Ohum Festival is a traditional festival celebrated by
Akuapems and
Akyem
The Akyem are an Akan people. The term Akyem (Akem, Akim or Aki) is used to describe a group of four states: Asante Akyem, Akyem Abuakwa, Akyem Kotoku and Akyem Bosome. These nations are located primarily in the eastern region in south Ghana. ...
s in the
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
festival
A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival c ...
is celebrated on a Tuesday/Wednesdays in September or October depending on the month Ohumkan festival was celebrated by the Akyems and on a Sunday in December or January for the people of Akuapem. Prior to it celebration, a two week ban on noise-making is imposed.
The Akyems thank their creator for blessing their land with the
Birim river
The Birim River is one of the main tributaries of the Pra River in Ghana and the country's most important diamond-producing area, flowing through most of the width of the Eastern region. The river rises in the east of the Atewa Range, flows no ...
. They use products from their lands and the river as symbols to remember their ancestors who struggled and persevered in keeping their society intact. The people give pledges to continue the tradition and to keep their kingdom strong and free with prosperity and peace during the festival. They give pledge of allegiance to their king and his sub-chiefs and elders for their leadership and guidance.
Ohumkyire is celebrated to give thanks to God for the New Yam Harvest and sake His favour in the coming year.
Also to celebrate the
Akyem Nation.
Gallery
File:Ohum Festival.jpg
File:Celebrating Ohum Festival 1.jpg
File:Celebrating Ohum Festival 2.jpg
File:Celebrating Ohum Festival 3.jpg
File:Celebrating Ohum Festival 4.jpg
File:Celebrating Ohum Festival 5.jpg
References
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Festivals in Ghana