Eastern Nzema Traditional Council bans noise-making as Kundum festival begins

The Eastern Nzema Traditional Council in the Ellembelle District of Western Region has banned drumming and noise-making to signal the beginning of activities lineup for this year's Kundum festival.

Kundum is an annual festival of the chiefs and people of Ahanta and Nzema, normally celebrated to usher in bumper harvest starting from Essikado through Ahanta to Axim and Atuabo.

The ban on drumming and noise-making in the Eastern Traditional Area started on Monday, September 23, 2019 and is expected to be lifted on Sunday, October 27, 2019.

According to a statement issued and signed by the President of the council, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III, churches, shrines, schools, drinking bars and the general public are to obey this directive.

The statement said the celebration would begin at Ahanta on Sunday, September 29, 2019 and would finally be climaxed at Atuabo, the seat of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council on Sunday, October 27, 2019, where the Paramount Chief and all his sub-chiefs will convene to raise funds for a developmental project.

The statement has emphasized that anybody within the Traditional Council who flouts the rules and regulations governing this year's festival would be dealt with ruthlessly without any favour.

The statement is, therefore, entreating the general public to adhere to the directive in order to ensure peace and harmony.

The ban on drumming and noise-making is very important to the celebration of Kundum festival for the people of Eastern Nzema Traditional Council as it is believed that during the celebration, the gods hate noise-making.

The Eastern Nzema Traditional Council is the highest Traditional Authority in Nzema with its traditional capital at Atuabo, which is the seat of the Paramountcy.