In 2018, Zionfelix wants to start something different and that is to promote tourism in the country by traveling to some parts of the country and projecting the beautiful scenes and culture.
To start this new idea I conceived late 2017, I started the tourism journey on New Year’s Day at Winneba in the Central Region where Fancy Dress Festival was held. I woke up early Monday, January 1 morning and after an hour drive, I found myself at the Advance Park where the event was scheduled to happen.
This year’s festival was my first time and I really enjoyed myself. I was one of the many Ghanaians and foreigners who had traveled to Winneba for the ceremony.
I got scared when I reached the entrance of the stadium because of the ‘Kaakaamotobi’ outfits but later advised myself because I knew I was yet to see more of it.
Five groups – Red Cross, Egyaa, Nobles, Tumus and Royals on the day battled it out at the Kaakaamotobi music and dance festival which happens every first day of the year in Winneba. With a brass band, each group was given the park to display their dance moves in three segments – slow dance, highlife, and freestyle.
There is one thing I noticed about the band of each group as the masqueraders came to choreograph – all bandsmen of the five groups played either one or two hit songs of Ebony, Kwami Eugene, and Davido and I could hear my Oyibo friend sing along to Kwami Eugene’s ‘Angela’ tune anytime they played it.
Before the competition kicked off, all groups matched to the field to introduce their members to officials of the game and authorities in the community.
This year’s festival was powered by NYC Media.
Watch highlights from the 2018 Winneba Fancy Dress Festival so that you can be there next year to experience it yourself.
https://youtu.be/SO0A5iFGkLo
History of Winneba Fancy Dress Festival
The Fancy Dress festival began in the 19th century with British and Dutch traders who plied their trade in Winneba (then known as Simpa). History has it that the British and the Dutch who started the festival wore assorted masks and colorful costumes to celebrate the new year. The then masqueraders danced and drank in bars to entertain their customers.
It began as a non competitive celebration and fun. It was until 1957, when Ghana achieved independence, when the first competition was organized through the support of the government of Ghana. The second competition was organized by the Winneba Masquerading Federation (Association), and since then this festival has been organized to coincide the New Year.
Organized at the Winneba Advanced Park, the program starts at 10am, with the arrival of the masqueraders and dignitaries. The venue is full by 9:30am, and only those who come early are able to secure a front seat in order to fully watch the masquerading performances.
The celebration of the festival used to be spontaneous, and did not come with any competition, or groupings. Individuals wore their colors, and danced to tunes from Adaha music. Later, Mr. Janka Abraham, who hailed from Saltpond but settled in Winneba, and worked as a bar attendant, incorporated the masquerade tradition into the local customs.
In 1923 Mr. Janka Abraham together with his friend, Mr. A. K. Yamoah, formed the first group, Nobles, also known as group Number One. Reports has it that the members of the Nobles group would gather before dawn on New Year’s eve, dressed up in costumes such as garb of doctors, nurses, teachers, ministers, pastors, farmers, fishermen, prostitutes, pastors, drivers, cowboys, sailors and angels.
That is exactly what is still happening. The masqueraders use current events and personalities to profile themselves in mask. And they create color in heaven. I have seen Presidents all over the world being recreated. I have seen the festival being used as a tool for addressing social political issues.
The idea was to imitate the various town professions and to deliberately and satirically misrepresent the life and the dressing styles of the Europeans. The troop would then parade through the streets of Winneba, backed by some fast-pace music known to the local people as Adaha music, and this celebration would continue all day into the evening.
With time the membership of the Nobles group grew bigger than anticipated. Consequently, the then paramount chief of Winneba, Nana Kow Sackey and some elders of Winneba formed Egyaa (also known as Number Two). This group was based at Aboadze, a fishing community in the town.
The name of the festival was changed from Masquerading to Fancy Dress because the Egyaa group, which was made up of fishermen who spoke no English, had difficulties pronouncing the word “masquerade.
Four years later, members of the Gyartey family (represented by Mr. Arkoful), and his two friends, Opanyin Kweku Akom and Opanyin Kobena Nkebi, formed another group called Tumbo Rusu. The name is commonly pronounced as Tumus, which also means the sound of a blacksmith. This group later became known as Number Three, and they are based in Donkoryiem area, opposite the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Winneba.
History has it that the membership of Tumus were from the Catholic youths who were slightly educated, and who are from local fishing communities. It is believed that the European priests financed their yearly costumes and masks, and because the Catholic Church was paying for the costs of this group, they became the most resourced, envied, and successful amongst all the groups.
Later, in 1933, Mr. A. W. Yamoah, the brother of Mr. A. K. Yamoah formed his own group and named it Red Cross, which was later known as Number Four.
Obviously since 1933, we have maintained four groups within the competition which has become a generational pride. Each of the four groups maintains an average membership of 100, and membership entry is based on either inheritance from a family person or by a justification of extra-ordinary dancing talent.
Rehearsals for the competition start as early as September, and costume planning begins in October. The average attendance at this annual event now stands at 10,000, with patrons coming from all over the country.
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