The Eastern Region’s residents of Akropong-Akuapim, Aburi, Larteh, Kitase, and Mamfi enjoy the Akuapem Odwira Festival. The majority of Akwapim towns celebrate this holiday between September and October.  

The Akan people’s festival, Odwira, is intended to be a celebration of group identity. It was incorrectly referred to as the Yam holiday by the ignorant since the holiday began as a time for people to gather and celebrate following the yam harvest centuries ago.  

The Odwira celebration is thought to have been started by Asantehene Osei Tutu 1, the first king of Ashanti, to strengthen the subjugated chiefs’ allegiance.  

The Odwira Festival marks the start of a new traditional year, is the culmination of the Adae days observed throughout the year. Purification is the meaning of the Akan word odwira.  

Therefore, the festival is intended to be a time of purification and cleaning. At the conclusion of the eight traditional months for meditation and repose, a period of forty-two days known as “Adaebutuw” is declared before the celebration of the real festival.  

Everyone who has a religious duty to fulfill during the festival season is required to meditate to spiritually prepare themselves for fulfilling their religious obligations successfully.