Portland Homowo & Twins Festival

What is it?

This harvest festival is celebrated by the Ga people from the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.It begins with the sowing of millet by the traditional priests in May. After this, thirty-day ban on drumming is imposed on the land by the priests.The festival is highlighted at varying times by different quarters of the Ga tribe. The Ga-mashie group of the tribe will celebrate theirs' a little earlier than the La group.

Homowo recounts the migration of the Gas and reveals their agricultural success in their new settlement. According to Ga oral tradition, a severe famine broke out among the people during their migration to present day Accra. They were inspired by the famine to embark on massive food production exercises which eventually yielded them bumper harvest.

Their hunger ended and with great joy they “hooted at hunger” this is the meaning of the word homowo. The festival also celebrates fertility and the blessings of twins. It is referred to traditionally as ‘Yeyeeye’ or ‘Akwele Suma’ and takes place on a specific day when all twins from Ga Mashie (the Ga communities) are dressed in white and paraded around town.

What is the cost?

Entry is free to everyone!

When is it?

The festival will take place on Sunday, September 22, 2024 from 1-5 PM Pacific Time.

What can you expect if you attend?

• African Dancing
• African Drumming
• Food
• Celebration and Ceremony

Where is it?

IRCO Hall in Portland, Oregon
10323 NE Glisan
Portland, OR 97220

Line Up

Nii Ardey and Friends
Habiba
Twins Festival
Homowo
Jujuba

The mission of the Homowo and Twins Foundation is to promote awareness of the culture of Ghana through the production of an annual Homowo and Twins Festival, including drumming, dancing, handicrafts, and food.

Nii Ardey Allotey has extensive experience performing and teaching traditional dancing, singing, and drumming of Ghana. He is a member of the Ga tribe and grew up in the capital of Accra. The family house was a training ground for current and aspiring master drummers and apprentices. 

Allotey began performing at the age of five. By his teens, he was touring Romania, Italy, Yugoslavia, the U.S.S.R., and beyond with cultural groups, including Ghana Cultural Ballet, as lead dancer and drummer. He performed and taught as a member of the Arts Council of Ghana, as he continued his personal study of cultural dance and music from across Ghana. 

After relocating to the US in 1983, Allotey continued to perform, teach, tour, and lead performance groups. Since 1988, Nii Ardey has taught classes for children and adults at schools, churches, and other facilities throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Allotey is the founder and leader of Portland-based group “Ekome” (meaning “unity”) that performs traditional Ghanaian music and dance. He remains committed to sharing African culture, music, and performance with Oregonians through classes and the production of the annual Homowo & Twins Festival in Portland.