Ohum Festival is a traditional harvest celebration held by the Akuapem and Akyem peoples in Ghana’s Eastern Region. Marked twice a year, in June/July and again in September/October, it gives thanks for the yam harvest and honours ancestors through rituals, music, and communal feasting.
- Celebrated twice yearly in June/July and September/October
- Begins with a two-week ban on noise-making
- Rituals are performed at the Gyempremo shrine in Old Tafo
- Yam dishes are central to the communal feasting
- Features the Miss Ohum beauty pageant
What it is
Ohum Festival is a longstanding tradition among the Akuapem and Akyem communities in Ghana’s Eastern Region. It is both a time to express gratitude for the yam harvest and to reaffirm the community’s connection to their ancestors and the land, especially the Birim river. The festival is deeply spiritual, involving pledges to uphold the customs of their forebears and to maintain unity and prosperity. It also serves as a moment to honour the leadership of the Okyenhene and his council, reinforcing the bonds that hold the society together.
Where it comes from
The origins of Ohum Festival are rooted in the migration stories of the Akyem and Akuapem people, with legends describing the appearance of Chief Okuru Banni I and his followers from the Birim river. Over time, the festival developed to include remembrance of past leaders, thanksgiving to the river deity Agyempremu Kofi, and the marking of a new year with the first yam harvest. Some communities, like Berekuso, adopted Ohum after changes in their leadership and customs, reflecting the festival’s adaptability and enduring significance across generations.
How it is celebrated
Celebrations begin with a two-week ban on noise-making, creating a period of reflection and anticipation. Rituals are then performed at the Gyempremo shrine in Old Tafo, where priests and elders offer food and drink to the gods and ancestral spirits, seeking blessings for the community. Traditional dress is worn to show respect for heritage, and the rituals are accompanied by prayers, chants, drumming, and singing. Two weeks after the shrine rituals, the community symbolically 'hoots at hunger,' rejecting scarcity and celebrating abundance. The festival culminates in a lively durbar, with processions, drumming, dancing, and the sharing of various yam dishes. A beauty pageant, Miss Ohum, is also held, adding a festive and communal spirit to the occasion.
Joining in
Visitors to Ohum Festival can experience its main events in towns across Ghana’s Eastern Region, especially in Akyem and Akuapem areas. Expect vibrant processions, energetic drumming and dancing, and a warm communal atmosphere. The sharing of yam dishes and the durbar are highlights, offering a taste of local hospitality and tradition. While some rituals are reserved for community members, guests are welcomed to observe and join in the public celebrations, making it a unique opportunity to witness Ghanaian culture and gratitude in action.
Sources and attribution
This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Ohum Festival, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.
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