Stories and facts
The Akwasidae Festival, a significant cultural celebration among the Ashanti people in Ashanti and its diaspora, marks a vibrant occasion of ancestral homage and community gathering. This festival, held every six weeks on a Sunday according to the Akan annual calendar, is deeply rooted in tradition and reverence for ancestors.
The festival cycle, known as the Adae Festival, spans a period of approximately six weeks, varying between 40 to 42 days. Within this period, two significant days are observed: the Akwasidae Festival on the final Sunday, and the Awukudae Festival on a Wednesday during this period. Preceding the Akwasidae Festival, the Friday ten days prior is known as Fofie, signifying a ritual Friday.
During the final Akwasidae of the year, coinciding with the Adae Kese Festival, special emphasis is placed on making food offerings and donations to aid those in need. These festivals, deeply entrenched in tradition, follow a fixed schedule established since ancient times.
Central to the Akwasidae Festival is the practice of honouring personal and community ancestors through rituals and ceremonies. The Akom gathering is a highlight, featuring drumming, dancing, and singing to pay homage to Abosom (lesser gods) and Nsamanfo (spiritually cultivated ancestors). Traditional food offerings such as eto (mashed African yam) garnished with hard-boiled eggs are prepared for this occasion, symbolizing reverence and gratitude.
The festival culminates in a grand gathering at the Manhyia Palace courtyard, where the Asantehene (King of Ashante) meets with his subjects and subordinate chiefs. The revered Golden Stool is prominently displayed, drawing large crowds who come to sing, dance, and participate in festivities. The king holds a durbar, providing an opportunity for people to interact and pay their respects. Before the durbar, the king proceeds in a palanquin adorned with gold jewelry, witnessing a vibrant parade featuring drummers, dancers, horn-blowers, and singers.
A significant aspect of the Akwasidae Festival is the king's visit to the Bantama Mausoleum, where he offers worship to the ancestral stools and skeletal remains of his forebears as a mark of homage and reverence.
Overall, the Akwasidae Festival serves as a profound cultural expression, fostering unity, spiritual connection, and deep-rooted traditions within the Ashanti community.
