A cultural activist who also doubles as the head of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Christ, Reverend Dorcas Annam is urging Indigenes of Cape Coast to fully participate and embrace the “After Afahye” programme scheduled for Saturday, a week after Fetu Afahye.
After Afahye Youth Engagement, is being organised by the After Afahye committee and spearheaded by the Tufuhen of Oguaa Traditional Area, Nana Kwame Adu VI, is designed to give an opportunity to the indigenes to learn at first-hand, the culture and activities that climax the Fetu Afahye.
She said it is also geared at answering questions posed by visitors pertaining to the activities, customs and other performances during the Afahye.
Rev. Annam, speaking to ATL FM indicated that there has been a decline in the participation of the Fetu Afahye because most people perceive the festival as worshipping of the lesser gods and a barbaric act rather than considering it as the promotion and appreciation of cultural values.
Rev. Dorcas Annam said the “After Afahye” will enable the indigenes to know and be familiar with the symbols and anything that was demonstrated during the festival.
She emphasized that “The ‘After Afahye’ Youth Engagement program has become very necessary, because we will teach how the performance of the Asafo companies, the performance of the drummers, the performance of the Asafo flagbearers and they have symbols in the flag, they all have meanings. So we want to use that opportunity to teach, especially the youth.”
Rev. Annam added that the youth are the future leaders of the country or community and therefore urged them to actively participate in the programme in order to appreciate it and pass it on to the generations to come.
On his part, Tufuhen of Oguaa traditional area, Nana Kwame Adu VI said he found it more innovative to initiate a programme of such nature in his own community.
He believes the programme will also help the indigenes and future tourists to get adequate knowledge on the essence of culture and appreciate it.
On activities for the After Afahye Youth Engagement day, a clean-up exercise will be held at 6 a.m. as a prelude to the main event that will be held at the forecourt of Cape Coast Castle.
At 10:00 am the seven Asafo Companies in the metropolis will hold critical Asafo performances and at 2:00 pm Masquerades Group of Ghana will also showcase some exquisite fancy dances while amidst these activities, experts will explain the meanings of the symbols, actions and activities to increase knowledge about the culture of Oguaa.
2023 Oguaa Fetu Afahye
The 2023 Oguaa Fetu Afahye was a combination of pomp and pageantry, culture, and traditional exhibition, among other things.
Chiefs decked out in regalia of various Kente textiles and matching accessories sat in exquisitely painted palanquins with vibrant umbrellas of all colours and sizes and served as the prelude to the exhibition.
The seven Asafo companies of the traditional area namely: Bentsir, Anaafo, Ntsin, Nkum, Brofoakwa, Akrampa and Anaafo, clad in their traditional company colours were not left out in the over four-hour procession.
While the Chiefs danced and waved, the Asafo Companies, skillfully displayed their traditional flags and symbols amidst drumming, dancing, chanting of war songs and firing of muskets.
Read more: Cape Coast climaxes Fetu Afahye 2023 with rich culture display
Source: ATLFMNEWS
