Stories and facts
The Opemso Festival, held bi-annually in Ghana, commemorates the legendary birth of Otumfuo Osei Tutu I, the first king of the Ashantis.
The title "Opemso," initially bestowed upon Osei Tutu I, signifies the fearless and determined nature of Ashanti kings in overcoming challenges.
During the festival, the events leading to Tutu's birth are reenacted, culminating in sacred rituals performed at Teneabasaso, also known as Kwantakese, the sacred grove in Kokofu-Anyinam where he was born. The grove's name originates from the legend that Tutu's mother, Nana Gyamfua Manu Kutusi, grasped the branches of a Ceiba tree during his birth.
The Opemso Festival celebrates the birth of Otumfuo Osei Tutu I, who is credited with uniting the seven Akan clans to form the powerful Asante Kingdom. According to oral tradition, Tutu's mother, after experiencing multiple miscarriages, sought spiritual help from a traditional priest in Awukugua, who aided her in conceiving.
As she journeyed to her grandmother's hometown in the Ashanti Region, labor pains intensified, and she sought the assistance of the Kaakawere River deity at Kokofu-Anyinam. With the help of three hunters, she was taken to a safe spot under a Ceiba tree, where she gave birth to Osei Tutu on a Friday, earning him the name "Kofi."
Celebrated every two years, the Opemso Festival is of great significance to the Ashanti people, symbolizing their hope for freedom from the Gyamans and Denkyiras. Thousands of Ashantis, led by the Asantehene or his representative, participate in a procession to the sacred grove.
Along the way, offerings of fowls and schnapps are made to the Kaakawere River. Traditional priests, chiefs, and elders then perform rituals in the grove, while dramatic reenactments of the events surrounding Osei Tutu's birth take place.
The festival also features a beauty pageant called "Miss Opemso," along with singing, dancing, traditional cloth-wearing competitions, and cultural knowledge quizzes. These activities serve to revive and pass on the rich cultural heritage of the Ashanti people to future generations.
