to all enemies of the land.  This goes as a clear sign of their protection for their King and other Royals as they go around their royal duties.

The Ga Mantse took the opportunity to share the festal meal with the elderly within some of the royal houses visited.  

Along the streets, hundreds of people lined up to witness and follow the events, which essentially celebrated their gratitude to the ancestors for their blessings in providing the people with food after a long famine.

The sprinkling of the traditional meal ‘kpokpoi’ and the distribution of same to people who came in from all walks of life to enjoy it indicated that there wasn't any wastage at all for this event that highlighted a perfect organization.

Background

An agriculture-related festival, Homowo means “hooting at hunger”, and it has a historic antecedent grounded in the migration and settlement of the people of Ga in their present location.

Legend has it that the Gas experienced famine earlier on arrival but was blessed with a bountiful harvest the following year that saved them from hunger, hence the marking of the festival with merrymaking and feasting, as well as a sprinkling of the traditional food, as a way of sharing it with those who lost their lives during the famine.

Aside from this development, His Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II would on Saturday, August 21, 2021 tour some royal resting places to sprinkle kpokpoi as customs demands to climax the traditional event of the Ga people.

Speaking in an interview with some senior journalists, Ga Mantse called on all the people to use the occasion as a rallying point to deepen the prevailing peace and unity in the Ga State.

His Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II further entreated the people of the Ga State to rally behind their chiefs to celebrate another memorable and peaceful Homowo next year.

The Ga Mantse stated that he is confident, this year’s Homowo celebration will bring peace and unity among the various clans in the Ga State.

According to him, without peace, the good people of the Ga State cannot come together as one family.

 “I congratulate the good people of the Ga State. It is my hope and prayer that this year’s festivity will unite us as one people in the Ga State,” he noted 

“I, on behalf of the various Divisional Chiefs and Lumei commence the celebration of Homowo in the Ga State. I am also appealing to the gods to guide and guard us”

The Ga Mantse further added that he is hopeful this year’s celebration brings more blessings and progress in the lives of the citizenry.

“May the gods of the land come to our aid and ensure that this year’s occasion is filled with blessings, progress, and bring peace to the Ga State,” he said.

The Ga Mantse also seized the opportunity to advise the populace to adhere to the covid-19 protocols.

He added that disregarding the protocols will leave the Ga State and nation at a huge risk.

The celebrations started in Nungua on July 3, this year, followed by Lante Djan We on July 31. Tema followed suit on August 6, to pave the way for Ga to celebrate it on Saturday 14th, August.

It would be the turn of the people of Osu, La, Teshie, Kpone, Prampram and Ningo to celebrate Homowo on Tuesday, August 24, to climax the festivities.

La will, however, not celebrate it because the La Mantse is yet to be interred.

Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater Accra Regional Correspondent