The Ahanta and Nzema people of Ghana’s Western area, specifically the Western region, celebrate the Kundum festival.
The celebration first took place in the late 1700s, although it has evolved significantly over the subsequent two centuries.
However, the festival’s primary theme, which is described as a Harvest Festival, remains constant, as does the festival’s name, Kundum, which means ‘Famine Could Not Overpower Us.’
What is the significance of Kundum? After surviving a famine in the early 1800s, the locals picked the name.
How do they celebrate Kundum?
The Kundum Festival lasts eight days and includes events such as drumming and feasting, as well as animal sacrifices by the people’s elders. The sacrifice usually entails the slaughter of a bird in a small room by a few chosen and designated people, usually the town’s elders.
The butchering of the chicken in the stool room is said to cleanse the room and the traditional stool of any evil spirit or bad omen that may befall the chief and his elders, according to folklore.
Another fowl is sacrificed in public at a durbar as a sacrifice to the gods and ancestors of the town, following which the dancers and ladies of the town perform the ritual dance discovered by Akpoley. The remaining days are spent cooking, eating, and dancing.
Thousands of people visit the Ahanta and Nzema areas every year during the festival’s week-long revelry. The majority of those there are invited visitors and tourists who have traveled from far and wide to witness the Kundum and Ahanta people’s culture and festival.
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.