Homowo (redirected from Homowo festival)

Homowo

Between August and September

Homowo is a harvest festival of thanks to the gods of the Ga (or Gan) people as well as the mark of the new year. Homowo means "starved gods," and the festival commemorates the good harvest the Ga were given in ancient times. This harvest came after the famine they endured while traveling to their present home in Ghana.
The festival begins on Thursday and those who have moved away are called Soobii, "Thursday people," because that's the day they arrive home for the festival. The following day is the yam festival and the day of twins. All twins who are dressed in white are specially treated all day. Each day there are processions, songs, and dancing until the great day arrives: Homowo, or the Hunger-Hooting Festival and open house.
Most homes have enough food in them for a week during the festival. Fish are abundant in Ghana at this time of year, and palm-nut soup, kpokpoi, or ko, round out the traditional menu. Ko is a kind of grits made with unleavened corn dough and palm oil. The chiefs and elders sprinkle the ko everywhere people have been buried, then go to the prison and personally feed the warders. The following day they visit friends and relatives, reconciling and exchanging New Year's greetings.

CONTACTS:
Ghana Tourist Board
P.O. Box 3106
Accra, Ghana
233-21-222153; fax: 233-21-244611
www.ghana.gov.gh

SOURCES:
BkHolWrld-1986, Aug 1
FestGhana-1970, p. 52
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 528