Akwele Suma
In the Ga community children are seen as a blessing from God, and when the blessing is doubled in the form of twins there is an additional spiritual role that the family must play in appeasing the spirits that are represented by the twins. One of the ways this is done is through the Akwele Suma festival, also known as ‘Yeyeeye’. The Akwele Suma festival occurs every year in Ga Mashie.
On the Akwele Suma day the twins will have special spiritual baths, made with particular ingredients that will cleanse them from any unwanted spiritual debris. The twins will then be cooked a special meal and pampered to appease the twin spirit. Once this is done, the remnants from the spiritual bath is put in a bowl ready to be thrown away in the Korle Naabu. The task of carrying this waste to the appointed place, is usually carried out by a nominated person, but one could also volunteer.
The twins are then beautifully dressed and are taken from their homes to the Korle Naabu. The person carrying the waste may get possessed by the spirits, and will usually stay possessed until the remnants of the bath are thrown away. The throwing away represents the throwing away of uncleanliness and evil.
On the way back the twins will continue to be pampered and celebrated. The hope is that a happy twin spirit – means a happy home for the year.
Video By Gabriel Obodai Torgbor-Ashong on the Twins Festival