ABOUT
THE PARAMOUNT CHIEF…
Nai Wyettey Agyemang Otabi III was born in Accra
Newtown to Madam Efua Atta Ajumako and Mr. Joseph Kwame Wyettey, the first Gyaasehene
of Dode Royal Family of Awutu. He started his elementary education at the
Newtown Experimental School then joined his aunt, Madam Ashiekuma at Bontrasi
where he completed middle school. He pursued further at the Canadian Technical
Institute now the Accra Technical Training Center (ATTC) and graduated in
electrical engineering/ mining engineering in Germany.
He was enstooled as the paramount chief of
Awutu Traditional Area in 2002.
He met his wife Mrs. Mary Wyettey in 1975 and
has three sons together.
The
festival celebration…
The Awutu Awubia festival and the Ga H)m)w)
are celebrated almost in the same manner, however, the Ga hoot at hunger whilst
the Awutu thank their god for a bountiful harvest. In addition, the Awutu
celebrate their ‘Awubia’ a month after the Ga have celebrated their H)m)w). The town is usually crowded so much that it causes heavy traffic.
It is believed that some of the Awutu’s have
their ancestors coming from the Ga and therefore, some celebrate both
festivals; the H)m)w) first and the Awubia a month later.
The Awubia festival commences on the last
Thursday in August and ends on the first Thursday in September. The calculation
is done by ‘Otsor’ the priest of a god or shrine they call ‘Odia Otu’. The priest
sows a grain and harvest it when ready. After his harvest, all paths leading
to the capital town (main town) is cleared. The paternal groups/ families leave
for their paternal homes to celebrate yam festival after which the Awubia
festival would start. All this activity happens in May- June. By this time,
everyone else starts harvesting and brings some to their ancestral home. They also
cook for the departed souls.
On the last Thursday in August, which is the
first day of celebration, all families return home. Around 3-4 pm, the ‘Abundam’,
a divisional chief goes to the outskirt of the town (southern territory) and rides
through the town in a palanquin to ‘Oguafododobia Ano’, the place where chiefs
swear an oath of allegiance. There, libation is poured and the festival
officially commences. During this period, the various heads of families also
perform their own rituals for their family stools. They lift them from where
they have been kept for the whole year to a special place in the same room
after which they pour libation.
The second, third and fourth days are meant for
feasting. The various families cook ‘Kpokpoi’ and serve some to the ‘black
stools’ (They are called black stools because of the purification method).
There is also the pouring of libation after which everyone is permitted to
drink. Each family has their own special time for feasting.
On the fifth day of celebration which is
Monday, the chiefs go on a parade. Those who are financially sound and want to
be carried in palanquins are carried; others who are not walk from the north to
the south western part of the town to a place called ‘Mamprobi’, the cemetery for
chief, to pour libation. After this, they go to the durbar ground where the
paramount chief and other dignitaries address the people.
There is a special order for carrying the
chiefs; it is believed that the paramount chief needs to protected hence, the ‘Adontehene’,
who is the first divisional chief comes first, followed by some divisional
chiefs, then the paramount chief who is followed by the ‘Kyidomhene’, the last
divisional chief and other divisional chiefs.
On the Tuesday, new chief are sworn in and the
traditional council also goes to the various chiefs for their token.
Wednesday
is a resting day for all and the settling of disputes between family members in
the various families.
On the last day, Thursday, between 4-5pm, all
family or ‘black stools’ that were raised to their special places are sent back
to where they were raised from and that ends the celebration of the festival.
CREDIT; MKB ABBEYQUAYE (my dad)
The Gyase Kwei Banafo V,
Of Tsotso Botwe Royal Anona Clan of Awutu Traditional Area