The annual Akuapem Adonten Odwira Festival, Aburi in Ghana

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The annual Akuapem Adonten Odwira Festival, Aburi in Ghana

The annual Akuapem Adonten Odwira Festival starts usually in the third week after the Okuapemanhene's grand durbar of Akuapem chiefs.
The Adonten Odwira, with the Adontenhene as the focus, is a most colorful event, rich in art and cultural events that cleanses, purifies and unites the people for the trails of the coming year. What then is the Odwiral Festival"? 
Video of a festival, Western region of Ghana.
Does it have any religious, political or soci-economic implications? As the name implies, Odwira is a purification or the ushering in a new peaceful and undisturbed year. It is also a stock-taking period where strengths and weaknesses are lined up with a greater determination to enhance the strengths and eliminate the weaknesses.Besides, there is merry-making and sometimes, the festival is used to herald the eating of farm produce such as yam.
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Indeed, the Odwira Fetival is mainly performed by people of Akuapem, Akwamu and sometimes the Akyem. It must be noted that the Akans of Ghana have a way of measuring the streams of time and that there are nine (9) Awukudae in one year. 
The Akan calendar seems to agree with ther biblical calendar of time past. Before the libation of the Israelites under the leadership of Moses, the first month fell between September and October and this is almost period for the first of the Akan calendar year.
The Odwira celebration begins at the end of the 40-day meditation period by chiefs and elders of the traditional area. Six weeks to the festival, a ceremony called "Adae" is performed at ther Adontenhene's palace, highlighted by a ban on drumming and noisy public ceremoniesd, so that the gods can rest while people fortify themselves spiritually and materially for the celebrartions ahead. During the period of mediation, the chiefs within the area take the opportunity to resolve any differences among the citizenry, so that such differences are not carried over to the coming year to undermine the solidarity and coherence people of the area.

Two weeks before the Odwira, the Ntoabarima, Ntoabea and Gyigyafo shrines outdoor the new yam harvest with Odehuro ceremonies or yam festival. First the Ntoabarima does 'his' outdooring the first Thursday after the Adaebue at Aburi. A week later (second Thursday) the Ntoabea performs 'her' yam festival at Atweasin part of the activities being the pouring of libation and sacrificial offering to the gods of Lake Osudum. The Gyigyafo komfo or priest offers oto (mashed yam) at Kobi stream to the ancestors and gods.

The two-week long Adonteng Odwira is marked by various activities involving the re-enactment of important historical events in remembrance of the brave ancestors and saints of the citizens. Apart from providing entertainment including traditional drumming and dancing, this is one time of the year that most people return to their hometown to re-unite with one another to fraternise as well as plan and contribute to development programs.

All Adonten stool houses in the towns and villages perform their own ceremonies before coming together for the grand Adontehene Odwira at Aburi-Ankaase.
Festivals of Eastern Region of Ghana (incl. Aburi area)

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

  • Ngmayen – Harvest / Thanksgiving – late March or early April -Krobo Odumase Somanya,
    Eastern Region
Apr.

  • DIPO (Puberty Rites)
    A puberty festival to initiate young girls into womanhood with
    a parade in attire close to nudity. ( DANGME SHAI/KROBO/ )
    Held in Krobo land, 50 miles east of Accra.
    April.

  •  
    Paragliding & Hang Gliding Festival starting  (Easter weekend) at Atibie Kwahu.

May

  • Kotoklo Festival – in honour of the shrine “Kotoklo” for the role it played in an ancient war -Somanya & Krobo Odumase, Eastern Region
Jun.

Jul.

Aug.

Sep.

  • Odwira (Harvest/Thanksgiving) -Akropong-Akuapem, Eastern Region
  • Cocoa festival was launched in Accra on Wednesday.
The  festival scheduled for September 20 at Mampong Akuapem, where the first cocoa trees were planted, is being organised by FM24 Company, managers of Tetteh Quarshie farms and is expected to be an annual event.

  • Ohum - Mampong-Akuapem, Eastern Region ( + Okt. )
Okt.

  • Akonnedi (Festival of the ‘Akonnedi’ shrine) 9th – 15th October -Larteh, Eastern Region
  • Odwira -Akropong and Amanokrom, Eastern Region
Nov.

Dec.

  • Odwira -Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Akyem
Aburi Links:

How to get to Aburi

By public transport - Mini-Bus or TroTro can be boarded at Tema Station in Accra central or at Odawna station near Kwame Nkrumah Circle or at Madina. There is also a METRO-Mass Bus from Accra, via Aburi. (Best choice)
Aburi is about 30 Km away from Accra, and can be reached via a modern dual-carry way.
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