The Odwira festival is celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of
Fanteakwa District
Fanteakwa District is a former district that was located in Eastern Region, Ghana. Originally created as an ordinary district assembly in 1988, which was created from the former East Akim District Council.Eastern region of
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
. The Odwira Festival is celebrated by the people of
Akropong-Akuapim
Akropong is a town in South Ghana and is the capital of the Akuapim North District, a district in the Eastern Region of South Ghana. This town is known for producing snails and palm oil.
,
Aburi
Aburi is a town in the Akuapim South Municipal District of the Eastern Region (Ghana), Eastern Region of south Ghana famous for the Aburi Botanical Gardens and the Odwira festival.
,
Larteh
Larteh is a language of southeastern Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast i ...
and Mamfi. This is celebrated annually in the month of September and October. The festival celebrates a historic victory over the Ashanti in 1826. This was the battle of Katamansu near Dodowa. It was first celebrated in October 1826.
This was during the reign of the 19th Okuapimhene of
Akropong
Akropong is a town in South Ghana and is the capital of the Akuapim North District, a district in the Eastern Region of South Ghana. This town is known for producing snails and palm oil.
, Nana Addo Dankwa (I) from 1811 to 1835. It is a time of spiritual purification where the people are renewed and receive protection. It is also celebrated by the people of Jamestown in Accra. This is due to the associations formed through the intermarriages of the Ga and
Akuapem people
The Akuapem are one of the main ethnic groups of the Akan people living in Ghana. They mostly reside south of the Eastern Region of Ghana
The Eastern Region is located in south Ghana and is one of the sixteen administrative regions of Ghana. Ea ...
.
Customarily, the scheduling of the festival occur simultaneously with the reaping season when there is bumper food; during which gratitude is shown to the Ancestors by the people. Being a yam festival, thanksgiving for the bumper reap is principally demonstrated in the "giving food to the ancestors".