Celebrating for the first time the Akwasidae festival which is a significant period in the Akan traditional calender which takes place in Kumasi. But I was fortunate to attend to an Akwasidae festival on Sunday 18th October in Accra. The festival was coordinated by Home of African Traditions a cultural group whos purpose is to champion the restoration of African culture. In conjunction with the Africania Mission.

Traditional Calendar
The traditional Akan calender is divided into 9 periods lasting approx. 6 weeks varying between 40-42 day cycle (called Adaduanan). The celebration of this period is called the Akwasidae (aka Kwasidae or Adae) festival that takes place every 6 weeks.
The Akan people recognize 2 of these days as being sacred to the Nananom Nsamanfo (Honored Ancestresses and Ancestors) and the Abosom (the Goddesses and Gods/Divine Spirit-Forces of Nature).
Akwasi-adae (Akwasidae or Sunday Adae also Awusidae) and Awuku-adae (Awukudae or Wednesday Adae). Akwasidae is a sacred day. It is the day when Kuru, the male day week meets the female day week Esi.

Akwasidae (Adae)
Adae is a term meaning to sleep or a resting period where the focus is on consciousness and energy to the Ancestral realm and after that period, feeling refreshed to carry out our purpose in the physical realm.

On a sacred day the palace champions the festivity/celebration/communion. In the early hours the gong-gong beater will strike the gong-gong welcoming all the spirits, Gods and Ancestors’ home. Libation is poured in the palace, thrones are blackened (a ritual is performed), food offerings are blessed to the Ancestors and thereafter is a feast/party with food and drink. 

The Adae festival is centred on Ancestral reverence, remembrance and acknowledgement were we communicate, celebrate and dine with them. Firstly, food offering were given to the Ancestors before we had our own feast of Oto, fruits, ofam, ayigbi biscuits, cake, tatale, pito wine, sobolo.

Entertainment
During the day we were entertained as a gathering (Akom) with drumming, dancing and singing to honour Abosom (lesser Gods in the Akan tradition) and Nsamanfo (spiritually cultivated Ancestors.

In addition were entertained with cultural and poetry performances.

(poet – Enam)

(poet Babangida Ibrahim)

Spiritual Bath
Various traditional herbs and plants that have healing and energy powers was prepared into a spiritual bath.

Akwasidae is a time to congregate with the Ancestors, Gods in a grand style the way it is supposed to be done – A day to venerate our Ancestors.

Bless Sister E (Naa Dzamah)