“This Year Will Be Different”: La Traditional Council Unveils 2025 Homowo With Bold Promises to Stakeholders
— Why this year’s celebration might just restore what’s been missing all along.
I remember the first time I felt the drumbeat of Homowo deep in my chest.
It was in La. I was about 11. My uncle hoisted me onto his shoulders so I could see above the crowd.
The streets were alive — literally shaking — with dancers, chants, kpanlogo drums thundering, and that unmistakable smell of kpokpoi wafting from every corner.
At some point, an elder smeared white clay on my forehead, muttering blessings I didn’t even understand.
I just knew it meant something.
Over the years, though, something changed.
It started feeling… routine.
Like we’d forgotten the point and gotten lost in noise, traffic jams, and vendors jacking up prices.
Even I stopped showing up some years.
So when I heard the La Traditional Council officially launched the 2025 Homowo Festival this week — promising enhanced activities for stakeholders — my ears perked up.
Why This Matters Now
Homowo isn’t just a festival.
It’s a prayer against hunger, a celebration of survival, and a reminder of who we are as Ga people.
But lately — I could be wrong, but… — it feels like it’s become just another public holiday. Another excuse to party without really connecting to the roots.
So when the La Traditional Council says this year’s Homowo will have more engaging activities tailored not just for locals but for business stakeholders, visitors, and even investors… I can’t help but feel a little hopeful.
What’s New This Year?
From what I gathered at the launch, the Council is stepping up its game:
✅ Better organization of processions (because last year’s traffic was a nightmare).
✅ Cultural exhibitions with deeper education for younger folks (who frankly think Homowo is just about posting selfies in traditional cloth).
✅ Clearer roles for stakeholders — including corporate sponsors, vendors, and security agencies — so everyone benefits more meaningfully.
✅ A marketing push to attract more tourists without watering down the tradition.
In their words: “We want stakeholders to feel seen, respected, and part of preserving our heritage — not just profiting from it.”
Sounds good on paper, right?
But we’ll see.
Here’s What I’ve Noticed Lately…
Cultural festivals are fragile.
They live or die by whether people care enough to keep showing up.
And if they just feel like chaotic, dusty, overpriced street jams?
People stop coming.
In my experience, when the community feels heard — when elders, youth, businesspeople, and even outsiders feel like they have a stake — the festival thrives.
When it just feels like tradition for tradition’s sake? It fades.
So, Will This Be the Year We Get It Right?
I’m cautiously optimistic.
Because honestly?
I miss feeling that childhood excitement.
I miss the unity.
I miss believing this festival actually meant something bigger than myself.
And maybe, just maybe, if the Council keeps its promise and truly enhances the experience for everyone — we can bring that magic back.
Final Thought
I keep thinking about that 11-year-old me on my uncle’s shoulders, feeling the rhythm of the drums for the first time.
I want someone else’s nephew or niece to feel that, too.
So here’s my question:
When was the last time you showed up — really showed up — for Homowo?
And if not last year… why not this year?