Cape Coast glows up for grand Fetu Afahye
Cape Coast is warming up to receive thousands of patrons for this year's Fetu Afahye.
The city of firsts, Ghana’s citadel of education and seat of great socio-political history, would welcome the world to its acclaimed annual festival, the Fetu Afahye, this week.
The festival is celebrated to thank the gods for a successful year and to pray for protection and guidance in the coming year. It also encourages family meetings and reunions.
It will be an exciting mix of tradition, culture and fun, all mixed together.
Hospitality facilities, including Ridge Royal Hotel and Lush on the Coast, Samritt, Capital Hill, Hacienda and Matlat hotels, are ready to bubble with people and activities.
Cape Coast has been transformed with colour, rhythm and anticipation as the ancient city prepares to host its 61st edition of the Oguaa Fetu Afahye.
Immediately after the official ban on drumming was removed, the town took on a new face.
Its roads have been patched and streets marked with bold colours.
The markets have been scrubbed clean after a city-wide cleanup exercise that has left the town looking neat and welcoming.
Lights
Medians have also been cleared, street lights have been fixed at every corner, illuminating the ancient city for one of Ghana's glamorous and anticipated festivals, the Fetu Afahye.
A scene from the Bakatue last Tuesday
The Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, Kweku Ricketts Hagan, has already presented 100 street lights to improve lighting and enhance security.
The annual operational bars and pubs are also springing up along the streets.
The Municipal Chief Executive, George Justice Arthur, has welcomed all to the city while inviting all to be part of this year's festival.
The streets have all come back to life, with people travelling into the communities.
For many, the Fetu Afahye has been more than a festival; it has been the heartbeat of Cape Coast and the city has shown its determination to live up to its heritage.
At Kotokuraba, a market seller, Adwoa Amoah, pointed to the freshly swept gutters and spotless market floor.
“This place used to smell and look dirty, but see how everywhere is shining now. Even customers feel comfortable coming here to buy,” she said proudly.
A resident of Abura, Kweku Essel, also praised the effort. “It feels good to walk through the town now.
The roads are painted, the streetlights have been working, and the whole city has come alive. Afahye has really given Cape Coast a facelift,” he remarked.
From now till the Afahye this weekend, thousands of both local and foreign tourists will troop to Cape Coast for one of Ghana's most celebrated festivals, Fetu Afahye.
61st Fetu afahye
Now in its 61st year, the esteemed Fetu Festival of the people of Cape Coast has been celebrated to bring the people together for development.
Once the rites had been performed, fishermen could fish from the lagoon
Expectations for this year's festival are relatively high, especially after last year’s Afahye made national headlines when it hosted the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in a historic display of culture and solidarity.
Following in the steps of last year’s historic afahye, this year's festival would also be graced by the traditional king of the Warri in the Delta State of Nigeria, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and his queen, Olori Atuwatse III, who would also address the ‘Women Allying Women’ conference.
Bakatue
As part of the week-long celebrations, hundreds of patrons trooped to the banks of the Fosu Lagoon in Cape Coast last Tuesday to join the traditional authorities of Oguaa for this year’s Bakatue, the performance of rituals to officially lift a ban on fishing in the lagoon.
The performance of the rituals now permits fishermen to resume their activities in the Fosu Lagoon, after fishing in the lagoon was suspended as part of the preparations for the celebration of the festival.
In an atmosphere of cultural performances and traditional reverence, hundreds of residents and visitors gathered along the banks of the lagoon to witness the ceremony.
The Paramount Chief of Oguaa, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, cast a fishing net three times into the lagoon to officially declare the ban lifted.
Libation was poured and prayers were offered to the gods to seek their blessings for a successful and peaceful year ahead for Oguaaman.
Last Monday, there was the Akoms night at the Nana Fosu shrine at Bakado, where the fetish priest in the paramountcy resides.
One of the key gods of the land, Nana Paprata, also receives a sacrificial cow at the Papratem shrine as part of activities to mark the Fetu Festival.
Orange Friday
The anticipation of the Orange Friday, arguably Africa's biggest street carnival, is visible in every corner, as almost all clothing shops are selling something orange.
George Justice Arthur (2nd from left), MCE for Cape Coast, receiving 100 streetlights from Kweku Ricketts Hagan, Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, to boost street lighting and security
From Kotokuraba to Bakano, and from Abura to Adisadel, the city has been painted orange, not with paintbrushes, but with fabrics, T-shirts, beads and accessories.
The carnival colour has given traders brisk business.
At the Kotokuraba Market, where loads of orange clothing hang in every corner, seller Efua Bentil could hardly hide her excitement.
“This year, people have started buying earlier than usual. Look at my table; almost half of my stock is gone already,” she stated heartily.
“Orange Friday has become a tradition, and everyone wants to be part.
Even those who say they wouldn’t join eventually come for something orange,” she added.
Nearby, another trader, Adwoa Quansah, handed orange scarves to a group of young girls.
“You see, business has been moving.
The Afahye spirit is here already.
Last year, I had sold out by Thursday, and it looks like this year will be the same. When Cape Coast turns orange, you know the festival has truly begun.”
Climax durbar
The grand durbar of chiefs and queens to climax the festival would be on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Victoria Park in Cape Coast.
It is expected to be grand.
The chiefs and queens, led by Osabarimba Kwesi Atta, are expected to ride through the principal streets of Cape Coast before converging at the durbar grounds.
For now, fun lovers, culture and tradition enthusiasts should pack their baggage and find the next vehicle to Cape Coast.
In any case, this week, all roads lead to the city of firsts, Cape Coast. Akwaaba to Fetu Afahye 2025.
