Stories and facts

The Abangye festival is a significant cultural celebration held in Moree, a coastal town in Ghana's Central Region. It serves as a moment for the people to reflect on their history, honour their founders, and celebrate their unique heritage.

The festival also symbolizes a period of thanksgiving for a successful harvest and a time of unity within the community.

According to oral tradition, Moree was founded by giants Asebu Amanfi and his brother Farnyi Kwegya, along with a hunter named Adzekese.

These figures are believed to have led an army that pursued the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. After their men drowned in the sea, they settled in what is now Moree.

Asebu Amanfi became the first King of the Asebu kingdom, while Adzekese became the first Chief of Moree.

The town later developed around Fort Nassau, the first fort built on the Gold Coast. The Abangye festival is a way for the people to honor these ancestors and keep their rich history alive.

The festival is characterized by vibrant celebrations that include traditional music, dancing, and colorful displays. It brings the community together, reinforcing social bonds and a sense of shared identity.

At its core, the festival is deeply historical, rooted in the founding story of Moree and the journey of its early leaders from Egypt to the coast of Ghana.

It is also a spiritual time of gratitude, when the community gives thanks to God for a fruitful harvest and the blessings they have received.

After a 20-year break, the Abangye festival was celebrated again in 2022. Over the years, it has been marked by both joyous moments and some challenges, such as a court order that suspended the celebration in 2005.

In 2023, the festival ended on a hopeful note, with local chiefs using the occasion to call on the government to complete ongoing development projects in the town.

Explore the diverse festivals celebrated across Ghana below.