SENYA BERAKU

Last Thursday , 27th January, 2022, the streets of Senya Beraku were flooded with female processions to the houses of all deceased persons who were to be buried during the weekend. These women carried on their heads assorted items called 'eguradze', beautifully wrapped in buskets, and silver and plastic bowls and buckets.  The items included soaps, powder, cloths, rice, oil, towels, sponges, etc. and specific amount of money demanded by the deceased family from the deceased female in-laws and close relatives whose spouses are from the house.   As the name, 'eguradze' (bathing wares), implies, the items are meant to bath the dead before lying in state on Friday and Saturday. The older women of the maternal house of the deceased, who are responsible for bathing the dead, would share the money and the rest of the items after discharging their duties. Years back, there were very few items presented for the 'eguradze', generally limited to what was needed for the bat...

 A 1973 Akomase speech from the Central Regional Commissioner Commander, J. K. Amedume, found from the archive of the late Mr. Kweku Andah, father to Captain Topi Kojo Otu Anderson.  ADDRESS BY THE CENTRAL REGIONAL COMMISSIONER COMMANDER, J. K. AMEDUME ON THE OCCASION OF THE AKOMASE FESTIVAL AT SENYA BERAKU ON SATURDAY 25TH AUGUST, 1973. Nananom, Ladies and Gentlemen, I feel extremely happy to be here with you this afternoon for the celebration of the "Akomase" Festival. It is on this occasion that you remember your renowned ancestors and sing their praises. Those ancestors of yours whom you single out for praises carved names for themselves by rendering exemplary and dedicated service during their life. The worthy examples of these illustrious sons of your state should encourage and inspire you to do your duty to your Nation and your state. There is no greater honour than to be given the opportunity to serve your nation, and wherever you may find yourselves you should strive...

 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN  All well-meaning people of Senya Beraku  RE: THE CHALLENGE TO THE CLAIM OF OWNERSHIP OF SENYA BERAKU STOOL LAND BY ANONA FAMILY  Regarding your circulation dated, August 1, 2021, on the subject: "RE: THE CHALLENGE TO THE CLAIM OF OWNERSHIP OF SENYA BERAKU STOOL LAND BY ANONA FAMILY", we, the Royal Anona Family intend to respond in extenso and seriatim as below: - that per the provisions of the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759), your name is not entered in the National Register of Chiefs (i.e you do not have gazette), which is the sine qua non for recognition by the Chieftaincy Institution of Ghana. You therefore lack the capacity to use the above letterhead, since you not yet a member of the Senya Beraku Traditional Council. - that it is gross falsehood to say that a faction of the Krobo Anona Family called Akondoh Anona is consistently claiming right to paramount status of a chief and ownership of Senya Beraku stool land. Rather, it is the ent...

  TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE RITE IN ANCIENT SENYA BERAKU. Abeiku Okai Senya Beraku has four major ceremonies marking the cycle of life from birth, through adolescence, marriage to death. They are: 1. Ada ntuyi - Naming ceremony 2. Itwe-itwe - Puberty Rite  (different paternal  houses or clans (Se-ye) have different names and rituals for adolescent rites) 3. Ijo-nsɔyi - Marriage Ceremony 4. Edi-mbɔyi - Funeral  The focus here is on Ijo-nsɔyi (marriage ceremony). When an adolescent boy or girl traditionally passes puberty by undergoing the required Se-ye (paternal house) rites, he or she, from that day, becomes ready for marriage, especially the girl. However, he or she is not forced into premature marriage but rather, he/she would now be exposed to the necessity of marriage and preparation towards it. She would now be considered a 'ponkuba' (a young girl ripe for marriage).  For the adolescent girl, her beauty and physical changes would begin to attract potential suit...

  The following are the resolution reached at the 7th National Guan Congress in 2012 at Krachi. Four delegations from Senya Beraku attended the Congress, which was hugely attended by delegates from every part of Ghana: 1. Mr. Francis Doughan 2. Mr. Sampson Bosomtwe 3. Mr Kojo Online 5. Mr. Abeiku Okai The purpose of the resolution is to safeguard the identity of Guan communities as Guans. THE RESOLUTIONS 1. The name GUAN should be appended as a suffix to all Guan local names on signboards leading to Guan towns and villages, for example, Senya Beraku (Guan); 2. Guan villages and towns that used to bear Guan names but due to the dominance of other tribes those names have changed must be reverted to those names. For example, Winneba should rather be well known as Simpa, as it original Guan name. 3. Church activities in Guan communities should be done in the Guan language/dialect of the community. Pastors must be persuaded to adhere to this.  4. Guan chiefs should refrain from mak...

  SENYA BERAKU CHIEFS AND CHIEFTAINCY. by: BIC Abeiku Okai The root meaning of the word 'Odefe', which means chief, is 'Ambassador', ie He who sells (fɛ) the good (ɔdɛ) of the land.  Ɔdɛfɛ became Odefe. It is also known to mean, Excellent (ɔdɛ) beauty (fɛw).  It connotes a person who represents the integrity and rich culture of the people. And is also responsible for bringing good or excellence to the land and people.  Senya Beraku has had several chiefs from the two feuding royal families, ie., Anona and Twidan. According to the Anona, at least, ten chiefs have ruled the land from their family; They included: 1. Nenyi Akondoh I,  2. Kwesi Nkwantah 3. Edu Bateh 4. Saakwa 5. Akondoh II 6. Naase Adede (Female) 7. Akondoh III 8. Nkwantah  9. Saakwa Edu Bateh; to the very recent Anona chief, being the late Nenyi Akondoh XI (1929), who also identified as 'Ababio' (Akan; has returned), to indicate the return of his family to the throne after the Twidan had ruled ...

 Until recently, Senya Beraku had a strong attachment to traditional priests and priestesses, with their words and leadership carrying power and fear. These priests and priestesses were responsible for all the spiritual activities of the land. There are seven rankings of them in respect of the extent of their authority, leadership, and assignments: 1. Ataa-da - Grand Patriarch  2. Ataa - Patriarch 3. Obraw - Chief Priest 4. Osow - High Priest 5. Anu-okyi - Primate  6. Okyi - Senior Priest 7. Obirew - Priest or Priestess  Among the seven, only the Obraw, Osow, and Obirew are probably still in existence or known today.  Researcher: BIC Abeiku Okai WhatsApp: (+233) 0249287855 Like and follow the Facebook page for more.