GHANA: Residents march through Ada for the annual warrior's festival Ada Asafotufiam

Record ID: 800240

  • Title: GHANA: Residents march through Ada for the annual warrior's festival Ada Asafotufiam
  • Date: 9th August 2011
  • Summary: ADA TOWNSHIP, GHANA (AUGUST 07, 2011) (REUTERS) WOMAN FIRING A MUSKET AND DANCING VARIOUS OF HEAD OF DIVISIONAL CHIEFS, NENE TSATSU PEDIATOR IV IN A STREET PROCESSION WITH ELDERS AND PEOPLE FOLLOWING MEN PLAYING DRUMS IN THE STREET MORE OF NENE TSATSU PEDIATOR WITH OTHER LEADERS WOMAN TAKING PHOTO OF THE PROCESSION
  • Embargoed: 24th August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ghana, Ghana
  • Country: Ghana
  • Topics: Arts,History
  • Reuters ID: LVA42GISQ6TW9MPP714IQY0IVRAZ
  • Story Text: Residents of the Ada region in northern Ghana took the streets this weekend for a festival to commemorate their warrior heritage.
    The festival has been happening every year for the last 50 years and is in memory of the people who fought to protect the land during the struggle for independence.
    This year's jubilee is being celebrated with particular vigor with seven days of carnivals and public events planned.
    The opening celebrations were marked by a procession led by divisional chiefs and local dignitaries.
    "Our fore fathers decided to fight here as a way of winning and this was the place they fought their enemies before finally taking the Ada land," divisional chief Asafoatsegua Owasie Senekey told Reuters.
    Senekey and other dignitaries were later carried through the crowd on decorated platforms flanked by people wearing traditional costumes, waving flags and singing.
    The theme of this year's celebrations was "Transforming Society through Culture" in an attempt to bring the past history in the region up to date with current challenges people in the region face.
    Speaking at the launch event held at Ada Presby Park, vice president John Dramani Mahama said the occasion was not just about celebrating the past.
    "Now times have change we don't go to war any more and so today when we still celebrate this festival we do it in order to honor new war that we have to fight and that is the fight against poverty, disease and hunger among our people," he said.
    "The festival is relevant because we get to know the customs of our people, its promote unity, development and what have you," said Gloria Aponti, a teacher who was at the event.
    Traditional prayers were also held by community leaders at the lake side of the park where members of the crowd were invited to pray for communities in Ghana who are struggling with poverty.
    Ghana is the world's second-largest cocoa grower, Africa's second-biggest gold miner, and became an oil exporter in December 2010 with the start-up of its offshore Jubilee oil field.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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