English: If someone does not know, someone teaches.

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English: If a naked man promises you a cloth, listen to his name.

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English: If a bird does not fly, it goes to bed.

The post Monday Proverb by GAJ first appeared on Gajreport.

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Victor Hugo Sosa, mayor of San Pedro Huamelula, a town of Indigenous Chontal people in the Tehuantepec isthmus of Mexico, took as his betrothed a reptile named Alicia Adriana, re-enacting an ancestral ritual.

The reptile is a caiman, an alligator-like marsh dweller endemic to Mexico and Central America. Sosa swore to be true to what local lore calls “the princess girl.”

Tradition has it that frictions were overcome when a Chontal king, embodied these days by the mayor, wedded a princess girl of the Huave Indigenous group, represented by the female alligator.
The Huave live along coastal Oaxaca state, not far from this inland town.

The wedding allows the sides to “link with what is the emblem of Mother Earth, asking the all-powerful for rain, the germination of the seed, all those things that are peace and harmony for the Chontal man,” explains Jaime Zarate, chronicler of San Pedro Huamelula.

Before the wedding ceremony, the reptile is taken house to house so that inhabitants can take her in their arms and dance. The alligator wears a green skirt, a colorful hand-embroidered tunic and a headdress of ribbons and sequins.

The creature’s snout is bound shut to avoid any pre-marital mishaps. Later, she is put in a white bride’s costume and taken to town hall for the blessed event.

As part of the ritual, Joel Vasquez, a local fisherman, tosses his net and intones the town’s hopes that the marriage may bring “good fishing, so that there is prosperity, equilibrium and ways to live in peace.” After the wedding, the mayor dances with his bride to the sounds of traditional music.

“We are happy because we celebrate the union of two cultures. People are content,” Sosa told AFP. As the dance winds down, the king plants a kiss on the snout of the “princess girl.”

“I accept responsibility because we love each other. That is what is important. You can’t have a marriage without love… I yield to marriage with the princess girl,” Sosa said during the ritual.

Marriage between a man and a female caiman has happened here for 230 years to commemorate the day when two Indigenous groups came to peace with a marriage.

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The “Forward Together” themed event is the most prominent display of authentic Ghanaian culture in the Midwest.

Various attractions and activities will be available, such as Ghanaian food vendors where guests can taste authentic Ghanaian dishes. Many vendors will also sell shea butter, African clothing, art, and jewelry from Ghana.

There is no shortage of cultural displays as the Chiefs and Queen Mothers of the various tribes will participate in the parade of chiefs and tribal cultural performances.

Live music will be provided around the clock featuring world-traveled musicians that will delight patrons.

The youth will be delighted by the abundance of activities at the Youth Village tents, which include dancing competitions, Ghana trivia, face painting, a bouncy house, and much more!

A $20 gate donation will allow patrons unrestricted access to the all-day festival.

Traditionally, the anticipated event is held on the last Saturday of July. This year, GNC’s new administration will provide a platform to spotlight the youth at the festival to attract and encourage younger crowds to attend and celebrate their culture.

For the first time in 35 years, the council facilitated auditions for artist talent to perform for one of Ghana’s most prominent stars who will perform at the festival.

The three best African artists were chosen to perform. A popular young barber and entrepreneur will provide free haircuts to patriots throughout the day. Another highlight will be Greetings from Abroad, a top-rated African company that allows patrons abroad to send greetings to their family members in Ghana.

Chicago’s Ghanaian Converse designer Eddie Oppong will design Ghanafest T-shirts for purchase, while Yajim Amadu, who won a full-time scholarship to IIT, will display his award-winning sculptures.

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.vipsocio.com/event/ghanafestchicago.

In celebration of the festival, soccer fans and enthusiasts will enjoy GhanaFest official soccer matches. Ghana will play to keep their titles as the African 2022 champions in Chicagoland. Semi-Finals will be held July 22, while the finals will be held July 30th at Wilson and Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 604640. The game will be open for the public to attend.

Ghana National Council (GNC) is a community of Ghanaians that began meeting in the 1960s as the Ghana Student’s Union; to create a home base for themselves and others that migrated from Ghana to Chicago.

