ODWIRA FESTIVAL

The Odwira Festival, celebrated annually in September and October by the Akuapem people in Ghana's Eastern Region, is a beautiful cultural event observed by the communities of Akropong-Akuapim, Aburi, Larteh, and Mamfe. It commemorates a historic victory over the Asanti in 1826, first celebrated in October of that year. The festival, meaning "purification," symbolizes spiritual renewal and protection, aligning with the reaping season to express gratitude to the ancestors through food offerings, particularly yams. A forty-day ban on noise-making and funerals precedes the weeklong celebration, which includes clearing the path to the Royal Mausoleum, a parade of new yams, a purification day, colorful celebrations honoring the Omanhene and their supreme God, and concludes with a durbar, drumming, and tributes to ancestors. Special traditions, such as presenting "Eto," a dish made from mashed yam and palm oil, and visits to honor ancestors, highlight the cultural richness of this festival.