Hɔmɔwɔ
literally means
“jeering
at, or hooting at, or ridiculing
hunger” (aawɔhɔmɔyi)/ hɔmɔyiwɔmɔ)
History: For a considerable period
far
into
their history, the GaDangmepeople
living in the area of the Ga plains
of southeastern
Ghana,
or at some point in theirmigration,
faced a very severe bout of drought,
resulting inon
both land and sea,and
widespread famine. These included
the people of Ga Mashie, Osu, La,
Teshie, Nungua, Tema, Kpone, and
Gbugbla (Prampram). After
considerable meditation, fasting and
supplication to God by the priests
(Wulɔmεi)
the drought was broken. There was a
bountiful harvest both on land and
at sea. The people were very happy
and they celebrated the bumper
harvests with a festival that
ridiculed hunger (Hɔmɔwɔ). They have
continued to celebrate this as an
annual festival.
Present day Hɔmɔwɔ: The present
annual Hɔmɔwɔ festival starts with
the ritual planting of crops (Ńmããdumɔ)
before the May rainy season and
continues through August. The actual
time for the August celebration is
determined by the Ga Mashie Chief
Priests after they consult with the
Lagoon Oracles.
Sometime in June there is a total
ban on noise-making throughout the
State, and fishing is limited to
certain days. The period of the
quietudeban on noise stands to
remind people of the historical
peace and meditation period when the
supplication to God by the priests (Wulɔmεi)
was successful in breaking the
drought. In early August the
celebrations begin with a
special?twin cult Yam festival in
honor of the Oracles and twins.
All the GaDangme people are required
by traditional law to return to
their ancestral homesteads of their
fathers for the celebration of the
Hɔmɔwɔ Festival. The main
celebration / event starts with the
arrival of all the people who live
outside the State. During the
appointed week in the month of
August thousands of people come from
far and near to the main cities and
towns.
In Ga Mashie, on the Thursday before
the festal day/main celebration,
thousands of people arrive with pomp
and pageantryfrom the outlying
villages with their harvested crops
of all kinds and products of their
trade. They are referred to as
"Thursday People" or (Soobii). The
Soobii, the local townspeople, and
many musicians parade through the
streets all day and into the night
in a carnival fashion. Many of the
young take advantage of these
carnivals to meet and start new
relationships.
At dawn on Sunday after
before the main celebration,
Memorial rites (Yalawoo) are held to
honor all those who died during the
previous year. Weeping and
lamentation is heard from homes all
over the State. This is followed
immediately by a goodwill
celebration to “Offer and Accept a
new lease on life”(Ŋɔɔwala).Later on
in the morning/throughout the whole
day there is a Celebration for all
twins and children of multiple
births. Twins multiple births
are reguarded as special blessings
and are revered by the Ga.
The Hɔmɔwɔ Day: The celebrations
continue on Saturday, the Hɔmɔwɔ
Day. Food for the Festival is cooked
in large quantities. The special
dish, "kpekpele," is prepared by
steaming unfermented corn meal
(mãakpiti).
This is eaten with traditional palm
soup prepared with lots of smoked
fish.
The Hɔmɔwɔ Celebration (NishwãmɔkεKɔgbamɔ):
During /On the Hɔmɔwɔ Day each
sub-chief in each town sprinkles
“kpekpele” ritually at prescribed
locations, in honor of the oracles
and ancestors. The head of each
family/homestead also sprinkles
“kpekpele” in specific places unique
for each family. After these
rituals, people begin dancing and
drumming through the streets.
Visitors and total strangers are
welcomed into homes, and invited to
share in the traditional Hɔmɔwɔ
meal. Following /
In line with that tradition, the
Ghanaians Club of Virginia (GCAV)
invites you to share in eating the
traditional Hɔmɔwɔ meal (“kpekpele”)
today. The celebrations continue all
Saturday night, and into Sunday
morning. This begins the
GaDangmetraditional New Year.
The New Year: On Sunday morning and
most of that day, there is the
traditional celebration called
“Ngorwala” (Ŋɔɔwala) literally
meaning “have/accept abundant life”
- in essence a ceremony to
‘offer and accept’ a new lease on
life. This iseɔpressedwith goodwill
wishes for long life, peace, love,
unity, reconciliation and
tranquility. Even adversaries on
this day put away their differences
and become friends again. Homowo
signifies peace, love and unity.
After the “Ngorwala” celebration,
the preparations start all over for
the coming year.
The Hɔmɔwɔ celebration in other
parts of the GaDangme State (Osu,
La, Teshie, Nungua, Tema, Kpone,
Gbugbla) follows the lead
celebrations in Ga Mashie in
succession annually, with slight
variations in timing and the details
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