The council was formed to assist fellow Ghanaians and Africans with resources in citizenship, employment, housing, education, health, and fellowship.

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Many traveled from various areas in Ghana and beyond to participate in the festival, which will be climaxed with a durbar on Saturday, July 8, 2023.

A delegation from Aneho in Togo believed to have roots in Elmina was also present for the festival.

Rites were performed at the banks of the Benya lagoon to traditionally lift the ban on fishing in the lagoon.

The lifting of the ban will allow for fishing in the Benya Lagoon.

There was a display by mostly women groups on canoes with the traditional colorful Tekua, a traditional head style on the lagoon, and a regatta that added excitement to the occasion.

The annual Bakatue is the festival of the people of Elmina and would be climaxed on Saturday.

The theme for the festival this year is, “Eat what we grow and grow what we eat”,

The rites

A net is cast three times by traditional priests after traditional rituals to signify the lifting of the ban after which the fish caught is presented to the Omahen, Nana Kodwo Conduah VI.

There was enough fish caught which was presented to a visibly elated Nana Kodwo Condua VI which signified a bumper fishing season.

Meaning

Bakatue, which in Fante, translated to English means “the opening of the lagoon.”

The history

According to history, the founder of Amankwakrom, which became the Edina State, Kwa Amankwa, migrated from the Savana-based Walata Empire and settled at Techiman for some time before moving to Eguafo near Elmina.

In search of drinking water, he discovered a small stream and exclaimed “Be-enya” which means “I have found or got it”.

He erected a hut near the lagoon.

History indicates that after finding the lagoon Kwa Amankwa bowed and worshipped solemnly, the god of the Benya Lagoon self-manifested and was with him for eight days, after which a covenant was concluded between him and the deity.

The festival date is said to be the celebration of that meeting as agreed by Amankwa and Nana Benya, the deity.

Some activities mapped out for this year’s celebration include the ‘All colors carnival’ and a state dance.

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Translation: One hand is never enough to lift a heavy load.

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It is an installation of paintings by Nana Frema, an artist, supported by an exhibition grant awarded to her. The show is being run from May 1 to June 1, 2023.

The exhibition features several works that explore the idea of duality that can be applied to everyday life. The works are aimed at making viewers think about how different looks can be interpreted in different ways.

Eng George Asiedu, the Project Coordinator of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Areas – Sanitation and Water Project in a speech read for him by Eng Gabriel Engman expressed appreciation for the creative works of the artists.

He said: “We’ve all heard the phrase ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder,’ but what this show tackles are something much deeper,” adding; “In the collection of Nana Frema’s works in the Duplicity of Looks, it explores the topic in very diverse ways, and the pieces are a testament to the power of arts.”

Eng Asiedu noted that the complicated and the layered ideas of the arts challenge us to think beyond what we initially see by finding depths in our understanding, and urged people who would be patronizing the exhibition to take an art piece home.

“You are contributing your quota to the preservation of our beautiful African cultural identity being expressed through the experiences of the artist.”

Madam Akwele Suma Glory, the President of the Women’s Art Institute Africa (wAi Africa) in an address stated that Nana Frema is one of the hardworking young ladies of wAi Africa, saying; “For us at wAi Africa, this show is extra special because it is our maiden virtual exhibition edition.”

She said as the harsh economic condition in the world was gradually improving, it was imperative for people to take solace in things like carefully created artwork like the paintings of Nana Frema to rejuvenate us to prepare for better economic opportunities.

Madam Akwele encouraged viewers of the exhibition to take a moment to look at the installation of the artworks closely, saying; “You will see in each piece the artist’s hopes, aspirations, and dreams. You feel her expectations. You sense her quiet but insistent demand for results.”

Nana Frema, in a remark, expressed gratitude to God for helping her with the project while thanking the wAi Africa for giving her and the husband, Mr. Frank Nartey the opportunity and support throughout the work.

She also extended gratitude to the exhibition grant team for their encouragement.

Source: ghanabusinessnews.com

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