The Apremdo Traditional Area in Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality in the Western Region would climax this year’s Kundum festival on 29th of September 2018.
Traditional authorities in the area say, there are several activities being organized by the traditional area to mark the annual festival.
The process commenced on 2nd September 2018, when the traditional area declared ban on noise making known as Sienu in the Ahanta language. The paramount chief of Ahanta Otumfuo Baidoo Bonso (XV) announced that the festival would end on 29th September after all customs and tradition had been observed accordingly.
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The traditional authorities of the agrarian community, said on 23rd September, there would be traditional drumming sequence known as Eguado ostensibly to pronounce purification of the community.
Following this, the custom of the community requires that they conduct bonfire known culturally as Egyaziri on 24th September.
On 25th September, the pouring of libation by chief linguists with incantation to invoke all ancestors of the Ahanta land to witness proceedings of the festival that would take place ahead of the final event on 29th of September.
The climax of the festival would grant audience for hooting at hunger to signify abhorrence against hardship in the coming or ensuing year.
“It is the fervent hope of the Ahantahene and the Ahanta Traditional Council that all stools within the traditional area would observe the above Kundum festival dates accordingly”, the paramount chief of the area Otumfuo Baidoo Bonso declared.
Explaining in detail how the traditional council arrived at the specific timeline for the Apremdo community and all traditional areas in Ahanta land, the overlord of Ahanta said, “The Ahanta Traditional Council on Thursday 23 August 2018 convened at their second general meeting which was chaired by the Ahantahene and President of Council, Otumfuo Baidoo Bonso (XV) to discuss the celebration of this year’s Kundum festival among others”
The paramount chief although would not celebrate the festival due to activities planned for his sixtieth (60) anniversary next year he has given his blessings and utmost support to all his traditional rulers occupying various stools to observe the annual event with pomp and pageantry.
“Otumfuo President further mentioned that the Paramount stool will not celebrate Kundum this year but will have a grand celebration of the festival next year as he celebrates his golden jubilee anniversary”
The Ahanta people occupies an important place in history living along the forest and coastal belts of Western Region.
They are one of the influential tribes in the resource region with significant historical underpinnings. In terms of geographical disposition, the area covers Sekondi Takoradi, Essikado-Ketan, Effia-Kwesimintsim, Agona Nkwanta, Upper and Lower Dixcoves, Busua, among other popular communities.
Politically, Ahanta alone, has five constituencies namely Sekondi, Takoradi, Essikado-Ketan, Effia, Ahanta West.
The area currently has two municipalities thus Ahanta West, Effia-Kwesimintsim and one Metropolitan Assembly, thus Sekondi Takoradi.
