History Behind Kwahu Easter: The Genesis And Chronicles Of The Celebration

WHAT IS EASTER?

Easter is a Christian festival. It is one of the foremost festivities celebrated either in March or April every year by a fraction of people in the world who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal saviour. It is celebrated to mark the comeback of Jesus Christ three days after his death by crucifixion, a fulfillment of a prophesy in the BIBLE, as Isaiah had prophesied in the Old Testament (Isaiah 53 4-5).

For many Christian churches, Easter is the joyful end to the season of forty days fasting from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, and a period of penitence.

Today, it seems Easter has become a Traditional festival of the people of Kwahu in the Eastern region of Ghana, but admittingly, it is a Christian festival and a cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is described in the New Testament of the Bible as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion.

WHO ARE THE KWAHU PEOPLE?

Kwahus are part of the Twi-speaking Akan group of people who live in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The Kwahu region has been dubbed ‘Asaase Aban’, or the Natural Fortress, in view of its history and position as the highest habitable point in the country. Derived from one of the myths of origin, the name Kwahu formerly ‘Kwawu’ or ‘Ko wu” translated as ‘go and die’ was coined during a clash between some families of the Ashanti Kingdom.

According to the myth, the Kwahus were part of the Ashantis but they sought for refuge on the Kwahu mountains when other Ashantis saw them as enemies. Those who settled on the Kwahu mountains pushed heavy rocks on their pursuers who perished in trying to fight them on the mountain. The pursuers who survived the rock attacks sent warnings to the others to continue the battle at their own peril, that is, ‘ko wu’ or ‘go and die’. There are other versions of the origin of the people of Kwahu but historically, Kwahu symbolizes a place of refuge.

WHAT IS THE PEOPLE OF KWAHU KNOWN FOR?

The region shares borders with their fellow Akans — the Ashantis, the Akyem and Akuapem, as well as the Adangbe-Krobos. The Kwahus are business people.  Currently, majority of the people who live on the Kwahu land are farmers because of the rich nature of the land to supporting agriculture. Most notably, majority of Kwahus, men and women, live in the big cities (like Accra) transacting different kinds of businesses.

The Kwahus are hardworking and industrious to the extent that they can consistently persevere in all conditions of the business scene until they survive.
According to findings by Cambridge University Press (January 22, 2009) on Oral Tradtion, the Kwahus are predominant among the largest shopkeers in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

Historically, when the people of Kwahu broke away from the Ashanti Confederacy, they started rubber and cocoa trade, transporting them to the coastal towns in barter for fish, salt and imported commodities, notably cloth, until 1914.

The Kwahus started trading inlands when the Accra-Kumasi roads and railways were constructed, and finally, (around 1930s) the attention of majority of Kwahu traders turned to Accra do other inland businesses when there was a tremendous spread of cocoa disease. Kwahus have since been dominating in businesses in places like Kantamanto, Abose Okai, CMB, and so on. They also have building all over the business areas in Accra.

WHY EASTER IN KWAHU?

A lot of people ask whether Easter is a traditional festival for the Kwahus. The answer is NO! Kwahus are Akans – just like other Akans, they celebrate Akwasidae as their traditional festival.

The celebration of the Easter festivity in Kwahu can be traced from trends of homecoming. Kwahus who lived in Accra and other cities in Ghana as well as the diaspora travelled back home whenever there was an occasion; they returned home during the Akwasidaekese which is celebrated once every year. They returned home for matrimonies, funerals, Christmas holidays, Easter holidays and so on.

With time, it was realized that families had majority of their members returning home only in Christmas and Easter. These members (Kwahus) who lived outside the Kwahu lands brought along, friends and other people they had acquainted themselves with.

Fast forward, since majority of Kwahus outside the main lands were business people in Accra and other cities, they found it difficult to returning home during Christmas. This was because, as it is today, business is good during Christmas – business is flexible in Accra during Easter so they decided to return home during Easter holidays.

This became somewhat a practice for people who were not Kwahus to join their Kwahu friends to enjoy the cold and welcoming weather, the beautiful sceneries and to catch some form of relaxation outside the ‘pressure’ cities.

Making it more interesting and fun, non-Ghanaians also joined by traveling from their countries to stroll the towns and be part of the celebration.

It has currently become an annual homecoming where Kwahus return home during Easter, joined by friends and others who are interested in being part of the holidays.

ACTIVITIES DURING THE KWAHU EASTER FESTIVITY.

Today, people travel from all walks of life to Kwahu during Easter. The celebration of Kwahu Easter is mainly a street jam where promoters and organizers mount stages to entertain people with the goal of enticing them to patronize their services.
Over the years, the celebration has been more fun with the introduction of activities such as carnival, hiking, paragliding (introduced in 2005 by the ministry of tourism), visit to some interesting places like the Stone Age Park, Nkofieho Caves and other interesting places. Local foods and other continental foods are sold at every joint during the celebration.

KWAHU EASTER HAS REALLY COME TO STAY!!