Heritage Panorama: Celebrating Awukudae Among Akans

In Ghana, festivals are observed for a variety of reasons specific to a tribe or culture, usually in connection with a significant event in that society’s past. Examples of such occurrences have been hunger, migration, purification of either gods or stools, etc.

Awukudae Festival, which translates to “Wednesday ceremony,” is a traditional Asante festival that is observed throughout the Asante Kingdom. Like the Akwasidae Festival, celebrated on a Sunday, Awukudae is part of the celebrations within the Adae Festival cycle. Since they have been set since the beginning, the Adae festivals cannot be changed.

The festival is observed on Wednesday, and its recurrence could be after 40 or 42 days. It is celebrated particularly by the Akan Ethnic group and particularly, the Asantes. It is one of the two forms of Adae, the other being Akwasidae, which is celebrated the third Sunday after Awukudae. The observance is an ancestral rite by the chiefs and elders of the Akans. The Tuesday which falls 8 days before Awukudae is known as Kwabena, and the Saturday following Awukudae is known as “Memeneda Dapaa”. The festival announcement is made by drummers the evening before on “Dapaa” day. After every eight Awukudae Festivals, the “Adae Butu” ritual marks the start of the Odwira festival.

Awukudae Festival is marked by “Wo tu adae” (announcing the day’s celebration) drumming on the day preceding it and on Wednesday morning. Atumpan drums and single-air drums perform, but not Fontomfrom drums. In the forenoon, ceremonies are carried on in the Stool-House. The drumming symbolizes the seeking of protection for the guardian ancestral deities to the soul of the ruling king and it unifies the people under his reign. It is believed that Nsamanfoɔ and other ancestors are wandering around to see if this festival is being observed properly.

On this occasion, it is also a practice to give donations for charitable causes such as feeding the hungry and helping the sick. On this day, the Akans consider travel as dangerous and hence remain at home, as it is an emotional day for them.

The importance of Awukudae festival celebration includes:
· Planning developmental project. The festival is used as an occasion to meet and plan developmental projects in the area since most citizens are likely to attend.
· Purification of gods. The period is used to clean ancestral stools and perform important rites.
· Thanksgiving. The festival is used to thank the supreme God and the lesser gods for their guidance and protection
· National and political significance. Prominent people in the government are invited to explain government policies and programmes.

· Dispute resolution. The occasion is used to settle family and individual disputes for peaceful co-existence.
· To promote tourism. Awukudae festival celebration attract many foreign tourists to the country.

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Source: Opemsuo.com/ Emmanuel Owusu Anti