Odwira

Odwira is a significant annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Akropong, Amanokrom, and Larteh, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The festival, which is a purification and remembrance ceremony, is held in September. It commemorates the death of Nana Addo Dankwa, the paramount chief of Akropong, who died in 1859, and also serves as a remembrance of all fallen heroes. The Odwira festival is a time for spiritual cleansing and a renewal of traditional oaths.

The festival's activities include processions, drumming and dancing, and the observance of specific traditional rites. A key aspect of Odwira is the purification of the traditional stools and the people. This involves bathing the sacred stools and parading them through the town. The regalia of the chiefs are also ritually cleansed. During this period, drumming is forbidden for a specific duration, and the atmosphere is one of solemnity and reflection.

Odwira is a vital event for the preservation of Akan culture and traditions. It reinforces the connection between the living and the ancestors, and it is a time when the community comes together to honor their past and reaffirm their identity. The festival is marked by significant gatherings and is a period of great cultural and spiritual importance for the people of the Okuapeman Traditional Area.