In a vibrant display of culture and tradition, the Gadangme Association in Toronto recently held their annual Homowo Festival at Malton Park.
The festival, which originates from the Ga tribe in Ghana, is a significant event that literally translates to “hooting at hunger”.
Homowo is widely celebrated across all towns in the Ga state, with the festivities reaching their peak in Gamashie. The festival commences with the planting of maize, which is later used to prepare a special dish called Kpokpoi or Kpekple for the festival.
During this period, noise-making is strictly prohibited as it is believed to disturb the gods. The celebratory meal, eaten with palm nut soup, is sprinkled throughout the town by traditional leaders and family heads.
The festival is marked by a series of activities including marching down roads and streets, beating drums, chanting, face painting, singing and performing traditional dances.
In Toronto, the traditional leader of the Ga Adangbe’s performed the rites as per custom and concluded it by sprinkling the “kpekpele”. He also narrated the history of how the Gas settled in Ghana.
The event was graced by Mrs. Joyce Asamoah Koranteng, the Deputy Consular General of the Ghanaian Consulate in Toronto. Overwhelmed with joy to be part of the celebration, she emphasized that such celebrations serve as a reminder of one’s roots and play a crucial role in educating the younger generation in the diaspora.
The festival was a grand affair with plenty to eat and drink, truly encapsulating the spirit of ‘hooting at hunger’.
Source: Ebenezer Amankwah and Emmanuel Ayiku, Toronto – Ontario
