Akwasidae

Akↄm is the twi word used to identify the spiritual lifestyle of the Akan people.  Akↄm is also the drumming, dancing, singing ritual that is performed on sacred days and special ceremonies. The essence of Akↄm is celebratory, musical, and mystical in nature…..the rhythmic sounds of the drums elicit transcendence to the African ways that establish familiar connections that are satisfying and complete.  

The Akan people maintain a 9 month calendar year within which sacred days occur on a 40-42 day cycle.  These Sacred days are opportunities for celebration of our spiritual connections with deities and ancestors.  Akↄm creates a sacred space that invites Onyame, ancestors and deities and provides an opening for communication between the community and the spirit realm.   

Although worship-type expressions of African spirituality are rare in Jamaica, strong ancestral elements of the Akↄm were retained by groups such as the African maroons who are descended primarily from the Akan people.  Akↄm as a form of African worship that celebrates our lineage, history and culture as black people, rooted in the cultural practices and the way of life of the Akan people of Ghana and other parts of West Africa. 

Sankofie’s primary Akↄm celebration is held on Kwasiadae (Sacred Sunday). It is normally open to the public from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  We are happy to share with you here some of the sacred teachings brought to us by our deities and ancestors during our Akↄm.