holiday in which the King bites and spits out spe-
cific plants and fruits of the first harvest. This sig-
nifies that it is now time to partake of the harvest.
Yam or New Yam festivals are similar rituals
that occur throughout the continent because of
the importance of yams in the diets of many
groups. During these festivals, farmers bring their
yams to chiefs who then offer them to deities,
ancestors, elders, and clan heads before they can
be eaten. Sometimes raw yams are offered to the
ancestors and cooked ones for the living. An Ibo
tradition requires the eldest male of the commu-
nity to offer newly harvested yams to deities and
ancestors first. The elder then eats the first yam.
After these rituals, people are now permitted to
consume the new harvest. It is taboo to eat the
new harvest before these rituals are performed.
During this time, old yams are discarded and
contests are held for the biggest and best yams.
Once food supplies have been secured for the
coming year, communities can afford a little mer-
rymaking and the affirmation of relationships. In
Ghana, at least 57 harvest festivals are held from
late July through early October with these themes.
The most widely observed among the Ga is the
Homowo festival, or “hooting at hunger.” One
family celebrates Homowo before all the others.
This signals the start of the season. It is a time for
family gatherings, gift giving, purification, rituals,
meals, dances, and honoring the ancestors. Debt
payments cannot be demanded nor can legal pro-
ceedings be initiated. On the eve of Homowo,
people stay in their houses while the ancestors
walk the streets. The Ga king sacrifices a sheep.
The next morning, a ritual meal of fish stew and
corn dough is prepared and given to the ancestors
along with libations. Then the living family mem-
bers eat. Afterward, the Homowo dance is per-
formed. The next day, those who died the
previous year are mourned by the women, and
family and friends exchange wishes for the year.
Agricultural MythologyIn addition to cultivation for physical nourish-
ment, there are ritual cultivations of crops. The
cultivation of millet among the Ga is associated
with thekpele gods, maize with the ancestors,
and yam withotugods, chiefs’ thrones, talking
drums, and twins.
The Yoruba divinity Osanyin brought all of the
plants to Earth with their rich and varied shades
of green and colorful flowers. In doing so, he also
brought to the Earth beauty and sacred, which did
not exist before. He also brought animals, but is
more regarded for plants. One day, Ifa asked him
to weed a garden; Osanyin began crying because
the weeds he was asked to remove were beneficial
as medicine. Since then, Osanyin is known as the
doctor in the kingdom of Olodumare.
The Dogon say theseneseed is the first plant
life and it carries with it elements from the first
creation by Amma. Thus, sacrifices made to the
senetree bring good to all vegetation.Denise MartinSee alsoFamily Rites; Plants; Rocks and StonesFurther Readings
Asante, M. K., & Nwadiora, E. (2006).Spear Masters:
An Introduction to African Religion. Lanham, MD:
University Press of America.
Mbiti, J. S. (1990).African Religions and Philosophy.
Oxford, UK: Heinemann.AGWE
In Haitian Vodou, Agwe is an important spirit
who represents one of the most powerful and
well-respected forces in nature: the ocean. He is
husband to Lasiren, a mermaid who resides with
him in his underwater mansion, and cousin to her
sister, La Balen, a whale. Although his main con-
sort is Lasiren, it is said that Agwe was seduced by
Ezili Freda at one time. Because some believe that
Lasiren is really one of the many different aspects
of Ezili, in actuality, he would have consorted
with histruewife.
Although often overshadowed by his strik-
ingly beautiful wife, Amiral Agwe, as he is
called by some of his followers, is recognized as
the only true patron of sailors and fishers.
Haitians pray to him when embarking on sea-
ward journeys. If his followers are faithful, he
will guide them safely to their destination and
provide a bountiful catch; however, if they areAgwe 19