It was all joy when the Avatime Traditional Council launched its annual Mountain Brown Rice Festival, AMUFEST, on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at the plush La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. The event brought together citizens of Avatime from across the country to celebrate their rich heritage and cultural traditions.
In a speech delivered by Okusie Kpornuglo on behalf of Osie Adza Tekpor VII, the council traced the festival’s roots back to their forefathers’ settlement at Oxulosu, a location near present-day Avatime Biakpa. The celebration of the mountain brown rice festival has been a centuries-old tradition, and its revival aims to restore the vibrant and full-scale cultivation of the crop, which serves as a vital source of income for farmers in the Avatime community.
The festival also seeks to reinforce the bond of unity among the Avatime people, promote their cultural identity and serve as a platform to raise funds for community developmental projects. Osie Adza Tekpor VII emphasized the importance of preserving their cultural legacy and urged the community to come together to make the festival a success.
The council also used the opportunity to make a passionate appeal to the government to prioritize the rehabilitation of deteriorating roads in some Avatime communities. This, they believe, will facilitate the transportation of goods and services, thereby boosting economic activities in the area.
The week-long celebration, themed “Sustaining Avatime as a Climate-Resilient Community through Mountain Brown Rice Production, Culture, and Eco-Tourism,” will feature numerous activities, including the famous puberty rites of Avatime women, known as Kusakorkor. The festival will be climaxed with a grand durbar on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Avatime Gbadzeme, which promises to be an exciting and memorable experience.
Otumfuor Baidoo Bonsoe XVI, the overlord of the Ahanta kingdom, who chaired the launch reminded the people of the ancestral ties between the Ahantas and the Avatimes. He urged the community to support organic farming practices, preserve their cultural legacy, and champion initiatives that will safeguard the environment.
Attendees of the launch were thrilled to some great cultural performances, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation. The council is calling on all citizens of Avatime, both home and abroad, to come together to make this year’s edition of AMUFEST an unforgettable experience.
