Correspondence from the Eastern Region

The Akuapem Benkum Divisional Council has officially launched the Odwira @200 Enactment Series, a landmark cultural and educational initiative designed to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Akuapem Odwira Festival and deepen public understanding of its historical significance.

The opening event, held at the Obikyere Community Centre in Mampong Akuapem in the Eastern Region, formed part of a broader programme marking two centuries of one of Ghana's most celebrated traditional festivals.

The series seeks to preserve, document and regenerate the rich history of Odwira through lectures, dramatic performances and community engagement.

Organised under the auspices of the Okuapehene, the programme brought together traditional leaders, students, cultural enthusiasts and members of the public for an evening dedicated to historical reflection and cultural education.
Speaking during a historical lecture, Rev. Dr. Alfred Kwarteng traced the origins of the Odwira Festival to the early nineteenth century and the military campaigns that shaped the political and spiritual identity of Akuapem.

According to the historian, the Akuapem State, established in the early 1700s through alliances among Akyem states and coastal groups, played a significant role in the anti-Asante coalition that fought major battles at Nsamankow in 1824 and Akatamanso in 1826.

He explained that following the Akuapem victory at the Battle of Akatamanso, the Akuapem army captured important Asante stool regalia, including spiritual objects associated with the Odwira Festival. These acquisitions, he noted, gave Akuapem the authority to institute its own Odwira observance.

The first Akuapem Odwira Festival was subsequently celebrated in October 1826 by Nana Addo Dankwa I, the 19th Okuapehene of Akropong, both to commemorate the victory and to perform spiritual purification and renewal rites for the state.

The lecture also highlighted the pivotal role of the Benkum Division in the defence of Okuapeman. Led at the time by Nana Asiedu Ɔkɔɔ, the division served as the western shield of the state, guarding strategic routes through Larteh and surrounding areas that were considered crucial during military confrontations.

Rev Dr Kwarteng recounted oral traditions that describe how the division fortified itself spiritually and militarily, earning a reputation as one of the strongest defensive wings of the Akuapem State.

A major highlight of the programme was a dramatic enactment by the Abibigromma Theatre Company of the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana.

The performance brought key moments in Akuapem history to life, offering audiences an immersive retelling of events surrounding the establishment and evolution of the Odwira Festival.

The enactment was followed by an interactive audience session that allowed participants to share reflections and engage with historians, traditional leaders and performers on the relevance of preserving indigenous history.

As part of efforts to educate younger generations, the organisers partnered with the Ghana Education Service to involve students from senior high schools across the Akuapem Ridge. Fifty students each from Benkum Senior High School in Larteh, Methodist Girls Senior High School in Mamfe and Mampong Presbyterian Senior High School participated in the event, with preference given to History students.

The launch marks the beginning of a five-part enactment series expected to explore various chapters of Akuapem history leading up to the grand Odwira @200 celebrations later this year.

Traditional music performances, a Fontomfrom cultural display, remarks from the Benkumhene and reflections from community leaders formed part of the evening's activities, underscoring the enduring cultural importance of the festival.

The Odwira Festival, widely regarded as a symbol of unity, purification and thanksgiving among the people of Akuapem, remains one of Ghana's most significant traditional celebrations.

The bicentenary commemoration is expected to draw national and international attention to the historical legacy, cultural resilience and heritage of Okuapeman.