Chiefs and People of Nungua climax Kplejoo festival with sprinkling of Kpokpoi
By Doreen Ampofo
The Chiefs and people of the Nungua Traditional area have performed rites to herald their annual Kplejoo festival.
The traditional meal Kpokpoi was sprinkled at the Royal Mausoleum, where past chiefs have been buried. Known as the Oheneasi rites, it signifies respect to their ancestors and serves as a means to ask for ancestral blessings in the coming year. Kplejoo, a planting festival, precedes the Homowo celebrations.
The Ohenease traditional rites, which climax the celebration, involve a slow march through some streets of the Nungua township, amid traditional drumming and singing, towards the Royal Mausoleums. Here, Kpokpoi is sprinkled on the tombs of late chiefs, after which the Chief ascends his royal palanquin to greet his people.
The paramount chief of Nungua, Nii Odaifio Welensti, flanked by sub-chiefs and opinion leaders, led the solemn march from the Nungua palace to the Odaitei Tse We, Mantse We, Nii Adjin We, and Nii Moi We to perform the rites. The traditional rite was marred by confusion two years ago when the youth of Nungua Amanfa stopped the Nungua Manse, Odaifio Welensti, from riding in a palanquin through Nungua Old Town.
This year, however, the situation was different as the celebration was peaceful and violence-free. Former Greater Accra Regional Minister Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, who is now the Chief of Katamanso with the stool name Tatse Nii Laryea Akuetteh, said all outstanding issues had been resolved, leading to the peaceful celebration. He stated, “We are embarrassed by what happened the last two years and had to call for parties to calm tempers. We have fortunately resolved every issue and that is why the celebration was fun and peaceful.”
He advised the youth to shun vices such as drug abuse, armed robbery, and political violence and instead focus on acquiring skills to improve their lives. He also urged the indigenes of Nungua to unite. The celebration will end with a Thanksgiving church service on Sunday, July 28, 2024.
