Traditional Festivals in the Political Economy: The Case of Contemporary Ghana

Public events often express, reflect, and reinforce community social relationships and cultural values. Traditional festivals are performed to observe certain rituals and/or a type of event that communicates important cultural themes, often through the use of special forms of language, music, and dance. This community rite of passage - one that accomplishes a change in the situation or status the community is a vital part of contemporary Ghanaian society. Ghanaian festivals, both secular and ritual are becoming "pan-African" events during which enterprising and competitive activities are performed. As public events, festivals are accessible to traditional leaders, local citizens, elected and appointed political officials, tourists and entrepreneurs. The analysis of public events is particularly useful for under- standing differing mechanisms of socioeconomic development. The evolving role that elected government officials play is perhaps a key to understanding the continuing value of traditions in an age of modernity.