ACCRA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- People of Ghana's Ga ethnic group celebrated the annual Homowo festival in the capital Accra on Saturday, showcasing a vibrant blend of traditional rituals, music, costumes, and communal festivities.
Thousands of Ga people, including those living outside their ancestral homeland, returned to Accra to join the celebrations, which honor their ancestors and commemorate the community's triumph over hunger and adversity.
"Homowo" literally means "to hoot or jeer at hunger" in the Ga language. According to Ga history, the ancestors of the Ga people encountered famine and other hardships while migrating from Ile Ife in present-day Nigeria to their current homeland in Ghana. Upon settling, they attributed their misfortunes to the displeasure of a god or deity.
To restore harmony in their society, the Ga people offered livestock as sacrifices, prayed, and poured libations to appease the gods. One tradition that has become an integral part of the festival is the preparation of the traditional dish "kpekple," made from maize, red palm oil, and fish, which is ceremonially sprinkled around homes.
"'Kpekple' is a traditional feast that is prepared yearly during the celebration of the Homowo for all to feast on. So, kplekple is prepared to celebrate the festival and not hunger," said Janet Mootso Adotey, a native of Ga Mashie.
Addoteye Bediako, a traditional warrior, or Asafoatse, of the Sempe quarter or house of the Ga State, explained the significance of sprinkling kpekple during the festival.
"We are all in red, and everyone is wild. Those of us who are Asafoatse, or warriors, wear our war dress, which signifies our seriousness. The rationale behind sprinkling the 'kpekple' is to remember our ancestors," said Bediako.
Naa Ayorkor Yomiyo, queen mother of the Asene quarter, said the chiefs and people of the Ga State celebrate the festival to remember the bravery of their ancestors and urged Ghanaians to stay united at all times.
"Homowo is a festival used to remember our ancestors for the war they fought for us. I will urge all Ghanaians to stay united and ensure there is peace, as there is no need for family disputes," she said,
Homowo, celebrated by the Ga people in Ghana's Greater Accra Region, has in recent times attracted visitors eager to experience the community's distinctive culture and traditions.
The festival traditionally starts at the end of April and continues into May with the planting of crops, mainly millet, ahead of the rainy season. ■
