The Aboakyer festival is a deer hunting event organised in honour of the tribal god of the people of Winneba called “Penkye Otu”. The god receives an annual sacrifice of a deer from the people. The traditional deer hunt celebrates the migration of the local people from Timbuktu hundreds of years ago. The Festival used to involve a human sacrifice being brought to the deity of the town but has now been replaced with catching and sacrificing a live deer. The Festival is celebrated by the Effutu people of Simpa or Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana. It takes place every May in the Coastal town of Winneba. #Aboakyer#DeerFestival#ExperienceGhana#shareghana#FestivalsInGhana#AboakyerFestival#destinationghana
The Abuatre Festival, popularly described as the Deer Hunt Festival, by the early European
writers is celebrated in the first week of May each year by the natives of Simpa, Winnipeg,
to adore and hold in high esteem their principal deity, for leading their ancestors through
the arduous journey from Timbuktu to their present settlement.
Able-bodied men from the two fearless Asafo companies, Twafo Asafo No. 1 and Ndengchefo
Asafo No. 2, usher in the festivities with healthy rivalry, tug-of-war, wrestling, and
canoe racing at the seashore.
A major highlight of the festival is the parading of the boats, where the two main Asafo companies
adorned in their distinctive colors of predominantly white and red respectively, parade gods through
the principal street with singing and dancing.
The Twafo Asafo No. 1 company usually dips their god into the sea three times as part
of the Efutu traditional ritual.
We do this to continue the old tradition of the Efutu community, saying a thank you to
the deity Ndengchefo No. 2, we are told, guided, and led our ancestors from the northern territories of Africa to the present shore where we live.
So annually we celebrate this festival by sending the gallant Asafo men to the thickets
on the outskirts of Gweneva to hunt for a live deer that is used to prepare the ambrosia for the date.
On the first Saturday of May, the chiefs process and gather
at the Derba grounds to receive the catch with their other invited guests.
Other
activities include Mesa Abuachere, Thursday float, beach party as well as an arts and crafts exhibition.
Don't miss an opportunity to join the people of Gweneva for the next Abuachere and you would
be glad you did. See Ghana, eat Ghana, wear Ghana, feel Ghana.
