The importance of the Odwira festival includes the commemoration of the Akuapem victory at the Battle of Katamanso, spiritual purification, promotion of unity, rest and recreation, cultural revival, community development, political stability and development of the tourism sector.
Are you looking for points to include in an essay on the importance of the Odwira festival among the Akan-speaking people of the Akuapem traditional area? Then you have come to the right place. In this article, I will share with you the major benefits of the Odwira festival.
Here comes one WAEC/WASSCE History past question on the importance of Odwira. As you can see, Odwira is among the major Ghanaian festivals in the senior high school History syllabus.
DISCUSS THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE ODWIRA FESTIVAL AMONG THE AKAN
You will soon see the points you can use to answer this WAEC/SHS History question on Ghana.
But before that, I would like us to answer some equally important questions about this festival. We will identify the meaning of the term ‘Odwira’, the ethnic group that celebrates Odwira in Ghana, as well as the history and time of the festival. And if you want to know exactly how Odwira is celebrated, you will have it all right here.
So without further ado, let’s dive in.
What is the Meaning of Odwira?
Odwira is an Akan word which means purification or cleansing. It refers to the purification of the entire people of Akuapem and their ancestral stools.
Which People Celebrate Odwira?
The chiefs and people of Akuapem in the Eastern Region of Ghana celebrate the Odwira festival. These are the inhabitants of such major towns as Akropong-Akuapem, Aburi, Manfe and Larteh. In fact, all the smaller towns and villages in the traditional area take part in the festivities.
What is the Origin of Odwira Festival?
The Odwira Festival was instituted by Nana Addo Dankwa I, the paramount chief of Akuapem (1811 – 1835).
Incidentally, this nineteenth-century king of the Akuapem was also the 19th king to occupy the Akuapem-Akropong royal stool.
The festival was first celebrated in 1826, the year of the Akuapem victory over the powerful Asante army at the famed battle of Katamanso. Because Katamanso is near Dodowa, this battle is also known as The Battle of Dodowa.
The main purpose of the Odwira festival, therefore, is to remember the victory at the Battle of Katamanso, celebrate it and offer thanksgiving to the ancestors and the gods.
Today, Odwira is an annual event among the Akuapem people. People from Ghana and other parts of the world come to witness the celebrations.
When is Odwira Festival Celebrated?
The normal period for the celebration of the Odwira Festival is in the months of September and October each year. It is a week-long event marked by a number of time-honoured traditional practices and rituals.
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How Odwira Festival Is Celebrated
The activities during the Odwira festival can be divided into two main categories. These are the activities that precede and usher in the festivities and those that take place during the festival proper.
Activities Before the Odwira Festival
Six weeks before the celebrations begin, the people observe certain taboos or traditions. See below what is not allowed a few weeks before the Odwira Festival.
- Drumming
- Playing of loud music
- Eating of Yam
- Whistling
Six Days of Festivities
The next six days are the most joyous days on the traditional Odwira calendar. From Monday to the end of the week, both royals and commoners of the Akuapem Traditional Area engage in traditional, religious, social and economic activities to mark the celebrations.
Here is how the Odwira Festival is celebrated by the people of Akuapem.
Monday
Monday marks the beginning of the celebration of the Odwira festival. This is the day that all the men of the royal families clear the path leading to the royal cemetery. It is a way of inviting the ancestors to take part in the celebrations.
Tuesday
On Tuesday, the people go back to the royal cemetery to seek permission from the ancestors for the celebrations to begin. This is followed by the lifting of the ban on the eating of the new yam. The restrictions on other activities such as drumming are also lifted. Thus, Tuesday marks the beginning of merry-making and joy.
Wednesday
The next in the series of activities during the Odwira Festival takes place on Wednesday. Wednesday is the day set aside to mourn both the ancestors and all loved ones who are now deceased. It is also a day of burial for all those who passed away during the six weeks preceding the festivities. To express their sorrow and grief, the people put on black and red dresses, cry loudly and fast all day.
Thursday
The official day of feasting is Thursday. The chiefs and people prepare and eat mashed yam. Part of this is offered to the ancestors and gods as well. They exchange gifts and take part in all sorts of games.
