Fetu Afahye: One big art gallery

The Oguaa Fetu Afahye this year was a pool of different intricate artworks put together in a huge gallery.

The durbar climaxing the festival was full of different people, different shades of artistic representations and emblems holding tales of long-held culture and tradition.

First, there were the emblems of the Asafo companies of Cape Coast.

Asafo companies

The seven Asafo companies of Oguaa are the traditional militia of the people of Oguaa and play key roles in the Fetu festival.

The Bentsir Number One Asafo Company dressed in red attire trimmed with black took the lead with the grapnel as its emblem.

Then the Anaafo Number Two Asafo Company followed, wearing white costumes with blue trimmings – the company was led by three or four persons swinging long iron hooks, one of their main emblems.

These were followed by the Nstin Number Three Asafo Company dressed in green, who intermittently rang a bell to announce their presence.

The Nkum Number Four Asafo Company wore yellow costumes with the sounding of bugle call as the main emblem.

The Nkum Number Five, Brofomba Asafo Company who wore light green costumes, came with two cannons as emblems.

The Akrampafo Number Six Asafo Company wore white and the last, Amanful Number Seven Company were dressed in deep red bringing out the body of a whale as their emblem.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Oguaamanhen, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, and hundreds of other chiefs and patrons wore different uniquely woven Kente, filling the durbar grounds with colour and giving it a feel of royalty.

Otumfuo’s footrest

Then there was Otumfuo Osei Tutu’s footrest, the mummified lion depicting his power and kingship which was strolled majestically before him as he rode in his palanquin to the Victoria park.

The footrest, it was explained, is always carried as part of the procession of the Asantehene to durbars.

Then came the fearful-looking executioners with black-painted faces and traditional furry caps and swords as part of the Asantehene’s entourage.

With them also came the traditional guards with traditionally ornamented knives and other weapons.

Osabarimba’s seat

Another memorable artistic work was the seat of Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II and the queenmother, Obaahemaa Ekua Abookye VI.

Both seats had huge intricately sculptured crabs, the totem of the people of Oguaa, on them.

Also noticeable were women in their graceful tekua hairstyles of all sizes in different colours.

The tekua, an exotic traditional hairstyle usually decorated with ribbons and ornaments is peculiar to the Fantes and has been worn by generations of Fante women in Ghana for special occasions.

The palanquins

Then there were the palanquins, in which the chiefs and queens rode.

The different shapes and designs of palanquins, colourfully decorated, some florally, were a sight to behold.

The royal umbrellas, beautiful and mostly with adinkra symbols also added a majestic flavour to the procession to the Victoria Park.

Also present were the performing arts; the well-rehearsed flag dances, the graceful adowa dances, royal dances in the palanquins and loads of traditional music.

Vice-President

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in his address, said it was commendable that the festival had for six decades united Ghanaians, providing a platform for cultural expression and community bonding.

“It is a time to honour our ancestors, reflect on our achievements, and recognise the challenges we have overcome. As we celebrate this milestone, let us reaffirm our commitment to preserving our rich cultural heritage for generations to come.”

“As we celebrate, let us remember that our strength lies in our unity. The progress we have made as a community and as a nation is a result of our collective efforts. Let us continue to work together to build a prosperous and peaceful Ghana,” he added.

He underscored the importance of keeping the country’s customs and traditions and urged the youth to take pride in their heritage and actively participate in the preservation and promotion of the country’s rich traditions, stressing that they were “the torchbearers of our culture and the architects of our future”.

“As we celebrate the Fetu Afahye at 60, let us do so with a renewed commitment to our people and our culture. May this festival inspire us to cherish our heritage and to work together towards a prosperous Ghana,” he stated.