Abstract
Some Christians claim that after the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the ultimate sacrifice; no other sacrifice is needed by the Christian. This paper examines some of the sacrifices made as part of the celebration of the Okuapehene Dwira(Odwira), a festival celebrated by the Akuapem of Ghana. It looks at how the sacrifices are made and their significance. It also examines theologically the sacrifice of Christ and what it has achieved for the believer. The paper is based on observations of the festival, interviews with traditional leaders as well as the ordinary people in Akropong. Responses given to a questionnaire on the festival by indigenes of Akuapem living in Akropong and around Sakumono and Lashibi in the Greater Accra Region are also used. In addition, commentaries, and writings on sacrifice by theologians are analysed and used. The study’s findings indicate that even though the sacrifices involved in the Odwira festival are not propitiatory sacrifices like that of Christ, the sacrifice of Christ has currently rendered all of them unnecessary. The paper contributes to scholarship by affirming what some theologians have already put forward, that the sacrifice of Jesus is the ultimate blood sacrifice after which no other sacrifice is needed. The paper falls under the disciplines of theology, religion, culture, and Gospel and Culture.
Highlights
This paper examines some of the sacrifices made as part of the celebration of the Okuapehene Dwira(Odwira), a festival celebrated by the Akuapem of Ghana
While all the people interviewed, as well as the fifty-two who responded to the questionnaire were of the view that the celebration of the festival should continue, those who identified themselves as Christians said that they had issues with the presence of sacrifices in the festival
All the fifty-two (52) who responded to the questionnaire and returned them indicated among other things that the blood sacrifices made in the celebrations is something that makes them uncomfortable with the celebration
Summary
According to Awolalu, throughout history, the practice of sacrifice has been encountered whenever human beings have worshipped divine beings.. According to Awolalu, throughout history, the practice of sacrifice has been encountered whenever human beings have worshipped divine beings.2 The truth of this statement is affirmed in writings on sacrifices among different African peoples. Gaba has written on Sacrifice in Aålô religion In his article, he makes the point that the Aålô people perform “sacrifice on many occasions.” Der writes about sacrifice among the Kasena and Dagaba of Northern Ghana.. That is to say that sacrifice forms part of every religion in the world Bringing this point home, Mbiti has said that it constitutes “one of the commonest acts of worship in Africa.”
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