Ghana - Event

Ghana's colourful Fetu Afahye festival is celebrated with gusto in the Cape Coast Traditional Area. Not for the faint-hearted, it involves the ritual sacrifice of a cow, slaughtered as an offering to the 77 deities.

If you are undaunted by the sight of bovine blood, make an effort to see this festival because it is spectacular. There is a durbar, where chiefs formally meet at a public reception, followed by processions of warrior groups known as the Asafo companies, whose unique costumes fuse the Fante and European cultures that have influenced Ghana for centuries.

Colourful crowds join the Saturday procession of chiefs carried under sunshades, as the people of Oguaa (Cape Coast) give thanks for the yam harvest and the herring season. Everyone dresses in colourful clothes - indeed, the festival literally translates as the "adorning of new clothes".

Please note: the dates suggested above are tentative, as the festival may be celebrated at other times or irregular intervals. Please check with local authorities or the tourist office before making commitments or plans.