Elmina, typically referred to as Edina, celebrates the Bakatue festival. ‘Bakatue’ is a blend of the Mfantse terms’ baka’, which means lagoon, and ‘tue’, which means opening or draining. The main rituals of the Bakatue festival are conducted on the first Tuesday in July to commemorate the town’s founder, Kwamankwa and to appease the Benya divinity. The Bakatue festival commences about six weeks before the first Tuesday in July.
Origin
According to Elmina’s oral tradition, Kwamankwa, the founder of Edina, migrated from Tekyiman and first settled at Eguafo. Kwamankwa being a hunter, mostly went on expeditions far away from Eguafo. On one of his expeditions and in search of water for three days, he came across a stream of water. He had a divine encounter with the stream deity. He built a straw and grass-shed hut and made sacrifices for the deity. He then named the water body ‘Bayia’, literally translated as ‘I have gotten’.
After some days, he crossed the stream of water to the other side and stayed on the peninsula longer than usual. His long hunting expedition lasted longer than his usual stay as he enjoyed his new found place mainly due to the nature of the land.
Kwamankwa was declared dead in Eguafo as his prolonged absence was unusual and interpreted as his demise. Kwamankwa’s funeral rites were performed accordingly by his family in Eguafo. He returned to Eguafo after some time, and his arrival shocked many, as at a glance, they thought he was a ghost.
Kwamankwa then convinced his family about the good nature of his newly found place and went with them one after the other to stay and start their village. Kwamankwa and his people erected sheds of straw, grass or some branches of trees for themselves. The place was named Injimnse (corrupted as Annumansa). The Injimensefu are considered the Aborigines of Elmina.
Kwamankwa and his family continuously offered sacrifices for the Benya divinity annually, which became known as the Bakatue festival. In addition to commemorating Elmina’s origins, the Bakatue celebration aims to reestablish the bond between Edina’s inhabitants and the Benya divinity. As time passed, the Bakatue festival evolved into a wonderful six weeks long celebration we have today. The stream of water was opened by the Dutch who took over Elmina castle in the 17th Century which turned it into lagoon.
Activities
During the first week of the Bakatue festival, there is a concerted effort to raise awareness about the festival in Elmina and the surrounding areas. Raising awareness helps to ensure that everyone is aware of the upcoming events and can participate fully in the celebration. The festival is an important cultural and historical event for the people of Elmina, and everyone must have the opportunity to learn about and appreciate its significance.
There is an announcement to ban noise-making in Elmina, avoid fishing in the Benya Lagoon and a recap of the Benya shrine (Teterim) in the second week.
During the third week, a ram is presented to the royals by the Asafo and slaughtered to begin a twenty-one-day fasting purposely to purify the whole community. During the fasting, indigenes are not allowed to send fresh food into their homes.
During the fourth week, a significant event known as Dombo occurs, where priests, state couriers, and drummers gather to perform traditional dances and play their drums.
The Dombo celebration is repeated in the fifth week and the evening before the main Bakatue event.
The Bakatue festival’s main ritual is held on the first Tuesday of July, within the sixth week.
The Nananom, in their costumes, regalia, and procession, visit the Benya Lagoon and perform rituals for the Benya deity. At the Benya Lagoon, a mashed yam meal mixed with oil and the other without oil is submerged in the Banya Lagoon with some concoction and 156 eggs.
This activity is preceded by celebrations and regatta among groups. Joyful celebrations and activities follow the Bakatue rituals till the end of the week.
A grand durbar is held on the weekend for the whole community and visitors to crown the festivities.
The Bakatue festival celebrated by the people of Elmina is one of the popular and interesting festivals in Ghana. As its rich display of indigenous colorful culture and many trilling activities attracts many people into Ghana and Elmina annually.
Stephen Baidoo is a writer who loves to research about Ghana's past. He brings Ghana's history to life with each unearthed fact and forgotten narrative, transforming dry dates into passionate stories.
