GREAT START

The year started on a victorious note.It has becoming a ritual that at the end of every year there is Football/Soccer tournament among Suburbs in Kumasi.

These tournament attracts many people including tourists to witness matches being played between these suburbs. With singing, chanting and singing of local songs by the supporters of these different groups.

The just ended one was grace by young ladies who also cheered their side. There was the morning section and evening sections too.

Some watched with their favorite drinks in hand and made merry. 

The finals which was played on the 2nd  Jan. this year saw Manhyia and Allabar going to the finals, It was a great match since neither side didn't want to lose but start the year with a victory.

The first half score was 1 1 all. Then came the 2nd half was Manhyia was able to add another goal to make 2 1 against Allabar.

Then the Jamma and Kolomashy started, there singing here and there, they played till the referee whitsle for the end of the March.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

 Bronya Dua
The upcoming Christmas festivities reminds me of when I was a young little boy. When is time for Christmas then is all joy.

Now I use to hear about Christmas trees and what comes to my mind is Bronya Dua. This simply means erecting of Christmas hat.

This was normally done on the day time of the 24th night. What happens was, All friends living close will come together and we set for the bush, that is palm plantation.

Then we cut branches of the palm as many as we can and brings them back, so on the backyard, then we build a house out of the palm branches and we lay carpet out of polythene.

After the house is completely built then we start working on the drums. We use any available materials to make musical instruments.Everyone then disperses to our various home.

So the game starts on the boxing Day of Christmas, where we drum and sing while we eat biscuit and sweets drinks from our parents.

I have observer that those activities are no more done by the kids.

GHANA'S OIL

ADDED WEALTH

Ghana is bless with so many natural resource ranging from gold, timber, diamond, bauxite,manganese just to mention a few.

The latest discovery of natural resource is oil, the first production will becoming out at the end of this year and expectations are high for Ghanaians, because of the benefits that comes with oil.


Such as good infrastructure, high income for the country, employment and jobs for the people, social responsibilities to society etc.

But what we should bear in mind is that the benefits will come overnight

FUNERAL



King's Guard

Funeral is among one of the most important traditions among the people of Ghana, it is believed that when someone dies,the last respect is counts, since it will be the last time the deceased is seen in public.

People spend a lot of monies to make the big funeral for person whereas whiles they were living what to eat was a problem.If we compared sometime ago to now, I must say the cost of expensive funerals have come down.At first, they will do what is called wake - keeping where sympathizers will come from all over to keep vigil on the laid in state body.They incur all lots of cost such sympathizers up keep on food, drinks accommodation from normally Friday to Sunday where they go for thanks giving. But now, wake keeping is no more.

They also had a habit of keeping a deceased family member at the mortuary for a long period of time say three months before the final funeral rites are performed and all these while they will be paying.

Again, they come out with a uniformed cloth which every one is supposed to own one, so the women force their husbands to buy these for them which is costly and the unmarried ones turn to all sort of bad habit like sleeping with men for money to get themselves the cloth.I think all these are changing now.

When funeral rites are being performed especially for Kings, we see all sorts of traditions Traditional guards are not left out, All traditional music group such as the Adowa and Kete will be present exhibit traditions through drumming and dancing.

KUMASI FORT

Kumasi Fort

The only fort which resides in the center of  Adum in the garden city of Ghana, is the Kumasi Fort.

This place has a great historical background from the time of Sir Gordon Guggisberg. It was here that, he stayed when he was in Ghana, Kumasi to be precise in the colonial days.

It was here that the phrase "Wo kum apem a, apem b3ba" came about.This is now the motto of the great football club Kumasi Asante Kotoko,

It literally means when thousands get killed, thousands will be coming. This exibits the brave nature of the Ashantis. They do not give up until mission is accomplish.

This was later conquered by the Ashantis and has being in Kumasi till now and serve as a tourist attraction center and people from all over the world comes here to see the fort

THE SCARP

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The center of attraction of this place has been going on for so many years now. The wonderful nature of place has won it self as a place every one wants to see.

This is the Scarp of Mampong (Mampong Kun), which is located 45 minutes drive from Kumasi to Mampong.One of the Paramount towns in the Ashanti Region.

It is in-between Nintin and Mampong.

It also has some historic background of Okomfo Anokye, the best friend of Otumfuo Osei Tutu I. History has it that he left three eggs higher on top of the scarp pronouncing it will be there till end of time and accident free.

Surely, since, nobody has seen a car , Lorry or a truck falling in.



I feel good whenever I am around the scarp and realize the wonders and beauty of nature.

MILLINIUM KINGDOM ( GYE NYAME )

Although a whole lots of Kingdoms have being in existence for the past years and decades ago.Some does not even exist any more. If they even still exist, They have had different changes which have also change it's direction of focus.

But for one Kingdom, I know for sure and have even had the chance to experience same Kind of traditions and cultures which was laid down by the founder.
This Kingdom is the Ashanti Kingdom.

The Kingdom just celebrated 75 years of existence.They have the same traditions and culture over and over again without any modernization of any nature.They have the same bravery attitude from the time they captured many lands across Ghana and beyond.They have great historic background.

The Ashantis,being 2/3's (TWO Thirds) of the population of Ghana have respect for their Kings.Those down the hierarchy have strong respect for their top Kings.

The home of the Ashanti Kingdom is Manhyia.Many people from different places of this continent often comes to Manhyia see the rich culture that have been maintain for decades.

The only occupant of the Golden Stool Otumfuo Osei Tutu Ababio II is a great Millinium King who settles disputes so easily and quickly.His wisdom has being ranked in this world as the King Solomon of our modern times.A great King of our time.

No King comes near.Any Chief who thinks he can rock shoulders with the Otumfuo is deceiving and making a fool out of himself,because there is vast difference between a King and a Chief.

One deems it a great privilege and honor to be under the King.We the subordinates recognizes him as our One and only Great King of our time.

These small Chiefs who wants to rock shoulders should remember that if it was in the older days,any disobedient Chief to the Golden Stool and Manhyia,were said to be brought to the Manhyia with only his skuul.

Long Live Ashanti Kingdom!!! Long Live Ghana !!!