They used to teach us back in school. I’m wondering if they still do and if they do, why is it disappearing. This is how Bragoro is celebrated and it’s significance.
The Akans, particularly the Ashantis, practise Bragoro, also known as Brapue, a puberty rite. A young girl traditionally undertakes the Bragoro rites after her first menstruation, which, according to the Akans, indicates womanhood for the young girl, necessitating the puberty ceremonies.
When a young girl has her first menstruation, her mother informs the council of elders, queenmothers, and community leaders, signalling to them that her daughter is ready to be initiated.
How To Perform Bragoro
The event’s activities are divided into two categories: spiritual and physical. The spiritual part is determining whether the young girl’s soul is compatible with the event, as some girls’ souls are seen to be incompatible with the entire procedure, necessitating the exclusion of that girl from rites to avoid spiritual disasters such as spiritual sickness.
After that process is completed successfully, the family begins material preparations for the event by giving the girl with special dress and food for the occasion.
The girls are then sent to a queen mother, who performs a particular traditional test to see whether any of the girls are pregnant or have had sex in the past, so they can be rejected as well.
Stages Of Bragoro
The Bragoro ceremony is followed by a durbar, in which all members of the community gather on a shared field to witness it.
Several events take place throughout the ritual, including the enstoolment, in which the girls sit and stand on a stool three times. After that, the girls are showered with water from a basin that is thought to be spiritual water in order to ‘drive away evil spirits’ as well as make them fertile and produce numerous children.
This is followed by a great party in which the entire crowd eats, drinks, and has a good time to welcome the girls into adulthood. Gifts are also provided to the parents of the young girls to be given to the young ladies after the celebration.
However, Bragoro’s popularity and significance among the Akans appears to be decreasing in recent years, since the event is rarely observed in most Akan communities, with only a handful still holding on to it.
Ghana Travel Restrictions
Ghana is open to most travelers again. I mean travelers from all over the world. However, you do need proof of your COVID-19 vaccination(s) or a negative test result before being allowed entry.
Many hotels, attractions, and private tours are open with new health & safety protocols in place, and you still have to follow certain guidelines. They are all good for our safety.
Read the ultimate travel guide to Ghana to help you plan your trip.