Oguaa Fetu Afahye

Festival 2010, here we come!

So culture is not something that Ghana takes lightly.  Oguaa Fetu Afahye is the yearly festival in Cape Coast that starts on September 1st.  It is a festival to thank the gods for the good harvest from the past year and to ask for blessings for the upcoming year.  It started in the mid 1900’s and is celebrated all week long, with each day hosting an array of cultural activities. 

Some of the events I was unable to attend because of school or because of the mere fact that I had no idea where they were taking place!  Of the activities I was unable to attend were an opening night ceremony performed by the priests and priestesses that went on into the wee hours of the morning, a women’s program, children’s program and the slaughtering of the cow (which honestly, I am quite glad I missed).

I attended the Bakatue (Bach-ah-twee), which were these awesome boat races…

A night in town showcasing the upbeat music of Ghana and the party animals of Cape Coast…

An amazing procession of the surrounding town’s chiefs, accompanied with drumming, dancing, singing, and all around community cheer…

Notice how the chiefs were being carried…on people’s heads!!!

The celebration continued to Victoria Park where President John Atta Mills, a native of Cape Coast, came to visit…Akwaaba (Welcome) Papa Mills…

The last night was the Festival Train, a huge concert showcasing the performances of many well-known artists…

Miss Afahye (the name my family called me all week) had a wonderful time at the festival!  Thanks for all the beautiful culture Ghana!