Ga Mantse marks Homowo Festival 2025 celebration with cultural splendour

The historic streets of Ga Mashie roared with cultural pride and communal spirit on Saturday, August 16, 2025, as the Ga Mantse, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, led the celebration of the 2025 Homowo Festival.

The event, rich in tradition and symbolism, featured the ceremonial sprinkling of Kpokpoi—a sacred cornmeal dish—alongside vibrant displays of drumming, dancing, and musketry.

Homowo, which translates to “hooting at hunger,” commemorates the Ga people’s victory over a devastating famine centuries ago.

Over time, it has evolved into a profound expression of cultural resilience, unity, and thanksgiving.

The festival commenced with the Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi-Bonte II, performing the initial sprinkling rites from Usher Fort through the heart of Ga Mashie.

He led a retinue of elders, warriors, and cultural enthusiasts, marking the start of the spiritual procession.

King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II later undertook ritual visitations to key Ga stool houses, performing additional Kpokpoi sprinklings.

These acts, deeply symbolic, reinforced the ancestral bonds that unite the various clans of the Ga State and reaffirmed his leadership as the spiritual and cultural head of the Ga people.

The streets teemed with residents and visitors clad in colourful traditional attire, participating in the jubilation.

Energetic drumming, traditional songs, and musketry filled the atmosphere, creating a spectacle that drew not only indigenes but also tourists and members of the African diaspora eager to reconnect with their roots.

While the Homowo Festival remains rooted in tradition, it continues to reflect the evolving aspirations of the Ga people.

Beyond the cultural performances and rituals, the festival offered moments of family reunions, communal feasting, and peace-building practices—reinforcing the spirit of togetherness that Homowo embodies.

This year’s celebration not only honoured the past but also reaffirmed a collective commitment to a united and progressive Ga Mashie.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith