The Odwira Festival is an annual celebration observed by the people of Akropong-Akuapim, Aburi, Larteh, and Mamfe in Ghana’s Eastern Region. Initiated in October 1826 by Nana Addo Dankwa I, the 19th Okuapimhene of Akropong, the festival commemorates their victory over the Ashanti in the Battle of Katamansu. It is also a time of spiritual purification, thanksgiving, and renewal.
Celebrated in September and October, Odwira coincides with the yam harvest season, emphasizing gratitude to the ancestors. The festival extends to the Ga people of Jamestown in Accra due to historical intermarriages with the Akuapem.
Key Events and Rituals
Pre-Festival Period: A six-week ban on noise, drumming, whistling, and eating yams is observed as a period of meditation and preparation.
Monday (Odwira da Monday): The festival begins with the clearing of ancestral paths by royal family members, symbolizing an invitation to the ancestors.
Tuesday (Odwira da Tuesday): The lifting of the ban on yams is marked by an energetic contest where men compete to grab and cook the first new yams. The community celebrates with feasting and merriment.
Wednesday (Odwira da Wednesday): A day of mourning where the community wears red and black to honor departed souls. Funerals for those who passed during the ban are held.
Thursday (Odwira da Thursday): The day is dedicated to feasting, gift exchanges, and rituals, including carrying mashed yams to shrines for ancestral offerings. Women in the procession often appear trance-like, believed to be spiritually possessed.
Friday (Odwira da Friday – Grand Durbar): The festival’s climax features a grand durbar where the Okuapimhene and Queen Mother, adorned in gold and traditional regalia, are carried in a palanquin amidst drumming, dancing, and gunfire. Chiefs, dignitaries, and visitors gather for speeches, cultural performances, and celebrations.
Saturday & Sunday: These days host informal activities such as games and social events. The Krontihene of Akuapem also holds a special durbar on Sunday.
Cultural Significance
Odwira serves as a celebration of heritage, unity, and gratitude. It reinforces traditions, strengthens communal bonds, and attracts visitors who experience the vibrant culture, music, and hospitality of the Akuapem people. This festival remains a cherished part of Ghana’s cultural landscape, celebrating themes of victory, renewal, and thanksgiving.
