Art and Culture in the Dwira Festival of the People of Adansi, Ghana: Purification Ritual for Ancestral Protection
Stephen Fosu Manu 
, Dickson Adom , Steve Kquofi , Isaac Asare-Aboagye & Michael Ato Essuman
Issue: Vol.6 No.8 Article 32 pp.1715 – 1732
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256832 | Published online 29th July, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This study focused on the role of art and culture in celebrating the Dwira festival by the Adansi people, Ashanti Region, Ghana. Fomena is the seat of the paramount chief of Adansi and New Edubiase towns, which were the centre of the festival and the study. Ethnography research under the qualitative research design was used to unveil the art and culture of the Dwira festival through structured personal interviews, focus group discussions and direct observation. Various stages of the Dwira festival celebrated by the seven provinces of the Adansi, including Fomena and New Edubiase townships, were emphasised. The major artistic elements used to celebrate the festival were captured and described by the researchers. A central artistic element unique from the other known arts is the human footprints in rock, which are believed to be the footsteps of the creator of the Adansi, referred to by the people as Adansi Bona. The study recommends building a typical museum in Adansi to preserve relics of the Adansi land, and developing the Bona shrine in the Bona forest as a tourist site for cultural preservation, as well as income generation and employment for the host communities. The study contributes to scholarship on preserving cultural heritage in Ghana
Keywords: Cultural Festival, Art and Culture, Dwira Festival, Adansi, Purification Rites
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Stephen Fosu Manu (MPHIL) African Art and Culture holder at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. He holds a Diploma in Education and completed his secondary education at Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School. Fosu Manu began his teaching career in 2001 and has taught Art in five different SHS’s for over 17 years. He has also served as a Senator, Senior Minister, and Vice President at the Senate of GRASAG KNUST and has been a national presidential candidate for GRASAG Ghana. He received an award for best Art Teacher during the 40th anniversary of T. I. Ahmadiyya Girls’ SHS. Fosu Manu has also worked as an illustrator, layout designer, and Verified News Creator for Opera News. He is also a practicing jewellery and consultant to King of Kings Jewellery in Asafo, Kumasi.
Dickson Adom (PhD) is a Senior Member at the Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. His research spans from issues in African Art and Culture to using traditional knowledge systems and community engagement strategies in nature conservation projects against climate change in rural communities in Ghana, and developing innovative Indigenous Knowledge Inspired Pedagogical Models for teaching elementary school students native tree species in Ghana. These models explore the use of ethnobotanical knowledge, folk songs, myths, cosmological beliefs, proverbs, etc. for environmental sustainability education. Also, he is exploring the use of ecomuseums as an extended ecotourism activity to boost local community cultural and natural heritage preservation and education. He is the lead campaigner for the Rights of Nature Ghana Movement aimed at pushing for the integration of the rights of nature into Ghana’s environmental governance.
Prof. Steve Kquofi is a Professor and Head of the Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology (DEIST) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), Ghana. He holds degrees in African Art and Culture, M.A., and B.A. in Art, Graphic Design. Prof. Kquofi teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the Faculty of Art and Faculty of Educational Studies. He has a reputation as an artist, researcher, professional teacher, and art educator with a strong record of publications. Prof. Kquofi has been teaching since 1990 and has supervised and examined students in various degree programs. His expertise spans cultural anthropology, African art, global art history, art education, TVET, museums and monuments studies, socio-cultural practices, environmental aesthetics, traditional ecological knowledge in biodiversity conservation, and aesthetics and criticism in sub-Saharan African art. He is currently researching the effective use of art and aesthetics in environmental protection in sub-Saharan Africa and its implications for art education. Prof. Kquofi is also a prolific graphic artist designing for top corporate bodies in Ghana. He holds an international position as the National Technical Expert in charge of Graphic Design Technology skill area, representing Ghana at the WorldSkills International.
Isaac Asare-Aboagye is a lecturer, professional teacher, and Master of Philosophy in Arts and Culture. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy in African Art and Culture. Asare-Aboagye has extensive experience in teaching, research, educational management, and community mobilization. He teaches Ghanaian and African Studies, Science, Technology, and Society, and has served as an academic counsellor, and coordinator of the UENR Cultural Troupe. He has also served as a Municipal Cultural Co-ordinator and published several research papers. Asare-Aboagye’s research papers focus on aesthetics, indigenous knowledge systems, Ghanaian cultural symbols, music education, cultural competencies, and interdisciplinary programs in higher education, highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive teaching methodologies and prioritizing African cultural values. He is currently working on Akan folk games digitalization.
Michael Ato Essuman (PhD) is a senior member (Lecturer) at the Department of Publishing Studies, KNUST. He holds a BA in Publishing Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, and a PhD in Art Education with specialization in Textbook Development and Evaluation with Art and Information Design. Currently, He is the industrial internship coordinator in the Department. His research focuses on Art and Design, Textbook development, Education, Industry academic collaboration, Traditional/ Contemporary symbols development and Digital humanities. He is the current Chair of the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA).
Manu, Stephen Fosu, Dickson Adom, Steve Kquofi, Isaac Asare-Aboagye, and Michael Ato Essuman. “Art and Culture in the Dwira Festival of the People of Adansi, Ghana: Purification Ritual for Ancestral Protection.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no. 8 (2025): 1715–32. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256832.
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
