It's significance is to celebrate their victory over the invincible Ashanti army during the historic battle of Katamansu near Dodowa in 1826 and also to cleanse themselves and ask for protection from their gods.
The Odwira Celebration is praised by individuals of Akropong-Akuapim, Aburi, Larteh and Mamfi in the Eastern Area of Ghana in the long stretches of September and October. It is seven days in length series of conventional customs performed to cleanse the town, individuals, and above all, the genealogical stools of the bosses and when new sweet potato reap is commended.
Verifiable Foundation
This celebration is started by the nineteenth Okuapimhene of Akropong, Nana Addo Dankwa 1 (1811-1835) which was first celebrated on October 1826. The motivation behind the festival is to commend their victory over the invicible Ashanti armed force during the memorable clash of Katamansu close to Dodowa in 1826.
What occurs before the celebration?
A month and a half before the festival of this celebration. A few exercises are completely taboo. Weighty fines or extreme discipline are allotted on violators . A portion of the illegal exercises are: no eating of sweet potatoes, no loud music, no drumming and no whistling into the evening.
For what reason is the celebration celebrated?
It is a period when individuals of Okuapeman profoundly purge themselves and the people who celebrate introduce themselves once more and petition God for insurance. It additionally matches with when the New Sweet potato is being reaped. At this period there is plentiful food and when individuals expresses gratefulness to the progenitors.
During Odwira Celebration, bowls of pounded sweet potato (some blended in with palm oil and others left white) which have been uniquely arranged by the Okuapimhene and other stool tenants are conveyed in parade from the Ahemfi to take care of the precursors at Nsorem.
What are the exercises that really occurs on every day?
Odwira celebration is partitioned into six days and every day has it own importance and reason. They are:
Monday
Men from the regal families in the town proceed to clear the bramble to their genealogical cemetery. This is finished to tell them that they are welcome to join the celebration.
Tuesday
In the first part of the day men from the imperial family return to the cemetery to look for authorization of their precursors to play out the celebration. Returning, they are protected by the "Killers" or Abrafo reciting and firing firearms high up. The whole town individuals accumulates along the road and cheer the men. After some time a message is given to the Main that the celebration can proceed. Once more, the boycott put on all sweet potato exercises are lifted. This follows by parting of the new sweet potatoes and there will be parcel of fun.
Yet, prior to lifting the prohibition on sweet potato. New sweet potatoes will be acquainted with individuals. Individuals assemble before the royal residence, cheering and applauding while the most grounded men in the town "fight against each other to snatch one of the sweet potatoes and take to his home to cook. Each sweet potato is presented in turn until every one of them six have been depleted. This sweet potato game show is the most grounded man in the town.
This is the day saved to grieve the progenitors and all friends and family who passed on. It is additionally when the people who passed on during the a month and a half are covered. This is a miserable day and individuals as a rule wears either red or dark material. This is the standard Ghanaian clothing types during memorial services. They quick over the course of the day in memory of the dead family members.
Thursday
On this day individuals trade food varieties and different gifts. Certain individuals honor the Boss and sovereign and provide them with a wide range of presents.
The illustrious families plan crushed sweet potatoes with eggs. They are taken to the sanctuary for the precursors to eat. The food is carried on the head by ladies who are directed by men through the roads to the hallowed place. These ladies look tipsy and tired, stroll in a wildly way, faltering once in a while, run periodically and stop suddenly. To some, these ladies are "moved by" the precursors as they march down the road.
Friday
The Excellent Durbar is hung on this day. All occupants, many welcomed visitors, bosses and qeen moms of Akropong. On this day, Okuapimhene and the sovereign mother wear their customary formal attire and show part of gold on their heads, necks, wrists, fingers, et cetra making it a beautiful occasions.
They are conveyed by their chaperons above everyone in a palaquin and they dance skipping in the air, while there is drumming and singing going on, on the jam pressed roads. There is bunches of firearm terminating by startling looking killers. After certain hours, the Boss is shipped off the get-together square to be situated. Seriously drumming, it are performed to move and ceremonies.
Saturday and Sunday
On nowadays, there are contests, for example, Scrabble, football matches, etc are coordinated to engage the young people. The "Krontihene" , one of the persuasive bosses likewise holds an exceptional dubar on Sunday as a component of Odwira Celebration.
