Interesting Details About The Winneba People’s Aboakyer Festival

• The Aboakyer festival is observed by the Winneba People of Ghana every first Saturday of May Annually
• It is Characterized by a deer-hunting exercise by two ASAFO rival groups. The first group to bring the animal are regarded as heroes
• Otu Penkye, the supreme deity of the Winneba people is believed to have been their guide while they migrated to Ghana from Sudan.

Ghana has more cultural festivals than many other countries around the world, put at over 70. The most known are Odwira festival, Homowo festival, Hogbetsotso Festival, Bungun festival, Adae Kese festival and Bakatue Festival. One that stands out among these is the Winneba People’s Aboakyer Festival, also known as the deer-hunting festival.

It is one of the most prominent festivals which is celebrated with much zest and panache among the Fante-speaking people. Aboakyer which means ‘hunting for game or animal’ has not always been a hunting festival. Surprisingly, It used to be a bloody religious ritual to a deity referred to as Otu; a god that is believed to have overseen the journey of the Winneba people during their migration to the Coastal region of West Africa alongside two brothers.

The festival is still celebrated today but in a much different way. This article will take you to the base of every interesting and captivating detail concerning the Aboakyer Festival.

Historical Background of the Aboakyer Festival

The Aboakyer festival is celebrated by the Effutu people who for hundreds of years are known as the earliest settlers in Ghana. It originated when the Effutu left western Sudan and migrated to what is known today as the town of Wnneba in the Central Region of Ghana. They came along with their god called Penkye Otu.

On Arrival, the people wanted to celebrate their entry into a new land. When the priests consulted their gods, they were asked to make an annual human sacrifice; a price that was too high for them.  After appealing to Otu, he relented and substituted the sacrifice with a wildcat. Leopards became too difficult and dangerous to catch alive as demanded by Otu. Another plea was made and a bush-buck later became the optimal option, replacing the leopard. This is how and why the festival was tagged deer-hunting festival.

The hunting of the deer now portrays bravery and strength among the Winneba people whenever the festival is observed. Whenever the deer is hunted, the meat will be used to make a soup that will be offered to Penkye Otu.

The victorious hunters are regarded as heroes because they were able to make Otu happy who will, in turn, bless the people with a bountiful farming season.

When and How is the Festival Celebrated?

The Aboakyer festival is celebrated on the first Saturday of May each year and it is a major event in Winneba Ghana. The members of the town who are divided into two ASAFO companies usually meet at the beach to have some rituals believed to be for purification.

Asafo means ‘war people’ and they were at a point in time saddled with the responsibility of defending the state. The Asafo elders were regarded as kingmakers and any king that has them on his side is usually in for a smooth ride.

After the two companies purify themselves, they proceed to Penkye Otu’s shrine and then to the palace of the village chief where the royal family will receive them. The two ASAFO companies will afterward head to the bush in opposite directions in the search for a deer.

Failure to catch the deer by any group is seen as a bad omen. The hunter who is brave enough to catch the deer will carry the animal on his neck and return to the village amidst jubilation.  Because of the significance of the deer-hunting to the festival, the two companies have over time witnessed a sharp rivalry and discord among themselves.

The competition comes to an end immediately after the deer is caught. The first group to catch the animal from a game reserve will be presented to the chiefs and people as winners.  They also will be presented with a token as a reward for their hard work. Once the deer is brought before the king, he will step on it three times to show approval and accent.

It is believed that the survival of the Winneba people depends on the sacrifice they offer to Otu every year.

SEE ALSO: African Tribal Women: 10 Things About Their Different Cultures

The Festival Serves as a Moment of Recreation and Reunion

Aboakyer Festival is also known to be a moment of reunion for a lot of people in Winneba. They seize the opportunity to perform diverse rituals for the cleansing and sanctification of communities and individuals. They further use this period to remember their ancestors.

Also, games such as thug of war, football, canoe racing, and wrestling are organized to make the festival interesting. The event is further marked by a lot of singing, dancing, and drama. A beauty pageant is as well organized in order to crown miss Aboakyer.

The festival notably marks the beginning of a new farming season. During the sacrifice, the priests usually request the gods to give the people abundant yield. Prayers are as well made for the gods to give spiritual guidance to the people throughout the year.

The Economic Significance of Winneba People’s Aboakyer Festival

Given the huge number of people that the festival attracts, the Winneba people and even those from neighboring communities seize the opportunity to sell diverse goods and services. During the festival, hotels are filled, art exhibitions are made, and a lot of tourists also come to experience what the event is all about.

Winneba People Used Oral to Ensure Their History Does Not go Extinct 

The People of Simpa have managed to save the story of their culture in songs, war chants, and oral accounts. They kept transmitting their history from one generation to another until they finally learned how to read and write.