Kumawu Reawakens: Nana Barima Tweneboa Kodua V Leads First Papa Festival in Decades

The Sekyere Kumawu traditional area is alive with festivity as the Kumawu Papa festival makes its long-awaited return after an absence of nearly two decades. The occasion drew together community leaders, residents, and visitors in a shared spirit of cultural pride, with security and civic responsibility at the forefront of official messaging.

Addressing a gathering of celebrants, the enstooled traditional leader of Sekyere Kumawu, Nana Barima Tweneboa Kodua, the District Chief Executive, Hon. Kwasi Amankwaa, and the area’s police commander collectively stressed the importance of personal security throughout the festivities. The three urged every attendee to remain alert, safeguard their belongings, and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities. In the same breath, they called on the public to conduct themselves responsibly and to avoid becoming party to any incident that could mar the celebrations.

Nana Barima Tweneboa Kodua used the occasion to speak directly to the community’s youth, underscoring the deeper significance of the Kumawu Papa festival beyond its celebratory character. According to the chief, the annual observance serves a dual purpose: to honour the founding fathers of the Kumawu land and to transmit an understanding of the community’s heritage to younger generations. He called on every young person in the area to actively participate and engage with the rich history the festival embodies.

The festival notably honours Nana Tweneboa Kodua I, who gave his life for the victory of the Asante Kingdom in its war against the Denkyira. Central to the celebration is the "Papa" itself, a piece of skin from a sacrificed bull, around which the festival's most anticipated display unfolds. In a test of nerve and agility, young men compete to cut a portion of the skin from within a frenzied, pressing crowd, a ritual that embodies the bravery the festival has long sought to honour.

The revival of the festival has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm. Having last been celebrated approximately twenty years ago, the Kumawu Papa festival was greeted with visible excitement by both residents and visitors who converged on the traditional area for the occasion. Across age groups, participation in the planned activities has been energetic and wholehearted, reflecting a community eager to reconnect with a tradition long held in abeyance.