Atlantans are still clustering around water fountains and public places to discuss the whirlwind of an Odwira which engulfed the city during the Labor Day weekend. This year’s Okuapemman Odwira Festival was an exquisite rendition of blending our rich Akuapem culture with the goodies of the disaporan world. The event which was hosted by the Atlanta Chapter of the Okuapemman Association of USA & Canada was held at the prestigious Holiday Inn Select located at 450 Capitol Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30312.

As guest thronged into the ballroom they were greeted with traditional “Fontonfrom” and “Bombaa” music which set the stage for the showdown. As the chiefs and queens paraded through the hall greeting and dancing, the invited guest could not help but cheer them on and the applause was amazing. Nananom gracing the occasion included: Nana Addo Manukure of Atlanta, Obaahemaa Nana Akosua Oyeobiri of Larteh, Nana Yaw Basoa of Atlanta, Nana La-Kumi Sasraku of Canada, and an endless host of dignitaries from all over the United States, Canada and Ghana.

The annual Okuapemman Odwira/Ohum Festival which is sanctioned by the Okuapemman Association of USA & Canada is used to cement our fraternal togetherness and also raise funds to improve the socio-economic development in the Akuapem region in Ghana. Funds were raised at the event to build an elementary school in Anum/Boso and support the ongoing cafeteria project at the Presbyterian University at Akropong, Ghana.

The jubilation and dancing continued throughout the night with Okuapemman delegates from Toronto, New York, New Jersey, Dallas, Chicago, Tennessee, Atlanta and Washington D.C socializing and have a wonderful time. The Youth wing of the Atlanta Chapter did a marvelous job dancing “Adowa” and “Bombaa.” The 2007 Odwira brought out the very best of Akuapem culture and it will forever be remembered as one of the best Odwira festivals ever organized the United States thanks to the Atlanta Chapter of the Okuapemman Association of USA & Canada.

For more information and pictures of the 2007 Odwira visit our website: www.okuapemman-usaca.org