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Importance Of Festivals Essay. Yet when one considers the size of the continent (the second . An accurate and concise definition of music is fundamental to being ableto discuss, categorize, and otherwise consider what we understand as being music. Historical context of music in Ghana . Ghanaian festivals are a colourful and vibrant part of the culture. It is a period when people remember and mourn those who had died during the year. Most of the festivals in Ghana are traditional in the sense that they are rooted in the worldview and belief system of the people. The findings suggest that for growth of festival tourism in Ghana to be actualised, the Ghana Tourism Authority needs to ensure festivals do not erode entrenched traditional values and negate efforts at developing social structures and systems by putting measures to reduce the negative effect of commoditisation of festivals on the communities' cultural authenticity. Nukunya, G. A. As Ghana prepares to celebrate the biennial National Festival of Arts and . festival as a traditional institution. Nova Publishers, 2005 - Music - 186 pages. There are some awesome festivals around the world and these look fantastic!. When the family is connected to festivals it's a most precious and joyful time. Traditional festivals constitute a form of cultural activities, a spiritual product which the people have created and developed during the course of history. Traditions. 10 most famous festivals in Ghana . They are promoters of culture and builders of one's identity. Many festivals have religious origins and entwine cultural and religious significance in traditional activities. An example of an annual festival is the Aboakyer Festival which is celebrated each year on the first Saturday in May by the people of Simpa or Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana. Festivals perform many functions in the society. : Alexander Akorlie Agordoh. It is based on participant observation, interviews with chiefs, members of festival committees, other key role players and scholars who have been working on the subject. According to Attah-Fosu (1986), traditional festivals are divided into two different types. Child naming, puberty initiations, marriage and Throughout the year festivals and durbars are held in various parts of the country for reunion, development purposes and to strengthen beliefs of society. Ghana Holidays and Festivals. Traditional Ghanaian festivals are woven into the very fiber of Ghana's culture and society, and have been celebrated for as long as Ghana has been in existence; even when it was the Gold Coast. Odwira Festival is broken into six days and each day has a significance and a purpose. He explained that harvest festivals are celebrated by traditional believers to mark the end of a year and the beginning of another. in many other parts of the world, marriage in Ghana in seen as a requisite stage in life, rather than an option, and remains the most important social institution. This starts from Monday and ends on Sunday. In addition to all the normally scheduled festivals during the year, there are several rites and rituals that are performed to mark the passage of life: child-birth, naming ceremonies, puberty, engagement, marriage and death. Some festivals are cultural, some national and some religious. animals, especially goats, which eat the yams. A Case Study of Nkusukum-Ekumfi-Enyan traditional area of the Central Region. Festivals have always been occasions for joy in Ghana.Besides the rich history behind all festivals that make them such an important event for the tribes and communities, they are occasions that bring family and friends together.It also provides a wonderful opportunity for indigenes of the community who have been away for a long time to come back home and contribute their quota to the . As Ghana prepares to celebrate the biennial National Festival of Arts and . But, all have a parade, songs, dancing and drumming. 1.1 Background To The Study. Jintigi Fire Festival: Cultural Festivals in Ghana. In Nigeria, the festival is celebrated mainly by the Igbo peoples, and various communities celebrate Iriji in different ways. African Music: Traditional and Contemporary. This study shows that Ghanaian chiefs who have lived abroad are expected to draw on transnational networks and experiences to bring development and innovation to their areas. During celebration of the festival, an appeal for fund is launched for developmental projects such as . "Explications of the concept of music usually begin with the idea that music is organized sound. Importance Of Festivals Essay. It depicts the overall culture and the practises followed in that region. Beside the more traditional music, there is also a variety of modern music styles, which essentially shapes the everyday life of Ghanaians. Great Britain and Ghana: Documents of Ghana History, 1964. Customary leaders have historical authority over tribal and family matters, and customary lands are an important heritage. Those are special days on which the ahene (traditional rulers; singular ohene) enter the nkonuafieso (stool house), the resting place for the spirits of ancestors, and pour libation and offer food . Importance of festivals in Ghana. The colonial era had an influence on the development of . The importance of the Homowo festival to the Ga people cannot be overemphasised. The Damba festivals occur throughout the northern regions of Ghana, These celebrations coincide with the new farming season when new yam is harvested. You can always catch at least one Ghana . In India there are people of different castes . To the people of Ghana, the traditions of their ancestors are still an important part of daily life. Unity is the most powerful weapon to fight any obstacle in life. Ghana Holidays and Festivals. It is customary in the Western world for people to use the term 'African music' as if it were a single clearly identifiable phenomenon. It is a platform to unite people, increase the interactions and dependence in the society as well as breaks the monotony of the people. 5. Festivals are very important occasions in Ghana; during this time many people travel to their ancestral home for the celebrations and to mark the occasion. The Adowa dance is the most widespread and most frequently performed social musical type of the Akan speaking people of Ghana. Festivals are very important in history of human beings. Hayden shares the 7 top African celebrations and festivals, spanning the continent from Kenya to Egypt, Zanzibar to Chad - pack your bags! It depicts the overall culture and the practises followed in that region. traditional festivals are been used all over Ghana as platforms to plan and advocate for development . The 30 Shirley Dankwa et al. The findings suggest that for growth of festival tourism in Ghana to be actualised, the Ghana Tourism Authority needs to ensure festivals do not erode entrenched traditional values and negate efforts at developing social structures and systems by putting measures to reduce the negative effect of commoditisation of festivals on the communities' cultural authenticity. The Performing Arts play a pivotal role in the traditional and contemporary life of