Basic 9 · Religious and Moral Education · Religious Festivals
The Meaning and Types of Festivals
In this topic you will discuss the meaning and types of festivals in Ghana and describe the activities that take place during them.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Explain the meaning of a festival
- Identify types of festivals in Ghana
- Describe common festival activities
What you already know
- Religious practices
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Religious Practices
- Sub-strand
- Religious Festivals
- Indicator
- B9.2.1.1.1 – State the meaning and types of festivals
Introduction
Once a year, towns fill up with people returning home. Drums beat, cloths shine and old friends meet. A festival has arrived.
1. Meaning
Festival: A special time of celebration held by a community or a religion.
Festivals are held at regular times, usually each year. They mark important events in history, in the farming year or in religious life. They are times of joy, remembering and renewal. They allow a people to give thanks to God, to remember their ancestors and to show who they are. In Ghana, it is said that every month there is a festival somewhere.
2. Types of Festivals
| Type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| traditional religious | honour gods and ancestors | Odwira |
| harvest | give thanks for food | Homowo, Asafotufiam (Ada) |
| historical | recall a past event | Hogbetsotso, Aboakyir |
| Christian | mark events in Jesus's life | Christmas, Easter |
| Islamic | mark events in Islam | Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha |
| national | mark a national event | Independence Day |
A festival can be of more than one type. Damba, in northern Ghana, began as a celebration of the Prophet's birth, and it has also become a major cultural festival among the Dagomba and other groups. Homowo is about harvest as well as history.
3. Festival Calendar
| Festival | People | Time of year |
|---|---|---|
| Aboakyir | Effutu, Winneba | May |
| Homowo | Ga | August to September |
| Fetu Afahye | Cape Coast | September |
| Odwira | Akuapem and others | September to October |
| Hogbetsotso | Anlo | November |
| Kundum | Ahanta and Nzema | August to November |
| Bugum | Dagomba and others | Islamic calendar |
4. Why Festivals Matter
Festivals bind people together. They are occasions for settling quarrels, planning development projects and teaching the young about their history. They also bring income to communities through tourism and trade. As people move to the towns and abroad, festivals call them home, reminding them of their roots. Different faiths and ethnic groups often join in each other's celebrations, which helps to build national unity. Because Ghana is a land of many peoples, festivals are a lively picture of its variety.
New words
- festival
- A special time of celebration.
- harvest
- The gathering of crops.
- ancestors
- Dead family members who are honoured.
- renewal
- A fresh start.
Summary
- Festivals mark history, harvests and religious events.
- There are many types of festivals in Ghana.
- Festivals unite communities and teach culture.
Class activity: Festival Calendar
- Make a calendar of Ghanaian festivals.
- Mark the type of each.
- Display it in class.
You need: Kente cloth sample, Festival drum, Printed photographs of Homowo, Hogbetsotso
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Homowo is celebrated by the…
- A. Ga
- B. Ewe
- C. Dagomba
- D. Fante
Show answer
Answer: GaFestival.2. Hogbetsotso is celebrated by the…
- A. Anlo
- B. Asante
- C. Ga
- D. Nzema
Show answer
Answer: AnloFestival.3. Festivals can bring income through tourism.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueBenefit.4. The gathering of crops is the ______.
Show answer
Answer: harvestTerm.5. Name three types of festivals.
Show answer
Answer: Harvest, historical and religious.Any three.6. Why are festivals important for those who live far away?
Show answer
Answer: They bring them home and remind them of their roots.Value.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Religious Practices
- Sub-strand
- Religious Festivals
- Indicator
- B9.2.1.1.1 – State the meaning and types of festivals
Introduction
Each festival has its own character, yet many share similar activities that you will recognise.
1. Common Activities
| Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| purification | cleansing the town and people |
| libation | prayers to the Supreme Being and ancestors |
| ban on noise or drumming | quiet preparation |
| durbar of chiefs | public gathering, speeches |
| drumming and dancing | joy and culture |
| sharing food | unity |
| visiting relatives | peace among family |
| fund-raising | development |
2. Before the Festival
Preparations may take weeks. Towns are cleaned, houses are painted and new cloths are bought. Some festivals begin with a ban on drumming or noise. For example, before Homowo, there is a ban on noise-making, and it has sometimes caused disputes in Accra between traditional leaders and some churches. Such disputes show why respect and dialogue between groups are needed. Priests may perform purification rites, and people may visit family graves.
3. During the Festival
The main day may include a procession of chiefs in palanquins, beneath large umbrellas, with drummers and horn-blowers. A durbar brings the people together to hear speeches. Chiefs may announce projects, and politicians may attend. Special foods are eaten. Among the Ga, kpokpoi is prepared and sprinkled for the ancestors at Homowo. Dances, parades and competitions often add to the joy.
4. After the Festival
After a festival, people return to their work. Family meetings may be held to settle quarrels and to plan for the future. Development funds may be collected and used. Festivals often mark a new year, and people make a fresh start. Many Ghanaian workers and traders use the opportunity to make money from visitors, but elders remind them that the festival's real purpose is thanksgiving and unity.
5. Respectful Participation
If you visit a festival, respect local rules. Ask before taking photographs of chiefs or rituals. Dress modestly and follow directions. Avoid alcohol and fights. Some rites are private, and they are not for outsiders to see. Learners from other faiths can enjoy the cultural side, and they are not forced to take part in rites that go against their beliefs. Respect goes both ways.
New words
- durbar
- A public gathering of chiefs and people.
- palanquin
- A seat carried on people's shoulders.
- purification
- A cleansing rite.
- procession
- People moving in an organised line.
Summary
- Festivals involve purification, durbars and sharing.
- Preparation, celebration and renewal are the stages.
- Take part with respect.
Class activity: Festival Role Play
- Act out a durbar.
- Give a chief's speech.
- Explain each part.
You need: Kente cloth sample, Festival drum, Printed photographs of Homowo, Hogbetsotso
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A public gathering of chiefs and people is a…
- A. durbar
- B. market
- C. sermon
- D. class
Show answer
Answer: durbarTerm.2. Kpokpoi is linked with…
- A. Homowo
- B. Eid
- C. Easter
- D. Christmas
Show answer
Answer: HomowoFood.3. Some rites are private.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueRespect.4. A cleansing rite is ______.
Show answer
Answer: purificationTerm.5. State three activities during festivals.
Show answer
Answer: Libation, drumming and sharing food.Any three.6. Why must people ask before photographing rituals?
Show answer
Answer: Some rites are sacred or private, so permission shows respect.Respect.
Homework
- Interview someone about a festival in your hometown.