It was all joy and merry-making in the nation’s capital as the people of the GA State marked their biggest traditional festival, Homowo in a peaceful manner.
Clad in red and black outfits, most settlers from Gbese, Ga Mashie, Otublohum, Sempe, Akamajen, Asere, Abola and Ngleshie Alata, with their leaders hit the streets to mark the annual Homowo celebration after a month-long ban on drumming and noise making.
Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II and his kinsmen, toured some royals homes, sprinkling the traditional meal ‘kpokpoi’ at doors-steps, homes and on the streets as customs demands.
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II through the sprinkling of ‘kpokpoi’ prayed for the citizenry and asked for blessing upon them.
He tasked GAs to always allow love to lead in all their dealings.
In an exclusive interview with ThinkNews Online, Chief of Nii Dzan Bi Amu We, Nii Kofi Aponsah IV explained that 'Kpokpoi' is made from steamed, fermented cornmeal, mixed with palm oil, topped with smoked fish and mostly served with palm soup.
He added Homowo, which literally means 'hooting at hunger' is marked to recall how the Ga ancestors subsisted severe starvation and hunger that beset them at the time they were journeying to Ghana.
Nii Kofi Aponsah IV appealed to GAs to love one another, do away with quarrels and together help build a better GA State.
Throwing more light on the Homowo Celebration, an Assistant to Nii Teiko Abiasuma, Nii Botchwey revealed he is happy to be alive to celebrate this year’s Homowo despite the covid-19 pandemic.
He said “I feel proud to be part a GA. This is my culture and my festival. My forefathers who fought in 1732 never failed us"
Nii Botchwey appealed to the youth to see the value of Homowo and learn the culture, norm and respect the elderly in the society.
ThinkNews Online discovered that the wearing of red by the GAs during ‘Homowo’ means ‘hooting at hunger’.
The festival is also celebrated to express the cultural value of being industrious, creative and resourceful.
The colourful ceremony saw several persons, youth, aged, children hailing the Ga Mantse and showering him with praises.
The whole day celebration was backed with drumming, eating, drinking and dancing.
Watch video and pictures below:
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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