Twins’ Festival

The Twins’ Festival, known in the Ga language as Yeyeeye or Akwele Suma, is a significant traditional event celebrated annually in the Jamestown and Ga Mashie neighborhoods of Accra, Ghana. Occurring as a precursor to the Homowo festival, the celebration recognizes twins as spiritual beings and divine gifts. The event serves to seek protection, long life, and fertility for the twins and their families while symbolically purging any potential negativity.

The celebration begins with private sacred rites conducted by priests and family elders. A central component is a ritual cleansing bath prepared in a large wooden pot using seawater, traditional herbs, eggs, and schnapps. Following these prayers and libations, the mixture is taken to the Korle Na to signify the removal of misfortune, making way for public festivities.

During the public phase of the festival, twins of all ages dress in identical, vibrant traditional clothing and are paraded through the streets. Accompanied by energetic drumming and singing, some twins are carried on shoulders or ride horses while residents offer them gifts and cash. Although a Ga tradition, the event attracts spectators and participants from various ethnic backgrounds who reside in the area.