The Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly sold culinary lessons on traditional Ghanaian delicacies on Friday 23rd September 2022, at the Assembly’s latest chapter of the Homowo celebrations.
The event, an inter-community food bazaar between Abeka, Achimota and Akweiteman sought to advertise and encourage local dishes.
It also seeks to share the preparation skills and recipes among the communities in the Municipal Assembly to promote the Ga culture.
The MCE for the Assembly Mr. Boye Laryea, said the Assembly decided to partner the traditional authorities to showcase authentic Ghanaian foods and celebrate the Homowo in a different style. The event also sought to promote heathy living and to improve bonding among the communities in his assembly.
The next bazaar, he said, would be more competitive with awards and prizes to be given.
The unforgettable bazaar was held at Achimota new station.
Patrons were treated with their taste buds at the event which showcase variety of indigenous Ghanaian dishes.
There were different kinds of local foods and drinks on display to make participants relive the nostalgic cultural moments in the traditional Ghanaian kitchen.
Favourite Kpokpoi, Omo tuo, Banku, Kokonte, Ampesie, Kenkey, ɛtɔ, among were made available.
Local drinks such as Asana, Lamorgi, etc were not missed in action.
The assembly called on cooperate Ghana to come on board next year for sponsorship.
The word Homowo can mean “to hoot (or jeer) at hunger” in the Ga language. The tradition of Homowo started with a period of hunger leading to famine due to the failure of the seasonal rains needed by crops in the Greater Accra Region, where the Ga people predominantly dwell. When the rains returned to normal, the Ga people celebrated by creating the Homowo festival, hence its name and meaning.
Homowo is greatly celebrated in all the towns in the Ga state with celebrations climaxing in Gamashie. The celebration begins with the planting of maize, which will be used in preparing the food for the festival named Kpokpoi or Kpekple. During this period, noise-making is prohibited or banned since it is believed that it disturbs the gods. The meal is eaten with Palm Nut Soup and it is also sprinkled within the town. This is normally done by traditional leaders and family heads. The celebration includes marching down roads and streets beating drums, chanting, face painting, singing and traditional dances. Even though the celebration of Homowo is a Ga tradition, many other ethnic groups are welcome to also join in the celebration. The homowo festival of the Ga tribe is believed to have a lineage from the Jewish tribe and its ancestral tradition of the Jewish Passover feast.
Some of the towns that celebrate Homowo are La, Teshie, Nungua, Osu, Ga-Mashie, and Tema among others.