Cheza Blog

Homowo - Thanksgiving in Africa

11/24/2014

It’s almost that time of year again when we gather with our loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving: a tradition originating from a time when the arch rivals; Pilgrims and Indians, put aside their differences and sat down together at a ‘harvest feast’. But this tradition of giving thanks for food and harvest is not unique to North America. In Ghana, among a tribe called the Ga, a form of Thanksgiving called the Homowo Festival is one of the largest cultural festivals of its kind in Africa!

Unlike our Thanksgiving, Homowo goes on for about 3 months, starting with the blessing of crops as they are sown and following with a series of dances and rituals until the harvest is reaped and the ‘Thanksgiving’ feast is shared.

The Ga word for this festival, Homowo literally means “hooting at hunger” and the origin of this name and the Homowo Harvest Festival goes back to a very significant time of hardship for the Ga people - very much like our Thanksgiving that goes back to the significant dinner between Pilgrims and Indians.

The Ga of Ghana

To understand the significance of Homowo and farming for the Ga tribe of Ghana in West Africa, we must look back into their history.

The Ga have an interesting past of frequent migration around the continent of Africa. They traveled for many years before reaching the west coast of the Accra region of Ghana, where they now live. In this migration to pre-colonial Ghana, they suffered a severe famine brought on by poor rainfall. The people were so close to starvation that they embarked on a vicious cycle of food cultivation in desperation and in the hope of rain.

Fortunately the rains returned the following season and their labor was gratefully rewarded with a bountiful harvest. The Ga rejoiced with this blessing and remembered it by naming it Homowo, meaning "hooting at hunger".

The Homowo Festival Rituals

Photo by Robert Ashie

The Homowo festival and the lead up to the feast starts in May and goes on until August usually but sometimes as late as September. The actual Homowo harvest feast is always on a Saturday but the exact date varies from year to year.

The start of Homowo Harvest Festival begins when the first crops are sown. One of the first crops, millet, is blessed by the traditional priests ahead of the rainy season in May. This is then followed by a series of rituals to mark the festival season. Among these rituals is a 30-day ban on drumming, and a few days of rest leading up to the feast where no land is worked or fishing is allowed. In rituals like these the Ga prepare to concentrate on their crops and calm the sea gods.

The 2 weeks preceding the harvest feast are filled with significant displays of family and community interchange. Workers leave the farms and go back to their homes singing, dancing and parading in the streets. They bring with them their harvested crops like maize and palm nuts. Over the next few days any loved ones who passed away are remembered, the elderly are visited, gifts are exchanged between relatives and any ongoing disputes should be settled.

Traditional dishes that are made for the Homowo feast are palm nut fish soup and a corn powder dish. The day of the actual feast is followed by dances and parades throughout the towns, which lasts several days.

Although there are significant differences between North America’s Thanksgiving and the Homowo Harvest Festival, the values behind these annual celebrations are the same, or at least stem from the same morals like hard work, perseverance, community and thankfulness for mother earth’s life-giving food. These traditional celebration are also times when family will reunite, travelling long distances sometimes, to celebrate and share a special dinner with their loved ones.

Author: Donna Van Wyk

SEO Copywriter and Content Strategist at DigiGal Marketing

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6 Truly African Restaurants in California

11/8/2014

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Whether you’re in the mood for Mozambique peri-peri chicken wings or West African plantains, I can bet there’s a little taste of Africa tucked away in your corner of California. Yes, all the way from San Francisco to San Diego, you can enjoy a meal that will take you back to your mother’s kitchen and home cooking (if Africa is home to you). And what’s more, to find such a place, where African spices, curries and music fills the air, you may not have to go as far as you thought.

I’ve hand-picked only 5 African restaurants, run mostly by authentic, ethnic owners in the North, Central and Southern Cali, but there are many more. So read on and please, share with us anymore places we should know about!

Bissap Baobab, San Francisco

As the African Baobab tree is a symbol of life, community, and culture, Bissap Baobab has a laid back, yet distinctly cosmopolitan, worldly vibe which upholds the concept of an African village. This Senegalese restaurant serves an array of West African spiced lamb, seafood and chicken dishes. Try one of their homemade drinks, signature cocktails or beers from all over the world too. Also keep an eye out for their special events: from DJs to live music and dance performances; to French language and World Cup meet-ups; to independent film screenings; art exhibitions; spoken word and poetry.

www.bissapboabab.com

Amawele's South African Kitchen, San Francisco

Thanks to South African twin sisters, Pam and Wendy the Zulu word 'Amawele', meaning twins, was the name given to this delectable San Francisco restaurant. Here a melting pot of cultures combine to bring you food inspired by the different influences in South Africa: English, Indian, Dutch, Malaysian and Native African. Spices from all over the world meet to create dishes like Cape Malay curry, bobotie, bunny chow, peri-peri chicken, frikadella and, how could we forget, slap chips. But don’t feel too guilty about indulging here. Amawele’s has cleverly adapted some of their dishes to be gluten free – at no expense to the taste buds!

www.amawelessouthafricankitchen.com

Radio African kitchen, San Francisco

A while back, Ethiopia had very few places to hear popular music and sports. In fact maybe one house per neighborhood had a radio. And this is where kids would gather to listen to soccer matches and music, all the while sharing laughter, conversation and snacks. With fond memories like these, owner and chef, Eskender Aseged, named his restaurant radio African kitchen. His Bay area restaurant boasts dishes that he created after being inspired by great chefs he worked with in the USA and also from the tastes of his African roots. A healthy alternative, dishes are infused with a wide range of organic vegetables, greens, grains, nuts, wild fish, shellfish and fruit, accompanied by fine herbs and spices.

www.radioafricakitchen.com

Veronica's kitchen (Fufu Land), Los Angeles

This Nigerian restaurant is the real thing! A small, very friendly, simple-looking spot in Inglewood where you can make small talk with the owner, Veronica.

Whether you’re from the motherland or new to Nigerian cuisine, Yelp reviews of this place have been off the roof. If you have never tasted jollof rice, fufu or moi-moi then you will just have to visit this place to find out what they are!

No website available but take a look at their Yelp reviews.

Mozambique, Laguna and Newport beach

For a fine dining experience try Mozambique located on the beachfront. Offering a irresistible fusion of fresh local seafood, steaks and Mozambique spices, you can enjoy the sea air while sipping on a glass of local or renowned South African wine (Meerlust, Kanonkop, Rust en Vrede to name a few!). Pair this with a dish of Peri-peri chicken livers, Durban lamb curry, and oh, how can we forget the prawns!

Keep an eye on their website for live music nights too.

Cape Town, San Diego

From a small “hole in the wall” deli behind a gas station to a bustling South African themed sports bar, Cape Town serves up all the usuals like samoosas, biltong, dry wors, boerewors, peri-peri chicken livers, bunny chow, bobotie, pap and gravy and SA wines and soft drinks to top it off. The sports bar shows typical South African sports that are not readily available in San Diego like rugby, soccer , cricket, surfing and golf.

www.capetownpub.com/

Author: Donna Van Wyk
SEO Copywriter and Content Strategy at DigiGal Marketing