Amu Festival
{{short description|Ghanan annual harvest festival}}
Amu or the Rice Festival is an annual harvest festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Vane which is the traditional capital of the Avatime people.{{Cite web|last=Ghana Broadcasting Corporation|first=|date=6 September 2019|title=2019 Avatime Amu Festival launched in Accra|url=https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/2019-avatime-amu-festival-launched-in-accra/2019/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809074920/https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/2019-avatime-amu-festival-launched-in-accra/2019/ |archive-date=2021-08-09 |access-date=|website=GBC Ghana Online}}{{Cite web|title=People of Avatime celebrates Amu festival|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/657591/people-of-avatime-celebrates-amu-festival.html|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}} It is located in the Ho West District in the Volta Region of Ghana. It is usually celebrated in the last week in the month of November to December.{{Cite web|title=Goldstar Air {{!}} Tour Packages Volta Region|url=https://flygoldstar.com/tour-packages-volta-region.html|access-date=2020-08-18|website=flygoldstar.com}} Others also claim it is celebrated around September or October.{{Cite web|title=Amu Festival|url=http://amedzofevillage.com/en/2017/04/01/amu-festival-rice-festival/|access-date=2020-08-18|language=en-US}}
Celebrations
There is drumming, dancing and singing during the festival.{{Cite web|title=Festival {{!}} The Embassy of the Republic of Ghana, Berlin, Germany|url=https://ghanaemberlin.de/travel-tourism/festival/|access-date=2020-08-18|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Amu Festival – FIANDAD GHANA LIMITED|url=https://www.fiandadghanalimited.com/amu-festival/|access-date=2020-08-18|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809074919/https://www.fiandadghanalimited.com/amu-festival/|url-status=dead}}
Significance
The festival is celebrated on the harvesting of brown rice as its name implies.{{Cite web|date=2019-11-12|title=Avatime Traditional Area celebrates Amu Festival|url=https://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/avatime-traditional-area-celebrates-amu-festival/|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Ghanaian Times|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2010-10-04|title=Amu festival re-launched to boost tourism and agricultural potential of Avatime|url=https://104.196.130.246/news/amu-festival-re-launched-to-boost-tourism-and-agricultural-potential-of-avatime/|access-date=2020-08-18|website=MyJoyOnline.com|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|last=Dogbevi|first=Emmanuel|date=2010-10-02|title=Amu Festival of Avatime to attract tourists|url=https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2010/10/02/amu-festival-of-avatime-to-attract-tourists/|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Ghana Business News|language=en-US}} The people claimed they migrated from the Ahanta areas in the Western region and fought for the place they are now occupy from the original people.{{Cite web|date=2016-02-24|title=Volta Region|url=https://touringghana.com/volta-region/|access-date=2020-08-18|website=touringghana.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Festivals Ghana - Easy Track Ghana|url=https://www.easytrackghana.com/cultural-overview-ghana_festivals.php|access-date=2020-08-18|website=www.easytrackghana.com}}