BEYOND THE BEADS: THE UNTOLD STORIES OF GHANA'S TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS

 

BEYOND THE BEADS: THE UNTOLD STORIES OF GHANA'S TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS 

By : Honeybrowne Okaakyire, B.Ed.

When you and I think of Ghana’s traditional festivals, the first images that pop up are colourful kente cloths, bright beads, rhythmic drumming, and mouth-watering food. But believe me, as I, Honeybrowne, have learned over the years, there’s a whole other side to these celebrations that doesn’t always make it into the tourism brochures. Behind the glamour and the regalia are the funny, unpredictable, and very human moments that make these festivals unforgettable.

Let me take you beyond the beads, deep into the untold stories that make our festivals so beautifully Ghanaian.

1. The Chief’s Umbrella That Nearly Took Flight : During one Aboakyire festival in Winneba, I stood among the cheering crowd, waiting for the deer hunters to return. The chiefs and elders sat in their royal splendour under huge umbrellas. Then, out of nowhere, a strong coastal wind swept through, and one of the chief’s umbrellas almost took off like it was going to join the deer hunt in the sky or in the bush. The way the attendants ran after it; you’d think it was the chief himself they were chasing!

Lesson : In life, you can prepare for the big things, but it’s often the small, unexpected gusts of wind that test your balance.

2. The Kente Fashion Show That Wasn’t Planned : At the Odwira Festival in Akropong, you and I know kente is the star of the show. Everyone tries to outshine the other in bold, colourful designs. But one uncle came in with a kente cloth so long that it dragged along the ground behind him like a royal train. The problem? Every few steps, a little child would step on it, and the uncle would nearly trip. By the end of the day, his grand entrance had turned into a slow, cautious walk like someone balancing hot water on his head. Wɔfa, kafra paaa.

Lesson : Confidence is good, but make sure your outfit matches your ability to move freely.

3. The Food Queue Chronicles : Ah, the food stalls during festivals—banku with tilapia, jollof with goat meat, roasted plantain. At a Homowo celebration in Accra, I joined the queue for waakye. The woman serving was working with speed, but the man in front of me kept changing his order: first with boiled egg, then fried fish, then back to meat. You and I know that look the people behind him were giving and if it looks could cook, he’d have been served on the spot.

Lesson :  In life (and in food queues), know what you want before it’s your turn.

4. The Dance-Off That Stole the Show : At the Hogbetsotso Festival in Anloga, the traditional dance performances are a highlight. But one year, a spirited old lady jumped into the circle uninvited. Her waist movement was so sharp the drummers started laughing mid-beat. The crowd went wild, and before long, people were throwing money at her feet as if she was the main performer. The original dancers just stepped aside and watched her take over.

Lesson : Sometimes, life’s stage opens for you unexpectedly and when it does, dance like nobody’s watching (even though everybody is).

5. The Rain That Wouldn’t Wait : We all know Ghanaian festivals are often timed for sunny seasons, but weather in Ghana has its own mind. During the Fetu Afahye in Cape Coast, just as the parade reached its peak, the sky opened up with heavy rain. Instead of running for shelter, the crowd kept dancing in the rain, the kente soaked but the smiles brighter than ever. One man even shouted, “This is free air conditioning from God!”

Lesson : Joy is not about avoiding the stor; it’s about learning to dance through it.

Why These Festivals Are More Than Just Events

Beyond the beads, kente, and official programs, our traditional festivals are a living showcase of Ghanaian spirit. They are places where the young learn from the old(pure socialization), where strangers share food and laughter, and where you leave with more stories than you came with.

For me, each festival is like a living book; part history, part comedy, part drama. You might go expecting to watch a procession, but you end up with stories of dancing grandmothers, flying umbrellas, and food queues that test your patience.

Conclusion: The Real Treasure Is in the Moments

You and I may go to festivals for the culture, the beauty, and the tradition, but it’s these little, unscripted moments that make them truly memorable. Behind every bead is a story, behind every drumbeat is a shared laugh, and behind every crowd is a reminder that we are one people celebrating life together.

So the next time you find yourself at a Ghanaian traditional festival, look beyond the beads. You might just discover a flying umbrella, a surprise dance champion, or even a piece of wisdom hidden in the laughter. And who knows? You might leave with a story you’ll be telling for years, just like I, Honeybrowne, am telling you now.