Kabiye’s Celebrates ‘Kamou’ Festival in grand style

The Kabiye Chief of Kadjebi, Francis Kudzorwu and the people of Kabiye celebrated this year’s ‘Kamou’ Festival last Friday in a splendid mood.

According to Moses Taro Azingo, the National Secretary of the Kabye Association of Ghana, the ‘Kamou’ festival is an annual festival of Kabiye people. It is celebrated to mark the end of farming season. (It is a festival of harvest). The month of November is dedicated for this festival to allow each community to celebrate theirs; though the period can be extended to December and January.

The festival is a day’s activity to thank the gods and ancestors for a successful farming season.

A week prior to the festival day, millet (i.e the fresh one harvested that season) is soaked for preparation of Pito “Tchukutu” the only drink that is used for the occasion.

On the said day, each household prepares food from the new harvest to be shared.

In the afternoon, the whole community gathers at the chief’s compound or palace, bringing along the Pito prepared. Prayers are offered to the deities for a successful farming season.

He said, the association of Kabiye was formed somewhere in early 80s. Unfortunately, it was not documented, therefore renders Kabye people as strangers. “Today, we see the need to revamp what our forefather’s couldn’t do”.

 

Mr Moses in their challenges lamented on how the Kabiye’s are seen as second-class citizens in every community in which they live. He appealed to the Regional Minister to play a major role on Kabiye’s who were born in Ghana to have their National Identity Cards easily.

The DCE of Kadjebi, Hon Agbanyo Wilson thanked the Kabye people for their continuous support of his office ever since he was nominated for the position. He promised them that his doors are always open so they could seek any help as and when they wished for it. He appealed to them to unite their ranks to make sure that nothing come between them.

The Biakoye DCE, Hon Millicent Kabuki, who was the guest of honor took a turns to advise the Kabiye’s, especially the youth to take delight in going to school since that is the only avenue to transform society.

Okyeame Akyea Asiedu, the Chief linguist who chaired the occasion said Kabyes should not see themselves as second-class citizens because they have contributed immensely towards the development of the Kadjebi district and consequently becoming part and parcel of the Kadjebi district. He also advised the Kabyes to move away from over-reliance on using traditional methods of farming and rather concentrate on capital-intensive farming because technology has made farming so easy, therefore could make farmers increase their yields significantly he concluded.

He also praised the NPP government for the monumental infrastructure development in the Kadjebi district in its since it assumed office in 2017 saying NPP is unmatched when it comes to infrastructure development in the district.

The host Kabye Chief of Kadjebi, Francis Kudzorwu thanked the organizers for bringing the festival to Kadjebi and appealed for unity among the rank and file of the association. He asked all Kabyes to make themselves to be known in all the communities where they live so they could be recognized and used by the custodians of the land.

The Oti Regional Minister, Dr. Joshua Makubu who was a special guest of honor advised them to belong to a political party where equal opportunities are given regardless of one’s ethnic background saying this opportunities only exists in the ruling New Patriotic Party and advised them to join. He added those who were born and lives in Ghana are Ghanaians hence they should not go for any Kabiye from Togo to come to come and register for the Ghana card.

It was more than an experience to see the group on stage performing back-to-back songs which got everyone jumping and singing along in a very memorable festival.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Otixpres.com