Effects of covid-19 pandemic on community based event The case of Aboakyer Festival

Abstract

Festivals have aims and objectives that affect the community one way or the other. This study seeks to investigate whether the Covid- 19 pandemic had any effect on the celebrations of the Aboakyer festival of the people of Effutu and finally find out if there were behind the scene pacifications that were used to circumvent the cultural and traditional implications that hitherto would have affected the Effutu community. The purpose of the study was to find out how rituals and any other rites were performed to pacify the gods in the absence of the celebration of the Aboakyer Festival, find out if there are any cultural and traditional implications and also investigate how it has affected the people of Effutu. With the sample size, twelve (12) participants(people) which is made of six (6) Asafo companies; 3 from each of the Asafo groups, two (2) Royals and Two (2) Vendors and two (2) people who stayed in Winneba (indigenes). Purposive and snowball sampling were used as techniques in the study so that credible, appropriate and valid data would be generated. Structured and semi structured interviews were used to illicit information needed to make the study reach and complete. Based on the results from the interviews, the findings were that, the Covid19 pandemic had a serious toll on the celebration of Aboakyer festival in the year under review and though the celebration couldn’t come on, certain important rites were performed under cover to pacify the gods without the involvement of the crowd. Vendors and other businessmen and women were not able to make sales, and hence were not able to make the expected income. The study concluded that, the absence of Aboakyer festival celebration caused the community to adopt new strategies in handling certain cultural and traditional practices which hitherto were not adhered to. The study recommends that traditional and cultural practices in the Effutu community should be looked at by stakeholders in art and culture in Effutu so that in case there is any form of pandemic it would not affect the community, the traditional and cultural practices of the communities. A final recommendation is that, there should be awareness creation and involvement in the preservation of the Effutu cultural traditions and the significance of the festival through educational programs, cultural events, and initiatives that encourage community members, particularly the younger generation, to appreciate and actively participate in preserving the Effutu heritage.