KENTE FESTIVAL AND A ONCE IN A LIFETIME LOOK INTO SHOTS OUT OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC... THIS FESTIVAL IS HELD ABOUT 3 HOURS AWAY FROM ACCRA IN THE VOLTA REGION, AND IT HAPPENS ONLY ONCE A YEAR. WE MISSED IT LAST YEAR, AND MADE SURE NOT TO MISS THE ADVENTURE OF GOING BACK IN TIME THIS YEAR. WHAT A RICH CULTURE OF TRADITIONS OF KINGS AND PARAMOUNT CHIEFS, WITH WOMEN FETCHING WATER AND MARKING THEIR BODIES WITH A FRAGRANT MIXTURE OF MUD. THE COLORS AND PATTERNS OF ALL THE CLOTH ARE SYMBOLIC, THE KENTE WEAVING CONTEST, DANCING AND THE CEREMONY OF ENSTOOLING A NEW CHIEF. IT IS TIMES SUCH AS THIS THAT WE AS MISSIONARIES HAVE THE CHANCE TO SOAK IN THE WAYS OF SO MANY TRIBES THAT LIVE HERE. HOW CAN A MISSION GET ANY BETTER THAN BEING SURROUNDED BY THE PAST BROUGHT TO THE PRESENT.
OUR OLD DTA WHO WAS TO BECOME A CHEIF DURING THE FESTIVITIES.
THEY BOUGHT THEIR POTS AND MADE THE RING FROM THE GRASS THAT THEY PULLED BY THE RIVER.
ONE BY ONE IN GROUPS THEY ENTER THE WATER WITH CEREMONY.
FIRING OF THE MUSKETS AND THE SPRAYING OF WATER TO SEND EVIL SPIRITS AWAY.
WEE ONES WATCHING ON....
BEAUTIFUL MARKINGS FROM THE RIVER MUD!
THE CHILDREN COMING TO DANCE FOR THE CHIEFS.
A YOUNG GIRL GIVEN TO A CHIEF'S WIFE AS A PROTECTOR.
ALWAYS THE BEAT OF THE DRUMS!
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