Ashanti Yam Festival facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ashanti Yam Festival
Ashanti yam ceremony, Asanteman. A painting of a yam ceremony from 1817.
Observed by	Ashantis
Type	Ashanti festival
Significance	Festival of Purification
Celebrations	To celebrate Yam Harvest
Date	Between September and December
Frequency	annual

The Ashanti Yam Festival is a special yearly celebration. It is held by the Ashanti people in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. This festival celebrates the very first harvest of yams each year. Yams are a super important food in Ashanti and many parts of Africa. The festival happens after the rainy season, usually in autumn.

What is the Ashanti Yam Festival?

The Ashanti Yam Festival is a big national holiday. It lasts for five days and always starts on a Tuesday. This date is chosen by the local chief priest. The festival is important for two main reasons:

• Religious meaning: It's a time to thank the gods and ancestors for a good yam harvest. It also officially introduces the new yams.
• Economic meaning: It celebrates the success of the yam harvest, which is vital for the community's food supply.

How Do People Celebrate the Yam Festival?

During the festival, many interesting traditions take place.

• First Offering: The chief priest of the Ashanti people makes the first offering of new yams. These yams are given to the ancestral gods.
• Procession: On the second day, yams are carried in a colorful parade. They are taken to the special ground where ancestors are honored.
• Music and Dance: For all five days, there is lots of music and dancing. It's a joyful time for everyone.
• Royal Cleaning: The King oversees a special cleaning ceremony. All the royal Stools (chairs) are cleaned. These stools are very important symbols of the ancestors.
• Gold Ornaments: Sometimes, old royal gold jewelry is melted down. With government approval, this gold is then made into new designs. This shows the wealth and artistry of the Ashanti people.
• Peaceful Time: During this festival, the King does not allow any sad or violent acts. It is a time of peace and purification.

What Happens Each Day of the Festival?

The Ashanti Yam Festival follows a special schedule of events:

• Before the Festival: The King checks a temporary building called the Dampan. This structure is set up for the public celebrations.
• Day One: The path to the burial ground of the Ashanti Chiefs is swept clean. This prepares the way for important ceremonies.
• Day Two: Priests carry the new yams in a bright procession. They offer these yams to the ancestors buried in special chambers. People can only eat the new yams after this offering is done.
• Day Three: This day is for remembering and honoring ancestors. People also observe a fast, meaning they don't eat for a period.
• Day Four: The chief hosts a big dinner at his house for everyone. Later that night, people stay indoors. This is because the chiefs' thrones are being cleaned in the Draa River at Kumasi. These thrones are symbols of the spirits of those who have passed away.
• Day Five: There is a grand parade. The chief, his family, and royal helpers dress in beautiful clothes. They walk through the streets to show respect to the senior local chief at his home. In the parade, some people are carried in colorful, decorated palanquins, shaded by umbrellas.