Africa-Press – Ghana. The Homowo Festival, a time-honored tradition celebrated by the Ga communities in Ghana, is marked by the symbolic act of “hooting at hunger.”
This year, the traditional leaders laid a special emphasis on the themes of peace and unity, particularly in light of the upcoming December 7 elections.
Leaders and participants across the Ga-Dangme communities used the occasion to call for calm, harmony, and national cohesion before, during, and after the electoral process.
The Homowo Festival, which traditionally begins on July 6 with the people of Nungua, continues through various Ga-Dangme communities, including Lante Dzanwe, Ada, Tema, Gamashie, Osu, Teshie, La, Kpone, Prampram, and culminates with the people of Ningo on August 20.
The festival, deeply rooted in the history of the Ga-Dangme people, commemorates a time of great famine and the eventual abundance of food that followed years of hardship.
The name “Homowo” translates to “hooting at hunger,” symbolizing the triumph over scarcity. During the celebrations, the traditional Ga food known as kpokpoi, made from maize and palm oil, is ceremoniously sprinkled by chiefs across the various communities.
This act is believed to honor the ancestors who endured the famine and to nourish the spirits of the land. The sprinkled food also serves as sustenance for creeping animals, reflecting the community’s connection to nature.
The Homowo Festival is characterized by vibrant processions, where participants march through streets, beating drums, chanting, painting their faces, singing, and performing traditional dances.
Although Homowo is inherently a Ga tradition, the festival warmly welcomes people from other ethnic groups to join in the celebration, fostering a spirit of inclusivity and shared cultural heritage.
Interestingly, the Homowo Festival is believed to have ancestral links to the Jewish Passover feast, drawing parallels between the two traditions in their observance of triumph over adversity and the celebration of survival.
The Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, extended his wishes for a peaceful Homowo celebration to all his subjects. He emphasized, “May this festival celebration bring us all peace and prosperity. Let us love ourselves and ensure positive development in our communities.”
As the nation approaches the December 7 elections, the Ga Mantse called on all Ghanaians to ensure a peaceful electoral process, stating, “We don’t want any bloodshed on our land. After the election, let us have our country in one piece.”
His sentiments were echoed by several queen mothers, who urged the youth not to allow themselves to be exploited by politicians or other individuals seeking to disrupt the electoral process, particularly through acts such as ballot box snatching.
Beyond the political messages, the Homowo Festival serves as a time to unite families across all Ga-Dangme communities.
It is a period of reflection, renewal, and reconnection with one’s roots, underscored by a collective hope for peace, prosperity, and progress in the year ahead.
As the Homowo Festival continues to be celebrated in the coming weeks, its themes of unity, tradition, and peace resonate strongly, offering a reminder of the importance of coming together as a community, especially during times of potential division.
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