the Ghanaian. With more than 3000 ethnic groups and some 2000 different languages, the African continent is the very embodiment of cultural diversity. Throughout the year festivals and durbars are held in various parts of the country for reunion, development purposes and to strengthen beliefs of society. The Role of Traditional Festivals in Action Planning, Advocacy and Social Accountability . CHAPTER ONE. The centuries-old traditions of the people of Ghana and the diversity of the distinct ethnic groups have created a rich culture that is the splendid legacy of modern to the people of Ghana, the traditions of their ancestors are still an important part of daily life. Traditional leaders also use festival to propitiate the ancestral spirits and deities to help dispel evil in the society. Some collaborate with international development agencies, NGOs, and migrants, and tour European […] Festivals are very important in history of human beings. : Background, Cultural Values and Functions of Traditional Festivals in Ghana: The Case of "Kloyosikplemi" of the Yilo Krobos results were then integrated into an in-depth, exhaustive court functionaries, and the public events like the parading of description of the major activities, functions and cultural stool . Ghana have about 3 different types of religion. The ban is lifted for the festival of Homowo in May. Others, such as harvest festivals, celebrate seasonal change.Events of historical significance, such as important military victories . Festivals are an event of celebration and joy which may… Festivals. Traditions encourage groups of people to create and share a collective identity, which in turn serves to shape individual identities. It is a platform to unite people, increase the interactions and dependence in the society as well as breaks the monotony of the people. Despite the various kinds in which they come, they all mean one thing and that is celebration. Nevertheless, it is still important to sustain the traditional dances, as they reflect the identity of a region; and consecutively, the prosperity of a nation. It begins with the sowing of millet by the traditional priests in May. Importance of Festivals in our Life - Festival is an auspicious day or period of religious or other celebration prevalent in all societies and religious communities. Festivals are an expressive way to celebrate glorious heritage, culture and traditions. The importance of festivals to culture and society cannot be underestimated. Originally linked with Islam to mark the birth of Mohammed, the two-day festival has gradually taken on a traditional rather than Islamic tone, with pageantry and showmanship. In a historic sense, they are used to mark tribal milestones which […] Festivals in Ghana are celebrated for many reasons pertaining to a particular tribe or culture, usually having backgrounds relating to an occurrence in the history of that culture. traditional festivals have also played an important role in local socio . Festivals are celebrated to mark both the beginning and the end of the traditional year and to celebrate great events of the past and purify the traditional state. Funerals are a big deal in Ghana. Important events in life are marked by special rites and rituals. Starting at the end of June/beginning of July, it runs for between 8 and 10 days and is held in the small university city of Grahamstown, which is situated in the Eastern . Life is all about happiness and as human beings, social interaction with our fellow beings not only brings happiness but helps us . African Music. These festivals reveal somecommon features and beliefs of our society. . Adae, (Akan: "resting place") Adae also spelled Adai, an important festival of the Akan people of western Africa that involves the invocation, propitiation, and veneration of ancestral spirits. Each of the religion have it's own way of praying and communicating with God. Eventually, the famine ended, and a large harvest of vegetation and fish were provided by Ghana's gods to sustain the people. Appreciation of arts and crafts is necessitated by cultures and traditions rather than aesthetic possessions and serves meaningful purposes in the communities. Many of these traditions are built upon long-celebrated practices, and within each region comes differing aspects of culture. By Kahar Zalmay. Ceremony in Ghana . In India there are people of different castes . The most important festival in the Fante calendar is the colourful Oguaa Fetu Afahye (the last word literally means 'adorning of new clothes'), on the first Saturday of September, when local chiefs and asafo companies dressed in full traditional regalia lead processions through the streets of Cape Coast. They are polite, open and trusting — even with strangers. In Ghanaian society, people are more important than schedules. A festival teaches us to take care of the poor: At festival times a very important charity activities is feeding the poor and giving them alms. Origin Winneba Aboakyer is an ancient rite of animal sacrifice to the god Otu to celebrate their safe migration from the ancient western Sudan Empire to their present home, Winneba and also to remove evil . Among its numerous importance and benefits are academic development, career development, transmission and preservation of cultural values, and promotion of tourism. Below are some of the reasons people celebrate these events: Purification of the gods: Important rites are done, including the cleansing of old stools and so on. Festivals are an important . Marriage sanctions, reproduction is still believed by many to be the most important function of the union between a man and woman. They play an important role to add structure to our social lives, and connect us with our families and backgrounds. This traditional festival in Ghana commemorates when the country faced desperate times due to a terrible famine. During celebration of the festival, an appeal for fund is launched for developmental projects such as . God also feels . Celebrations are always grand in Ghana, whether it is for honoring religion, ancestors (Willa), rites of passage, or harvest (Gologo Festival). Practical implications. Saturday of September by communities in the Cape Coast Traditional Area (Fetu). It is an occasion that affords the traditional leader of the community to give accounts of the past year and plans for the future. Nugent, Paul. February 25, 2017 . One best way of showcasing the Ghanaian rich culture is through our colourful traditional festivals and durbars. That keeps us attached to relationships in society. The traditional system of producing small ruminants (sheep and goats) contributes significantly to the socioeconomic wellbeing of farm households in northern Ghana. to a curated selection of the most important stories daily. 2 Reviews. The Bakatue Festival is celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of Elmina in the Central region of Ghana.The festival, established at least as far back as 1847, is celebrated on the first Tuesday in the month of July every year. Each of the religion have it's own way of praying and communicating with God. Below is a break down of what actually happens on each day; Monday. 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