A memorable Afahye, with some proposals

Prior to my journey to Cape Coast last Saturday, I asked a friend from the Volta Region to join me on the trip so that he could, for the first time, experience the much touted Oguaa Fetu Afahye, of which I had pestered him about all these years.

To my surprise, he asked jokingly: “What is in Cape Coast apart from your schools?” I countered: “Yes, Cape Coast may not have anything apart from its educational institutions and, perhaps, the castles and the Kakum National Park, but it has a unique festival which is arguably one of the best in the country and by extension on the continent.”

After all my efforts at convincing him to come with me, he still declined with the excuse that he would rather be part next year.

Needing company for the trip, I went with Mr Ato Bartels, a native of Agona Nyaakrom but based in Accra and the husband of Maame Esi Komuah Bartels, my niece. He stood in for my Voltarian bosom friend, who after taking me to Horgbetsotso, was now afraid to be in Cape Coast. I guess he was scared of the firing of muskets.

Orange ablaze
We set off at about 2:00 pm on Friday (September 6, 2019) afternoon and by 5:00 pm, we were already in town. On arrival, we observed that Cape Coast had been painted orange. Everyone, both old and young, wore something with a shade of orange. Traillers and other vehicles, earmarked for the street carnival, had also been branded as such, awaiting the street ride.

As a proud Cape Coaster, I never miss my Fetu Afahye, which is a week-long festival celebrated in the first week of the month of September every year and climaxed on the weekend of that week.

Traditionally, we are told that the colours on the Friday, prior to the climax of the festival on Saturday, must be red; but thanks to one private radio station in the town, which had orange as its colour and organised a street carnival about six years ago on that Friday, tagging it, “Orange Friday carnival,” the colour has come to stay.

It is worth mentioning that this year’s “Orange Friday street Carnival” was well attended, in spite of the fact that the licence of the radio station had been revoked by the National Communications Authority (NCA). However, considering the level of participation, one could only crave the indulgence of the Oguaa Traditional Council to buy into the carnival idea as part of activities marking the festival.

After all, culture, we are told, is dynamic and looking at the period and time in which we are, it is only appropriate that they all join the radio station (Cape FM) and other stakeholders to package, brand and organise the carnival too well to be attractive enough to boost tourism.

Carnival
This year’s carnival took off from the Cape Coast Technical University Junction around the Cape Coast Stadium, through Pedu Junction to Siwdo, Kotokuraba all the way to the London Bridge. It was an electrifying atmosphere as patrons, both young and old, including political leaders, clad in their orange dresses with some perched on long trailers, sang along to the music blaring from vehicles and danced to the admiration of onlookers, who had lined up along the streets.

Other people also followed on foot, while having fun, without realising the distance they had covered on foot from the Cape Coast Technical University Junction through to the London Bridge. The carnival had at its tail end a concert featuring Cape Coast musicians, Tee Flow and Shatta Wale.

The Saturday, I set off with my wife, Esi Anamoah and her friends, Ewuraba Wilberforce, Baaba Quainoo, Maame Esi Komuah Bartels and Mr Ato Bartels, to a usual spot of mine around the Varick A.M.E Zion Church, where we sat to observe the procession of the Asafo companies and the chiefs. I whispered to one of them that this year’s Fetu Afahye was not going to be exciting and well patronised.

Little did I know that there was a lot in store for me and my team. In about an hour, a number of young people journeyed to the Mfantsipim School junction amid brass band music followed by other Asafo groups, Asafohen and Asafohenmaa.

The procession, which began at the Mfantsipim School junction, suddenly caught up with us where we sat, with the usual Bentsir Number One Asafo Company in red, leading and paving the way for the retinue. They were followed closely by the Number Two Asafo Company, Anaafo, in blue, and Ntsin, Number Three in green. Number Four, Nkum, wearing yellow also appeared in that order, while Amanful, Number Five and Akrampa, Six, queued in that order. They were followed by the chiefs, led by their queens and other traditional leaders, amid singing, drumming and dancing, with some in palanquins.

Purpose
Throughout the proceedings, one could feel the excitement, zeal, passion, the unity in diversity and purpose with which these Asafo groups and the people of Cape Coast participated and contributed by way of gifts or singing and dancing along with the Asafo groups. The procession, was so colourful and eye pleasing that one could hardly get his or her eyes off the rich culture displayed, not even for a second.

The people from the Diaspora, including the newly installed Akrampa Asafo Company, Safohen Mankata I, a UK based Ghanaian, who was honoured with his new position, spiced the entire celebrations.

Telecoms and Afahye
I commend the organisers for a wonderful celebration, but would, however, point out a few lapses. First, I urge the Oguaa Traditional Council, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr Perry Mensah, and the Cape Coast Municipal Assembly to collaborate effectively with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to possibly establish a sister-city relationship with the Netherlands. The idea is to sell the “Orange Friday Carnival” idea to them.

Again, the organisers must engage the telecommunications companies to provide sponsorship to the various Asafo companies in terms of custumes. This must be done, bearing in mind that almost all the Asafo groups are represented in the colours of the telecommunications companies operating in the country.

It will also stop politicians from politicising the occasion by embossing their images on the apparels of the Asafo groups as has been the case for some years now.
The assembly must capitalise on the festival to raise enough funds from the mobile and make-shift drinking joints, which spring up every year. This is because many of them come from elsewhere to set up, make money and leave after the festival.

Afehyia pa to all Cape Coasters and hope we meet next year, God willing, for a much improved and more ecstatic Fetu Afahye celebration. Long Live Oguaaman

Writer’s E-mail: chrisnunoo@gmail.com
Tel: 0244699222