GRi Arts & Culture Ghana 20 - 12 - 2000

Elmina to celebrate festival without public rituals

Elmina to celebrate festival without public rituals

Elmina (Central Region) 20 December 2000

The people of Elmina will celebrate the annual 'Edina Buronya' on January 4 without the usual public rituals by the chiefs.

The Paramount Chief, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI, announcing this at an emergency end -of -year meeting of the traditional council at Elmina on Tuesday, said the council decided not to perform any public ceremonies, such as rites at the Dutch cemetery to which the Dutch Ambassador is usually invited, or the durbar of chiefs to round off the festival, to avoid any breach of the peace.

The Central Regional Security Council suspended the celebration of this year's 'Bakatue' (lifting of the ban on fishing in the lagoon) to forestall the outbreak of violence because of the chieftaincy dispute in the area.

Nana Conduah, however, said the Asafo Companies will perform the rituals which herald the festival such as the sounding of the 'Aketekete' and the firing of musketry at the Benya lagoon.

Chiefs and family leaders would also offer libation in remembrance of the dead and undertake any other activities in line with the occasion privately.

Nana Conduah announced that heritage sites in the town would be rehabilitated to boost its tourism potentials under a cultural heritage strategy and management programme.

GRi…/