MUST SEE PHOTOS: SWEDRU AKWAMBO 2017 EXPERIENCE #MissAkwambo #Akwambo2017

 

The festival kick started with a walk and an outdoing of the traditional authorities-chiefs, planning committee and a rich display of culture and unity. One would double the population of Ghana being 25million if the crowd was anything to go by. And a rethink of the saying “there is a crowd”

From start to finish, one was bound to experience a great display of culture and color. The Swedru Akwambo ’17 festival was like none other.

The people of Agona in the Central Region celebrate the festival literally meaning “path-clearing”. The Asafo companies weed footpaths leading to the streams or rivers, farms and other communal places, as well as paths, which lead to shrines. The following day, the whole community assembles at the ancestral shrines and the chief pours libation to the ancestral spirits to thank them for their protection during the previous year and then request for more blessing, abundant rainfall and good harvest for the ensuing year. At the stream or riverside where some of the sacrifices are offered, alligators and other species of fish come out to enjoy the mashed yams sprinkled on the water.

With their bodies smeared with clay, the people then parade with twigs and tree branches through the town in groups amidst drumming, dancing and firing of musketry.

In a procession, they go through the principal routes and then to the durbar ground to meet the chief and his elders.

There is a vigil kept at night and patronized mainly by the youth. It is a time when people come together to renew family and social ties. Performing groups, which are dormant are revitalized and new groups initiated.

BY: JOFFTER KOBBY DONKOH/www.JamyOnline.com