Efutu people

The Efutu is a linguistic group of Ghana and they fall within a branch of the Akan people called the Guans, which includes the Larteh, Buem, Anum, Nkonya, Kete-Krachi, Bowire and Mente-mente. They founded the Gold Coast kingdom in roughly 1300 C.E.

They are located on the coast near the capital Accra. People believe they are connected to the Ga-Adangmes. The main occupation is fishing along the coast.

The famous king of the Efutus is Nana Kwasi Gyan Ghartey (I). He was famous for his fishing activities, had as many as 12 wives, and had more than six children with each wife. He helped to develop the town and its people by building various structures, including the police station, the secondary school, and all the major huge buildings in the town.

The Efutu speak Efutu (also called Awutu) language, which is similar to the Ga language. The Efutu are found in the central region of Ghana in Awutu, Adina, Senya-Beraku and Winneba (Simpa).

The Efutu celebrate the Akumesi Festival (with the exception of Winneba which celebrates the Aboakyir Festival). The Akumesi Festival, which is similar to the Homowo of the Ga-Adangmes, is celebrated to hoot at hunger. The Aboakyir is a festival on its own. It came about once when there was an epidemic at Winneba in about the 18th century. The elders at Winneba decided to consult their gods, who demanded human sacrifices every year to stop the epidemic. But the elders knew that was inhumane, so they reconsulted their gods to change their decision. The gods then requested for a live tiger to be sacrificed to them every year. The elders knew it was impossible, so they reconsulted the gods. This time, it was a live deer. The elders accepted this, and that was how the Aboakyir festival came about. Until now the Aboakyir festival is celebrated by the people of Winneba.

Sources

• Meyerowitz, Eva L. R. "A Note on the Origins of Ghana." African Affairs 51.205 (1952): 319-23.