I used to be invited by a pal again then and had fairly a superb time, particularly as I had simply resettled again dwelling after a protracted sojourn overseas and was nonetheless in an nearly ‘touristy’ mode, with plenty of time on my fingers.
However yearly since then, one thing at all times got here up round that point that obtained me saying to myself “Properly, by no means thoughts, I’ll go subsequent yr.”
Ultimately, the promise to myself turned weaker with every passing yr, and during the last couple of years, Fetu Afahye has not registered with a lot resonance on my radar, with reminiscences of my final attendance shrouded within the fading, foggy mists of time.
Nonetheless, I really like this quaint, charming metropolis which is little question dwelling to one of the best crispy deep-fried octopus alongside the coast of West Africa, and I do take common weekend breaks there to wind down at any time when I can.
This yr, nevertheless, an ‘afahye’ resurgence of types occupied my thoughts and easily refused to go away. The catalyst was the truth that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was to be the particular visitor at this yr’s grand durbar of the competition, which climaxed on Saturday.
Nevertheless, my newfound urge to attend Fetu Afahye this yr was not solely because of the royal issue. The climax of the competition was solely three days away from my birthday, so I believed I’d take up a pre-birthday weekend break with a royal contact in considered one of my favorite places within the nation.
‘State go to’
I notably loved watching the standard reception and protocols accorded Otumfuo and his massive retinue of over 1,000 chiefs and attendants by the Omanhene of Oguaa Conventional Space, Osabarima Kwesi Atta, as broadcast on social media channels on Thursday.
That was Fante conventional hospitality at its finest, with intricate Asafo dance strikes and music, in addition to the presentation of presents to Otumfuo, together with a symbolic key to the town of Oguaa.
The banquet later that day, hosted by Osabarima, along with the particular congregation by the College of Cape Coast to award Otumfuo with an honourary doctorate diploma and the following Chancellor’s Ball, had all the trimmings and glamour of a ‘state go to’, which it was within the conventional sense even when throughout the context of a contemporary republic ― the pinnacle of a standard state welcoming and internet hosting the pinnacle of one other conventional state, full with elaborate protocols and diplomatic niceties.
‘Orange Friday’
I arrived in Cape Coast, higher generally known as Oguaa to its natives, on Friday, which is historically dubbed ‘Orange Friday’ when revellers adorn themselves in orange T-shirts, shorts, scarves, caps and actually any attire they will seize after which take pleasure in huge road events.
Bars, nightclubs, pharmacies, boutiques, all method of distributors and hawkers, taxi drivers and lots of others operated actually all through the night time and gave the impression to be doing brisk enterprise, with the fantastic sights, sounds and smells of a very African night time.
I managed to discover a strategic spot with a few fellow middle-aged buddies, and as we sipped our chilly beers accompanied by fried octopus, we watched the streets heave with the pulsating crowds having a superb time.
Saturday fever
Saturday didn’t disappoint in majesty, a riot of colors, pleasure and sheer grandeur as numerous conventional rulers of Oguaaman made their manner using slowly to the Victoria Park durbar grounds in palanquins, with big umbrellas hovering over them.
Otumfuo’s look was notably spectacular, drawing the admiration of many. The thick crowds spilt over from the confines of the slightly small enclosure of the park, stretching into close to eternity.
The political class was to not be neglected of the grand ceremony, with the NPP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Dr Bawumia; his operating mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and different authorities and celebration personalities in attendance.
The Fetu Afahye 2024 Planning Committee deserves plaudits for pulling off what was by all accounts a profitable competition.
Cementing alliances, forging peace
In instances of previous, the connection between a number of conventional states in Africa was outlined by coerced army alliances, brutal wars, violent upheavals and devastating conquests– a form of Hobbesian existence the place life was, amongst others, ‘brief, nasty and brutish’. Diplomacy was basically of the gunboat selection.
At this time, following colonialism after which independence inside trendy republics, conventional states that had been hitherto enemies have needed to put the previous behind them and forge a brand new narrative of peace and friendship inside these republics.
The normal leaders of those ethnic teams have been on the forefront of this new drive, and Otumfuo’s presence in Cape Coast exemplified it in some ways, following a protracted line of assorted royal visits throughout the nation.
Significantly, when embers of the previous nonetheless get stoked by some entrepreneurs and purveyors of ugly ethnocentrism, these visits of friendship and diplomacy reinforce and cement the reality that there’s a lot extra that binds our respective ethnic teams than divides them.
To this extent, I believe the royal go to over the weekend was an enormous success and I hope many extra visits between our conventional rulers happen within the coming instances.
At this time, as you learn this column, I can be elevating a glass not solely to toast my birthday but additionally to a harmonious relationship between the assorted ethnic teams that make up this lovely republic.
Three cheers to Oguaaman and Asanteman for the spectacular ‘state go to’!