As part of celebration marking ‘Homowo’ Festival of GaDangmes (natives of Greater Accra Region in Ghana) members of its Associations in Italy with a display of great splendour, showcased the annual occasion in the Italian city Treviso.
The event, which took place at Montibelluna - a locality of Treviso - brought the main street to a standstill as people gathered to watch the epic occasion embellished with the popular GaDangmes’ sprinkling of ‘kpo kpoi’ (a traditional food made from corn flour for the occasion), an array of traditional dresses, ‘kpa shi mo’(a local song and dance specifically for the festival), drumming and dancing.
The Associations of GaDangmes in Italy which defines itself as international NGO aims at promoting Ghanaians’ culture and traditions in Italy and is also on course in carrying out developmental projects in the Greater Accra Region. The festival in Italy was first started 3 years ago in Modena when the Association in the city invited notable personalities including Nii Adjei Kraku I (Tema chief), Nii Adote Otinto I, Naa Aforkor Omaeduro I, Nii Sei Obuade, Naa Tsotsoo Soyoo I, Asafoi Atse Nii Opeku and Asafoi Anye Naa Kortu (Tema). Since then the annual celebration has moved from one city to another.
In this year’s event Ghanaian distinguished personalities, among them former President of Ghana - J.J. Rawlings, Col (rtd.) Slater, Nii Adotey Otinto II (Sempe Chief), COP John Kudalor, DCOP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, Hon. Adjei Anang (member of Council of State), H.E. Molley Anim Addo (current Ghana Ambassador to Italy) and Hussein Mohamed (Ghana Embassy, Rome) were all honoured for their exceptional services rendered to Ghana and their life long achievements.
At a gathering to climax the colourful street event, Nii Adjei Kraku II (Tema Chief) who represented GaDangmes chiefs and elders of the Greater Accra Region delivered a key note address saying he is happy GaDangmes in Italy have maintained their culture and traditional festival despite living in a foreign country. The Ghana Embassy in Rome representative, Hussein Mohamed, who led a delegation of the Embassy to grace the occasion said language forms part of one’s culture and advised Ghanaians abroad to speak their local language with their children. “In doing so the children can easily identify the ethnic group they belong,” he said, adding: “by teaching the children the local languages they will never forget their roots”.
Nana Konadu I (Agogo chief of Ghanaians in Udine) who represented his people in Italy on his part congratulated GaDangmes Associations in Italy for organising such a festival.
He spoke of Accra, the capital city of Ghana, now a cosmopolitan city and people from all walks of the country can be found in the city and it’s time for people in the Region to embrace and respect the culture and traditions of the GaDangme people.
“This is the first time I have attended this festival and it will be good the organisers invite chiefs, queen mothers and elders of other tribes in Ghana to participate as this is the only annual Ghanaians traditional festival being celebrated in Italy. This can further raise the image of Ghana in Italy,” he added.
Severin Elzo, Deputy Mayor of the city Treviso (near Venice), given the previledge to speak at the gathering indicated he is happy Ghanaians have brought their culture and traditions to the door steps of Italians and the event has given them and other nationals in the locality how some Africans celebrate their festival. He pointed out he cherished the flamboyant traditional dressing and drumming which marked the occasion.
The Assocations organisers, Nii Christopher Klu Sowah and Charles Lomotey expressed their gratitude to the Ghana Embassy in Rome and the city authourities of Montibelluna for endorsing this year’s programme. They also thanked the director of programmes at Obonu FM (a local GaDangme Radio Station in Accra) - Nii Adjei Klu, for the airtime given during the celebration and Bishop T (of Hot Digital Radio in London). The Associations, Sowah Klu said, has been given acres of land by the chiefs and elders of the Greater Accra Region and will be used for agricultural produce of which proceeds generated would will go for helping schools and building social amenities in the Region.
- Reggie Tagoe (regtagoe@yahoo.com)