Many festivals celebrated in Ghana have similar rules governing them, with the common one being a ban on noise making.

While noise restrictions are common in most festivals, the Asafotufiami festival uniquely includes specific bans on roaming and noisemaking by animals, setting it apart from others.

According to a Stool Prince of the Kabiawe Yumu clan in Ada, Ayiku Akuaku, before the festival, some traditional rites are performed during which the town is put on lockdown, and throughout this period, cocks are not allowed to crow, and goats not allowed to bleat.

Speaking exclusively on GhanaWeb TV’s People & Places, he explained that this is done to cleanse the town of any spiritual filth and to drive away any evil or bad spirit brought into the area during the festival celebration.

“In Ada, the specific taboo before the festival is that, the four chief priests and the paramount chief will join hands, making them five, to perform some traditional rites at dawn and it’s a taboo to join them. After the festival, the main taboo is to lock the town, a process locally known as ‘Ayakyimanya’. 2 to 3 weeks can be used to lock the town during that process, to consult the Gods.

“…If the paramount chief grants order for the town to be locked after being consulted by the chief priests, the main taboo begins. During that time, no cock will crow, no goat or sheep will be patrolling, no noise making, drumming, church service etc,” he stated.

Explaining further he said the chief priest can lay claim to your cock if it crows during this period.

“The main symbol in Ada is a cock standing on the stool; so, no cock must crow around that time. If they do, the chief priest and their guards will come and take it from the owner without an apology.

“We have a specific belief that if you own a cock, you can place a maize stick with a rope on the cock’s neck and it will not crow, or you can also take the cock and goat from the town to the nearest communities. It can only be brought back after the purification tradition.”

The Asafotufiami festival is celebrated in August annually by the chiefs and people of Ada in the Danube East of the Greater Accra Region.



MAG/ ADG