‘Homowo’ means ‘hooting at hunger’ and the celebration was characterised by several activities, such as the pouring of libation by the traditional authorities and the sprinkling of the traditional food, ‘Kpokpoi’, amid the firing of muskets, singing, drumming and dancing.

Traditional leaders

Clothed in the traditional red apparel and led by the Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi Bonte II, the traditional leaders moved from one traditional home to another, as well as historical monuments, such as the Ussher Fort , to sprinkle ‘Kpokpoi’ and bless their subjects.

The Homowo Festival is preceded by the sowing of millet by the traditional priests in May every year, and prior to the festival, the traditional authorities place a month-long ban on noise-making and drumming in the Accra metropolis.

The ban on drumming and noise-making is a significant feature in the celebration of the festival, as the period of the ban is used to fast and pray for peace, progress and the welfare of Ga-Dangme people, in particular, and the country as a whole.

Message

In a message to the chiefs and people of the Ga-Dangme State, Dr Nii Kotei Dzani, a member of the Council of State and President of Group Ideal, congratulated them on the celebration of this year’s festival.

He, however, expressed worry that due to the many disputes within the Ga-Dangme State, this year’s Homowo, like many others before it, was celebrated without a Ga Mantse and urged the people to use this year’s celebration to reflect and make amends to ensure that peace prevailed.

“As a true son and descendant of King Nikoi Olai, one of the principal warriors and founders of the Ga State, I have been concerned and saddened by the various leadership conflicts engulfing our Mantsemei across several stools in our state. It troubles my spirit to note that we are celebrating Homowo this year without a Ga Mantse unanimously accepted by all our chiefs and people.

“For this reason, I urge us all to use this celebration to build bridges, not divisions; to extend helping hands, not fists of fury; to speak words of love, not words of anger, and to drive to shame all those who profit from sowing seeds of discord among our people,” he said.

Dr Dzani further noted that “the occasion provides us with the opportunity to take stock of all happenings in the previous year and reflect on the achievements and failures of the period.”

Origin of festival

Homowo is a key milestone in the history of the Ga people, as it recounts their migration and reveals their agricultural success in their new settlement.

According to Ga oral tradition, a severe famine broke out among the people during their migration to present-day Accra and they were inspired by the famine to embark on massive food production, which eventually yielded them a bumper harvest which ended their hunger.

So with great joy, they decided to set aside a day to ‘hoot at hunger’.