Abstract:
Ghana is endowed with rich traditions and cultures. Some of these traditions and
cultures are normally showcased during festivals. Each year festivals are held in
various parts of the country to celebrate the heritage of the people. A festival is
considered as one of the vital elements in the advancement of culture. Hence, in order
for a community to facilitate its cultural growth agenda, it must pay much attention to
the activities undertaken during festivals. The Odwira and Ohum festivals, which are
celebrated by the people of Akuapem, possess educational, social and religious
benefits and more importantly serve the function of transmitting traditional
knowledge within the ethnic group. Most people, especially the youth who participate
and observe the festivals, have little or no idea about the similarities and differences
between these two festivals as far as the activities, arts and cultural values attached to
these festivals are concerned. This project aims at a comparative study of Odwira and
Ohum festivals which are celebrated by the people of Akuapem in the Eastern Region
of Ghana. The study sought to give an account of the celebration of Odwira and
Ohum festivals as well as the artistic aspects of the two festivals and the effects they
have on the people of Akuapem. The research also sought to establish the similarities
and variations in these two festivals (Odwira and Ohum) and recommend the
educational aspects contained in them for preservation. The research adopted the
qualitative research design in gathering data for the study by using purposive
sampling method in selecting the respondents of the study, whereas interviews and
observations were the instrumentation used in collecting the data. The descriptive and
analytical designs were employed in describing, analyzing and interpreting the data
collected based on the objectives of the study. It recommended for the younger
generation to visit the various palaces and residences of the chiefs and queen mothers
to find out the philosophies and significances of the various rites and rituals that
characterize the celebration of Odwira and Ohum festivals. It was recommended that
the Akuapem Traditional Council should have a museum or gallery to keep the
artworks used in these festivals and train personnel to educate people about the role
such artefacts play in the festivals and the artistic elements in relation to their culture.
These and other recommendations are meant to encourage the study of the artistic
aspects of the two festivals (Odwira and Ohum) their effects on the people of
Akuapem and the similarities and variations in these two festivals and the need for the
educational aspects in them to be preserved.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Music Education, School of Creative Arts,
submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Arts and Culture)
in the University of Education, Winneba