File photo.
This year’s Kundum festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Lower and Upper Axim Traditional Councils in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region has been climaxed with significant entertainment.
The festival which is celebrated by the Ahantas and Nzema people of the Western Region, is an occasion to render Thanksgiving to God for abundance of food at the end of the harvest period.
The week-long festival saw activities such as clean up exercise, football gala competition, Miss Kundum pageant, cooking competition, Marathon, Agro fie, street carnival jam, grand durbar, thanksgiving service, among others.
This year's celebration was on the theme, "Promoting our traditional values through Tourism, Arts and Culture".
The festival was started on Sunday, September 8, 2019 and climaxed on Saturday, September 14, 2019.
Activities Performed
On Monday, September 9, 2019, Awulae Attibrukusu III, the Paramount Chief of Lower Axim Traditional Council, led some sub-chiefs and his people to clean the principal streets within Axim.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Catherine Afeku together with the Municipal Assembly organised a football gala competition for some local teams in the area on Monday afternoon.
On Tuesday, September 10, the Kundum Planning Committee organised a Regatta competition for the people which was followed by an Abesa Dance Parade.
Wednesday, September 11, saw the riding of palanquin by some sub-chiefs and the Paramount Chiefs.
Cooking competition and Kundum cultural activities were held by the Committee to entertain the people on Thursday, September 11, 2019.
On Friday, the Member of Parliament, Catherine Afeku together with the Planning Committee organised beauty pageant dubbed "Face of Axim Kundum Pageant" that brought all beautiful ladies in the area to compete for some prizes.
On Saturday, September 14, a marathon was held in the morning which was followed by the Kundum durbar that also brought some Government officials and some philanthropists both home and abroad together to climax it.
The durbar was followed by Agro fie and Kundum Mega Jam and on Sunday, a Thanksgiving Service was also held.
The festival brought together people from far and near.
The Senior Minister, Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo and some government functionaries graced the grand durbar which attracted over 2,000 people.
Addressing the durbar on Saturday, September 14, 2019, the Paramount Chief of Lower Axim, Awulae Attibrukusu III thanked God for granting them the opportunity to climax the festival.
"Indeed, today marks a special day for all of us gathered here to witness another climax of the Kundum celebration of the Chiefs and people of Axim; and wish to thank the Almighty God for granting us this opportunity," he said.
Awulae expressed profound appreciation to Senior Minister Osafo Maafo and his entourage for honouring the invitation to join them to climax the 2019 Kundum festival with pomp and pageantry.
He thanked the Akufo-Addo-led government for developing the area and urged his people to rally behind the Government.
He, therefore, seized the occasion to appeal to the Senior Minister who was the special guest of honour to inform President Akufo-Addo to construct a Theatre for Axim Government Hospital to save lives.
He, also appealed to the government to as a matter of urgency support the community to rehabilitate the Axim Police bungalow, which has been abandoned for the past 47 years.
On his part, the Senior Minister, Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo thanked the Planning Committee for inviting him to climax this year's Kundum festival with the traditional area in a grand style.
He lauded the Committee for chosen a suitable theme for the celebration.
He pledged government's commitment to develop the tourism sector in the area to create jobs for the people.
The Senior Minister seized the opportunity to mention some developmental projects the Akufo-Addo-led government has brought in the area such as; the construction of Axim Sea Defence Wall, construction of Axim township roads, construction of Axim mini sports complex, construction of Axim fishing harbour, construction of DVLA office and others.
Apart from Axim, the Senior Minister said Government was constructing Nsien township and Nsien SHS campus roads, and has brought a cocoa District Office at Gwira Aiyinasi.
He hinted that government was going to bring Community Mining to the Gwira area of the Municipality to create job opportunities for the youth.
The Senior Minister seized the occasion to urge the Constituents to rally behind President Akufo-Addo to develop the area.
He pleaded with them to vote massively for President Akufo-Addo and Hon. Catherine Afeku in 2020 to continue their good works they have started.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Catherine Afeku expressed profound gratitude to Mr. Osafo Maafo for honouring the invitation to celebrate the festival with them.
She also thanked the chiefs and people for organising such memorable events to improve celebration of the festival.
She urged the gathering especially her constituents to live in peace and unity whilst reaffirming government’s commitment to construct the Fishing Harbour at Axim.
She hailed President Akufo-Addo for developing the Axim Victoria Park into a Ceremonial Ground.
She also commended President Akufo-Addo for the construction of Axim township roads and a mini sports complex at Axim.
She, therefore seized the opportunity to urge the gathering to support President Akufo-Addo and retained him in 2020.
She also urged them to support her and maintain her in 2020 as their MP for her to develop the area.
The MP promised to support the local artistes to become popular artistes I the country. She mentioned artistes such as Don Kweli who was doing well in the area.
The festival was finally climaxed by a mega jam which was organized by Livewire Events under the auspices of the Member of Parliament for the area, Catherine Afeku and Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Hon. Frank Okpenyen. It was to entertain visitors and the local people.
Artistes who rocked the stage included; Stonebwoy, Kwaw Kese, Nero X, Kofi Kinaata, Sefa, Ms Forson, Bisa Kdei, D-Black, Patapaa.
The other artistes included; Fameye and Don Kweli who hail from Nzemaland. Don Kweli was adjudged the best performed artiste by the audience at the night.
DJ Breezy and DJ Que were the guys who turntabled the occasion. They were so superb and fantastic.
