Odwira 2008;Chicago.

Members of the Okuapeman Association of USA & Canada (OKUSCA) came to Chicago in large numbers from States in the USA and Canada on Labor Day weekend to celebrate the 23rd annual Odwira festival in grand style.

Odwira , first celebrated in the Akuapem area of Ghana in 1826, is an annual thanksgiving to God for his merciful care and protection; customary purification of the land and people by the chiefs and priests for the spiritual and social renewal to face the trials and triumphs of another year; Reaffirmation of loyalties within the traditional administrative set-up and patching up of misunderstandings among families; mourning of those who passed away in the year and feeding with the brave ancestors of Akwapem who are deemed to be present on such occasions; Promotion and presentation of cultural values.The festival is mainly the dramatization of Akwapem sacred traditions, myths and olden day legends, handed down by the ancestors of the "Oman".

The celebrations in North America is mainly to raise funds to help in the development of the Akwapem area in Ghana , promotion and presentation of traditional values, culture, unity and comradeship among the larger Akwapem citizens in the Diaspora. OKUSCA rotates the celebrations annually from the city of one chapter to the other.

This year's celebration was held at the luxurious Grand Ball Room , 63 rd and Cottage Grove, Chicago Illinois. The event was evocative of a traditional Durbar in Ghana. The chief of the Okuapeman Fekuw Association of Chicago, Nana Okofrobour Kojo Yirenkyi Bonsu and his queenmother,Ohemaa Akosua Pokua, entered the hall with pomp and pageantry . Other chiefs and queenmothers from member associations of OKUSCA and chiefs and queenmothers from the Chicago area traditional groups were all dressed colorfully in their traditional outfit as the hall was filled with recorded fontonfrom drumming and ancestral music.

The chairman of the occasion was Nana Siaw Kese of Chicago.

The keynote speaker, Dr. K. A. Boateng spoke extensively about migration and the reasons why we as Ghanaians have also migrated to the United States and Canada. He informed the gathering that, generally, people migrate in search of better conditions of life.

In his welcome address, the president of the Chicago chapter, Ohene-Anoba reminded members of OKUSCA to fulfil the promise to the Presbyterian University by constructing a cafeteria for the new University. He also asked the gathering to donate generously to enable the organization assist Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital's deteriorating infrastructure. There was also a joyous Picnic on August 31 at 62nd and Stony Island to conclude the celebrations.

The crowd was entertained by DJ's Adibu and Bonsu.

COMET Properties of Ghana ltd was the major sponsor of the celebrations.

The Canadian Chapter has the honors to host next year’s Odwira celebrations on Labor Day weekend.

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