Odwira Brings Okuapeman Citizens To Chicago

Members of the Okuapeman Association of USA & Canada (OKUSCA) came to

Chicago in large numbers from States in the USA and Canada on Labor Day weekend to

celebrate the 23rd annual Odwira festival in grand style.

Odwira , first celebrated in the Akuapem area of Ghana in 1826, is an

annual thanksgiving to God for his merciful care and protection; customary

purification of the land and people by the chiefs and priests for the spiritual and

social renewal to face the trials and triumphs of another year; Reaffirmation

of loyalties within the traditional administrative set-up and patching up of

misunderstandings among families; mourning of those who passed away in the

year and feeding with the brave ancestors of Akwapem who are deemed to be

present on such occasions; Promotion and presentation of cultural values.The

festival is mainly the dramatization of Akwapem sacred traditions, myths and

olden day legends, handed down by the ancestors of the "Oman".

The celebrations in North America is mainly to raise funds to help in the

development of the Akwapem area in Ghana , promotion and presentation of

traditional values, culture, unity and comradeship among the larger Akwapem

citizens in the Diaspora. OKUSCA rotates the celebrations annually from the city

of one chapter to the other.

This year's celebration was held at the luxurious Grand Ball Room , 63 rd

and Cottage Grove, Chicago Illinois. The event was evocative of a traditional

Durbar in Ghana. The chief of the Okuapeman Fekuw Association of Chicago,

Nana Okofrobour Kojo Yirenkyi Bonsu and his queenmother,Ohemaa Akosua Pokua,

entered the hall with pomp and pageantry . Other chiefs and queenmothers from

member associations of OKUSCA and chiefs and queenmothers from the Chicago

area traditional groups were all dressed colorfully in their traditional outfit

as the hall was filled with recorded fontonfrom drumming and ancestral

music.

The chairman of the occasion was Nana Siaw Kese of Chicago.

The keynote speaker, Dr. K. A. Boateng spoke extensively about migration and

the reasons why we as Ghanaians have also migrated to the United States and

Canada. He informed the gathering that, generally, people migrate in search

of better conditions of life.

In his welcome address, the president of the Chicago chapter, Ohene-Anoba

reminded members of OKUSCA to fulfil the promise to the Presbyterian

University by constructing a cafeteria for the new University. He also asked the

gathering to donate generously to enable the organization assist Tetteh Quarshie

Memorial Hospital's deteriorating infrastructure. There was also a joyous

Picnic on August 31 at 62nd and Stony Island to conclude the celebrations.

The crowd was entertained by DJ's Adibu and Bonsu.

COMET Properties of Ghana ltd was the major sponsor of the celebrations.

The Canadian Chapter has the honors to host next year’s Odwira celebrations

on Labor Day weekend.