FESTIVALS

Ohum Festival:

Ohum festival is celebrated by the people of Akyem descent. The festival which falls between mid-June (Ohumkan) and ending of June (Ohumkyire) each year, is celebrated with pageantry throughout Akyem land. The actual celebration is spread over three days. The celebration is however, preceded by two weeks of absolute quietness, within which a ban is placed on all manner of activities that will disturb the quietness of the period.

The first day to usher in the celebration in marked by general cleaning of the household items and general cleaning. The second day is a period of relaxation and reflection marked by absolute quietness. It is a day to remember departed member of the community and to meditate over their lifestyle-especially the positive contribution they made towards the improvement of their societies.

The third day which marks the climax of all the festivities is a day of feasting and merry making throughout the Akyem land. The morning is marked by preparation of traditional meals and the pouring of libation to the ancestors, invoking their spirit and inviting them to participate in the celebration. In the afternoon, the chief usually sit in state and leads a procession. Of the people through the principal street of the town amidst traditional and brass band music.

Odwira Festival
This festival is an occasion for the purification of the Black Stool of Okyeman kings. The Black Stool is the traditional and symbolic seat which by custom is reserve for Akyem king. The period of ODWIRA which means CLEANSING, is not used only for purification and reconciliation but most importantly for planning development projects for the community. The festival is climax by a grand durbar of chiefs where issues of developmental concerns are sorted out and /or dealt with the chiefs and elders.

Daad Buo  (SHRINE) Festival
Daade Buo is a shrine for the Adasewase stool land and it is closely connected with the black stool. The chief priest of the shrine is the head of the Aduana clan. Celebration of the Daade Buo festival lasts for a week and is marked by cultural displays and traditional dances.

The most significant aspect of the festival is that barren women visit the shrine to ask for fertility. This is done by eating a portion of the food offered to the gods and by the next festival season, they come back with thanks offering to the gods carrying their babies on their back. For this reason, Daade Buo shrine is largely thronged by women during a week-long period of celebrations.