Clothing and Colour Symbolisms in the Homowo Festival: A means to Sociocultural Development.

Abstract

This paper investigates the clothing elements associated with the Homowo festival of the Ga people of Ghana. This festival is the best celebrated among the society because of its significant, and has attracted extensive study by various writers. (Amoako-Attah 2001; Ammah 1980; Field 1961) However, the relevance position of costume, symbolically advocating for social development has received very minimal attention. To address this concern, the paper uses interviews, secondary data and participation observation to highlight costumes including accessories and adornment used from the beginning to the end of the festival. The paper reckons that, within the individual days of the festival, the ritual experts; traditional leaders; ordinary people; and the kpa dance group have specific costumes which determine their role, position, occupation, as well as the mood of the people. Moreover, colours and emblems used by the various units of the kpa dance group have inherent philosophies that promote nation building. The paper finally suggests that researchers should delve into festivals celebrated among the other ethnic groups, to augment the scanty work done on Ghanaian costume.