Kpas lem rites climax La Homowo
The La Homowo festival went into full gear yesterday when the La Kpa Wulɔmɔ, Nuumo Yemo Obroni VII, led indigenes of the land to mark this year’s celebration with the “kpasɔlemɔ”, a unique rite of worship among other rites.
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The forecourt of the Lakpa deity, Kpatsoshishi, was the centre of attraction as the people of La, many of whom wore white attire, swarmed the venue for the ritual.
Traditional priests and other leaders were adorned in nyanyara, a sacred leaf believed to ward off evil. Children, considered the custodians of the La culture, joined the Wulɔmɔ in dancing to the rhythmic traditional music and dance ritual at the Kpatsoshishi.
The festival is being celebrated on the theme: “Development through good neighbourliness and peace: the role of traditional festivals”.
Rites
The rites started at exactly 9 a.m., with Nuumo Obroni clad in traditional white shorts and a neckwear, performing libation to the gods to pave the way for the Kpasslemo.
Nii Adjei Koofeh IV, La Shikitele, doing the traditional dance with some priestesses during the La Kpatso Shishi. Pictures-BENEDICT OBUOBI
After the libation, the Kpa Wulɔmɔ cleared the road leading to the sacred grove, three times with a century-old ceremonial broom.
He then began a forward and backward dance for a total of 14 separate times into the sacred grove and back in a bid to interact with the gods to get their message for the people of La. After returning from the sacred grove, he then danced towards the Sakumɔnɔ Wulɔmɔ, Nuumo James Adjei Komieteh, whereupon they hugged each other, a sign of unity.
The Naa Yoomo Wulɔmɔ, Nuumo Samuel Anetey Abbey, the La Mankralo, Nii Obodai Adai IV and the La Shikitele, Nii Adjei Koofeh IV, also took turns to dance and hug the Sakumɔnɔ Wulɔmɔ. They were accompanied by the priests and priestesses who danced backwards.
The Kpa Wulɔmɔ repeated the dance to the grove three times while the packed crowd cheered him on by chanting and showering accolades on him.
While the La Kpa Wulɔmɔ maintained his white shorts, the Naa Yoomo Wulɔmɔ, the La Mankralo and the La Shikitele changed their attire for the three dances.
The first part of the ritual ended at 1 p.m. with the various leaders hugging and greeting each other, exchanging well wishes with a special hug known as “Shakamɔ”.
The second part of the whole-day celebration, which was characterised by the craft of singing about matters of current affairs that bothered the people, commenced during the late afternoon (after 3 p.m) with the priestesses and the general public dancing at the Kpatsoshishi.
It was expected to end at 6.p.m. Yesterday, the indigenes of La went to their respective clan houses to seek blessings from their elders, exchange well wishes and address family problems. The sprinkling of Kpokpoi to the departed is expected to take place today.
Homowo
Homowo, which means hooting at hunger, is celebrated by the Ga people to mark the bumper harvest after a prolonged famine due to the drought experienced by their ancestors during their exodus from Israel to their present settlements.
The main characteristic of the festival is the sprinkling of “kpokpoi”, the traditional meal prepared with palm oil as the distinguishing ingredient. Aside from the cooking, sprinkling and eating of “kpokpoi”, each of the Ga towns has a unique way of celebrating the Homowo festival.
It is celebrated by all sects of the Ga State with slight variations.
The La Homowo is celebrated with a unique song and dance known as Kpalala and Kpashimo, respectively, spanning four months, starting from the third week of May and ending in the second week of September.
It is patronised by people from all walks of life due to its numerous beautiful and captivating traditional and customary rites which are the other side attractions which make it distinct from the others.