BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ‘KAKA’ (HIPPO) FESTIVAL

The ‘kaka’ (hippo) festival is celebrated by the people of Wechiau Traditional Area and its environs. It is celebrated once in a year between the months of April and May. The ‘kaka’ is the second largest mammal on land and lives on both land and water.

The ‘kaka’ is an endangered species that need to be protected for fear of its complete extinction. It is sacred to the people of Wechiau Traditional Area. There is a hunting taboo against its killing.

Brief history:

The enormous animal was said to have saved the lives of our ancestors (Wechiau people) during the era of the slave raids. The story is that our people were being chased and attached by the slave raiders. Our ancestors ran to the river side and crossed safely to the other side by simply stepping on each of the rocks in turns. When the enemies arrived, they tried to do same but these shapes which we thought were rocks, were actually Hippopotamus (kaka) and they sunk below the surface causing our enemies to fall into the water. For many years on, in April-May each year the people of Wechiau Traditional Area organize and celebrate the ‘kaka’ festival.

Benefits:

1. To remind the people of Wechiau Traditional Area about the eating and hunting taboo against the animal Hippopotamus.
2. To educate the youth on the cultural and historical significance of the Hippo.
3. To showcase the cultural diversity of the people in the area.

Other relevant information:

Apart from the benefits outlined above the festival also creates a platform for home-coming for the sons and daughters living and working outside the traditional area

It is also a platform for the people to cultivate the habit of integration and socialization

Funding:

Funding of the festival has become a problem. The people largely depend on self-taxation and contributions with little supports from the District Assembly and the Member of Parliament.

Majority of the people are subsistence farmers therefore our economic situation is not good enough, hence the sustainability of the festival going forward is threatened. We take this opportunity to appeal to NGOs, Companies and individual organizations etc for a life-time sponsorship.

RECENT POST