Site logo
    Add a listing
    0
    Add a listing

    Welcome To

    Oguaa Fetu Afahye @60

    The Fetu Afahye is a festival celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of Cape Coast in the Central region of Ghana.The festival is celebrated on the first Saturday in the month of September every year. The Fetu Afahye is celebrated annually by the Oguaa people of Cape Coast because in the past there was an outbreak of disease among the people that killed many. The people prayed to the gods to help them to get rid of the disease. Thus the festival is celebrated to keep the town clean and to prevent another epidemic befalling the people.

    Celebrating
    Fetu Afahye

    Preparation for the festival starts in the last week of August. During this period, Oguaa Traditional area receives many visitors from all walks of life, as well as people from different parts of the country or outside the country who are natives of Oguaa state. The actual celebration follows on the first Saturday of September

    Prior to the actual celebration of the festival, the Omanhen is confined for a week. During this period of confinement, he meditates and asks for wisdom from the creator (Aboadze) and the ancestors, as well as seeking medical attention where necessary from his physician to enable him come out both physically and mentally fit for the impending activities such as delivering his tasks for the success of the festival. At the end of Omanhen’s confinement, he appears in public in pomp and dignity and goes to the stool house to pour libation, seeking blessing from the 77 gods of Oguaa state who the people believe steer the affairs of Oguaa traditional area.

    Contact Us

    It is also noted that before the festival, all drumming festivities and drumming sounds are banned as tradition demands, as well as fishing in the Fosu Lagoon, lying between The Government Central Hospital and stretching to a place called Aquarium, to ensure a quiet and peaceful environment. It is believed that this is done to allow the spirits of Oguaa state to take over and lead the planners of the festival. This is usually observed before 1 September.

    The custodians of Fosu Lagoon (Amissafo) of Oguaa Traditional Area also pour libation at the estuary of the lagoon and invoke the spirits of their ancestors to eradicate any bad omens that may befall visitors involved in the festival. The aim of pouring libation is also to call for a plumper harvest of fish and crops. In all, they call for prosperity.

    Another important event observed is the “Amuntumadeze” – literal meaning “health day” – a day when both old and the young make efforts to clean the environment, including clearing waste from choked gutters and painting all buildings in the area, with the aim of beautifying the vicinity before the actual grand durbar of “Bakatue”.

    A vigil is observed at Fosu Lagoon near its shrine on every last Monday of August. A large number of people gather at the shrine to have a glimpse of the display of the priests and priestesses of the traditional area. This exhibition is normally done in the night till the next morning. During this night, drumming and dancing by both the priest and the priestesses are observed and the spirits of their ancestors are invoked to foretell what will happen in the next year. The following Tuesday also sees many activities, such as rituals carried out at the Fosu shrine, and finally daytime regatta and canoe riding on the Fosu Lagoon is observed after the Omanhen’s libation at the estuary.

    After the Omanhen’s sacrifice, the Fetu festival reaches its climax on the first Saturday of September. This particular day attracts a unique and attentive audience for the procession of the Asafo Companies, which usually parade along the street of Cape Coast from Kotokuraba through Chapel Square to the chief palace. People from all parts of the country visit Cape Coast to observe this festival. A durbar of chiefs is held on this day to deliberate on issues affecting Oguaa Traditional Area as well as the seven Asafo companies to contribute to the security of Oguaa Traditional Area. This day is marked by drumming, dancing and pouring of libation to usher the state in a peaceful and prosperous new year.

    Contemporary issues, such as the Afahye state dance, local cuisine, football games, clothing and traditional wear, among many other forms of cultural artifacts, add up to giving facial lift to the endowments of the festivals, particularly the stylish and eye-catching dance of the Miss Afahye.

    After the festive days are over, the grand ceremony is on Sunday, when a joint service of all Christian denominations is held at Victoria Park to offer thanks to Almighty God for helping Oguaa Traditional Area to have a peaceful festival. In addition the day is an occasion is to appeal for funds for Oguaa Traditional Area. In view of this, the Omanhen and his divisional chiefs as well as elders attend the church occasion and take the opportunity to announce the day for next year’s celebration.

     

    Contact Us