- Title: GHANA: PEOPLE OF ELMINA CELEBRATE BAKATUE FESTIVAL.
- Date: 5th July 1968
- Summary: 1. LV CROWD. 0.05 2. MV CHIEFS IN PALANQUINS. 0.25 3. LV CROWD. 0.29 4. MV SPRINKLING OF TRADITIONAL MEAL. 1.02 5. MV MAN SPEAKING. 1.12 6. LV CROWD AT THE LAGOON. 1.16 7. MV CHIEF PRIEST IN THE LAGOON. 1.20 8. LV CROWD. 1.26 9. MV CHIEF PRIEST CASTING THE NET. 1.37 10. LV FISHERMEN IN THEIR BOATS. 1.40 11. MV DRUMMING AND DANCING. 1.55 Initials GHB/VS/JF/PF Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th July 1968 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ELMINA, GHANA
- Country: Ghana
- Reuters ID: LVAB3WFD8T2AGANNWJ6VZOWXW9AC
- Story Text: THE ANNUAL BAKATUE FESTIVAL WAS CELEBRATED RECENTLY BY THE PEOPLE OF ELMINA, GHANA. THE FESTIVAL MARKS THE LIFTING OF THE BAN ON FISHING IN THE LAGOON OF THE ANCIENT TOWN AND ALSO HERALDS THE NEW CROP AND MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE ELMINA NEW YEAR.
CROWDS THRONGED INTO ELMINA FROM OUTLYING VILLAGES AND THE MERRY-MAKING BEGAN LONG BEFORE THE ACTUAL CEREMONY. THE TOWN OF ELMINA, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS EDINA, WAS SO NAMED BY THE EARLY PORTUGUESE COLONISERS - THE NAME MEANS "CITY OF GOLD".
THE CEREMONY STARTED WITH A PROCESSION FROM THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE TOWN WITH THE PARAMOUNT CHIEF OF THE EDINA TRADITIONAL AREA, NANA CONDUAN THE FOURTH, LEADING IT IN A PALANQUIN.
AFTER A CEREMONY OF SPRINKLING THE FESTIVAL MEAL - "ETO" - BY THE CHIEF FETISH PRIEST, THE PROCESSION MOVED ON TO THE LAGOON WHERE AFTER PRAYERS BY THE CHIEF PRIEST, THE FISHERMEN CAST THEIR NETS AGAIN AFTER THE THREE MONTHS BAN DURING THE CLOSED SEASON.
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