Friday
On the Odwira annual calendar, Friday is the climax of all the festivities. Below are the highlights of the activities that take place on the Friday of every Odwira festival.
- A grand durbar of chiefs
- Procession through the principal streets
- Firing of musketry
- Display of colourful royal regalia
- Carrying of the paramount chief in a palanquin
- Sub-chiefs and dignitaries pay homage to the chief and the queenmother.
Saturday and Sunday
After Friday, the tempo of the festivities goes down considerably. Except for some social events such as musical concerts, nothing much takes place on Saturday and Sunday.
Importance of Odwira Festival
Here now comes our main question for this article. Why is the Odwira festival celebrated? In other words, what are the functions of the Odwira Festival among the Akan-speaking people of Akropong-Akuapem and the surrounding towns and villages?
This is the question we shall be answering in this part of the tutorial on the significance of the Odwira festival. You can use these points to write an essay on the social, economic, and political importance of the Odwira festival. Shall we begin?
Commemoration of Victory Over the Asante
One of the most important reasons for the celebration of the Odwira festival is to remember the victory of the Akuapem over the Asante at the 1826 battle of Katamanso. Additionally, the festival is a time to honour the ancestors for that victory.
A Time for Purification
As part of the celebration, ancestral stools are cleansed and the ancestral spirits in the stool rooms are invoked and fed.
The people and the whole community also undergo spiritual cleansing.
Protection From the Ancestors and Gods
The Akuapem believe that Odwira plays an important role in their lives. The rituals they perform during the festival help to attract safety, good health, peace and prosperity during the coming year
Renewal of the Bond Between The Spirits and Humans
Furthermore, the Odwira festival is important because it renews the spiritual bond between the ancestors and the living. The people perform rituals to pacify the ancestors and gods in atonement for their iniquities. Libation is poured to the ancestors for their blessing and abundant harvest in the coming year.
A Time to Foster Unity
The activities during Odwira bring members of the royal families and their subjects together. Again, all citizens who have travelled outside their towns and villages return at this time to join their families and friends in the celebration. They eat, drink, and even mourn together. Long-standing family and interpersonal disputes are settled. Indeed, Odwira is a time of intense socialization that engenders an atmosphere of unity and solidarity.
Cultural Revival
Like all other festivals in Ghana, the Odwira festival provides the best opportunity for people to go back to their roots. They remember their cultural heritage and make a commitment to preserve it for posterity.
Rest and Recreation
Another major role of the Odwira festival is that it is a period of rest and recreation. People from other communities travel from both far and near to meet friends and have as much fun as possible.
Community Development
The occasion is not only a time for merrymaking. It is also a time for reflection and stocktaking.
The chiefs and people seize the opportunity to draw and agree on plans for the social and economic development of the area. Projects such as the provision of potable water, electricity and the construction of schools and health sectors feature prominently in these development plans.
Thus the Odwira festival is a means of raising the standard of living of the community.
Political Stability
All the divisional chiefs and sub-chiefs reaffirm their allegiance to the paramount chief. The pledge of loyalty enables the paramount chief to assert his authority over the sub-chiefs and the entire traditional area. This goes to ensure peace and stability in the community.
Tourism and Cultural Exchange
Today, Odwira is more or less an international festival. People from all walks of life and from different parts of the world come to witness the rich and colourful Ghanaian culture on display.
As foreigners from places as far as the United States, China and Australia join in the celebrations, they expose our people to their equally rich cultural heritage. The festivities, therefore, promote international understanding and unity.
Foreign Exchange
Finally, the celebration of the Odwira festival helps the national economy of Ghana. It is a time when there is an increase in foreign exchange inflows. The US dollar, the British Pound Sterling and the Euro, for example, that the country receives from foreign nationals contribute in some way to the national income.
Conclusion
We have seen the important role the Odwira festival continues to play in the social and economic life of both the Akuapem and all other Ghanaians. Now you know that the Odwira festival is not only of religious significance but it also promotes community development at many levels.
What other Ghanaian festivals do you wish to learn more about? Write them down in the comment section below.
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