Basic 9 · Religious and Moral Education · Religious Festivals
Traditional Festivals and Their Lessons
In this topic you will describe activities in selected traditional festivals in Ghana and discuss their significance and moral lessons.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Describe selected traditional festivals
- Explain the significance of festivals
- Identify moral lessons in festivals
What you already know
- Meaning and types of festivals
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
Each Ghanaian festival tells a story. Let us look at a few and hear what they say.
1. Homowo
Homowo means "hooting at hunger". According to tradition, the Ga once suffered a severe famine. When a good harvest finally came, they celebrated by mocking hunger. The festival takes place around August and September, starting with a ban on drumming. Maize is planted beforehand, and on the main day, families prepare kpokpoi, made from steamed corn meal and palm oil. Elders sprinkle it around the town for the ancestors, and families then share a meal.
2. Aboakyir
Aboakyir means "animal catching". The Effutu people of Winneba celebrate it in May. Two Asafo groups compete to catch a live deer with their bare hands. The first to bring one to the chief wins. The deer is then sacrificed to the god Penkye Otu. Tradition says that the people moved from a human sacrifice to an animal one, which is a reminder that cultures can change for the better.
3. Hogbetsotso
The Anlo Ewe celebrate Hogbetsotso at Anloga in the Volta Region, on the first Saturday of November. It recalls how their ancestors escaped from the cruel King Agorkoli at Notsie, in present-day Togo. They softened a mud wall with water, and they broke through. To hide their tracks, they walked backwards. The festival begins with a clean-up and a time of peace-making, followed by a durbar of chiefs in rich dress.
4. Odwira
Odwira means "cleansing". Celebrated by Akuapem towns such as Akropong, the festival purifies the community. It includes a ban on noise, cleaning, visits to the royal cemetery and a grand durbar. New yam may be presented, and people give thanks for the harvest. It shows the importance of spiritual and physical cleanliness.
5. Damba and Bugum
Damba is celebrated by the Dagomba, Gonja, Mamprusi and others in northern Ghana. It began as a celebration of the Prophet's birthday and is now also a time for showing loyalty to chiefs. Horse riding and the Damba dance are highlights. Bugum, the Fire Festival, is held at the start of the Islamic year. People carry lit torches into the night, and legend links this to a story of a chief's lost son. These festivals show how Islam and local traditions have combined in northern Ghana.
| Festival | People | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| Homowo | Ga | hooting at hunger |
| Aboakyir | Effutu | deer hunt |
| Hogbetsotso | Anlo | escape from Notsie |
| Odwira | Akuapem | purification |
| Damba | Dagomba | the Prophet's birthday |
New words
- famine
- A severe shortage of food.
- Aboakyir
- The deer-hunting festival of the Effutu.
- Notsie
- The town from which the Anlo escaped.
- Odwira
- The Akan festival of purification.
Summary
- Homowo mocks hunger.
- Aboakyir and Hogbetsotso recall history.
- Odwira and Damba show cleansing and faith.
Class activity: Festival Fair
- Choose one festival.
- Prepare a poster or a performance.
- Present it to the 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 means…
- A. hooting at hunger
- B. deer hunt
- C. fire
- D. cleansing
Show answer
Answer: hooting at hungerMeaning.2. Aboakyir involves catching a…
- A. deer
- B. lion
- C. goat
- D. fish
Show answer
Answer: deerFestival.3. Hogbetsotso recalls an escape from Notsie.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueHistory.4. A severe shortage of food is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: famineTerm.5. Why did the Anlo walk backwards?
Show answer
Answer: To hide their tracks from their pursuers.Story.6. How does Damba show the mixing of cultures?
Show answer
Answer: It began as an Islamic celebration and is now part of local tradition.Culture.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Religious Practices
- Sub-strand
- Religious Festivals
- Indicator
- B9.2.1.1.1 – State the meaning and types of festivals
Introduction
Beneath the drums and bright cloth, festivals carry deep lessons on how we should live together.
1. Significance of Festivals
| Area | Significance |
|---|---|
| religious | thanksgiving, renewing links with God and ancestors |
| social | reunion, marriages, resolving quarrels |
| cultural | preserving language, dance and dress |
| economic | trade, tourism, development funds |
| political | chiefs meet people and leaders |
| educational | teaching history to the young |
2. Moral Lessons
| Festival | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Homowo | gratitude and sharing with the needy |
| Hogbetsotso | courage, unity and peace-making |
| Odwira | cleanliness of body and spirit |
| Aboakyir | teamwork, and change for the better |
| Damba | loyalty and devotion |
Homowo reminds us that hunger must not be forgotten, and that those with food should share. Hogbetsotso shows how a people can overcome oppression through unity. It also teaches that peace must be made before celebrations. Odwira reminds people to get rid of what is unclean in their lives, as well as in their towns. These lessons apply in daily life, not just on the day of the festival.
3. Respect for Others
Festivals also teach respect for authority and elders. Young people take part alongside chiefs and elders, and they learn how to behave. Cooperation is needed for the cleaning, the cooking and the ceremonies. Generosity is shown by giving to strangers and the poor. Some festivals include a time when people can tell the truth to leaders, which teaches accountability.
4. Concerns
Festivals can also be abused. Some people drink too much or fight. Long-standing chieftaincy disputes sometimes turn violent at festival time. Noise bans have led to disputes. Some people spend more than they can afford on clothing and funerals held at festival time. In the past, some rites harmed animals or people, and communities have rightly changed them. Moral thinking asks that traditions be kept where they do good, and changed where they do harm.
5. Applying the Lessons
Choose one lesson from a festival, and apply it this week. You could share something with a classmate who has less than you. You might make peace with someone you have quarrelled with. You might join in cleaning your home. Festivals return each year, but their lessons are for every day.
New words
- significance
- Importance or meaning.
- accountability
- Answering for one's actions.
- generosity
- Willingness to give.
- oppression
- Cruel and unfair rule.
Summary
- Festivals have religious, social and economic importance.
- They teach gratitude, unity and cleanliness.
- Harmful practices should be changed.
Class activity: Lessons Chart
- List five festivals.
- Write a moral lesson for each.
- Explain how to apply it today.
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 teaches…
- A. gratitude and sharing
- B. laziness
- C. greed
- D. anger
Show answer
Answer: gratitude and sharingLesson.2. Hogbetsotso teaches…
- A. courage and peace-making
- B. waste
- C. pride
- D. noise
Show answer
Answer: courage and peace-makingLesson.3. Festivals have economic importance.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueTrade.4. Willingness to give is ______.
Show answer
Answer: generosityTerm.5. State three ways in which festivals are significant.
Show answer
Answer: Religious, social and economic.Any three.6. What should be done about harmful festival practices?
Show answer
Answer: They should be changed, while what is good is kept.Judgement.
Homework
- Write about one festival's moral lesson and how you will apply it.