The Akan Calendar and Its Influence on Daily Life
By: Chimdindu Ken-Anaukwu
If you think the Gregorian calendar has the final say on how people live their lives, think again. The Akan people of Ghana have long followed their own indigenous calendar system—one that isn’t just about tracking time, but about honoring life, land, ancestors, and rhythm.
Before you can say “January,” the Akan calendar is already knee-deep in spiritual ceremonies, agricultural cues, and a weekly cycle that determines names, taboos, and festivities. Let’s explore how this ancient calendar quietly orchestrates daily life in Akan communities.
🌐 The Structure of the Akan Calendar
To the Akan, time isn’t just a ticking clock—it’s a spiritual drumbeat. Their 6-day traditional week, called nnanson (literally "seven days" via inclusive counting), works alongside the modern nnawɔtwe (a seven-day week they call "eight days"). When these two rhythms sync, they create a powerful 40-day cycle called adaduanan. This isn’t math—it’s a sacred timer for planting, praying, partying, and paying respects to the ancestors.
Dabɔne
Within the Adaduanan cycle are found four special days collectively called dabɔne (bɔne, evil); Fɔdwo, Awukudae, Fofi and Akwasidae. For instance;
Akwasidae – Celebrated every 6 weeks, dedicated to ancestors and the Asantehene (king).
Fofi – Sacred Friday for the ancestors.
These special days are used for:
Honoring the ancestors
Visiting shrines
Abstaining from certain activities (e.g., farming)
Akwasidae Festival, celebrated nine times in a year.
Every nine Adaduanan cycles (that’s 360 days), Akan communities celebrate Akwasidae as Odwira—a spiritual reset marking the end of one year and the sacred start of another.
🌿 Agriculture: Sowing According to Spirit
Farmers in Akan culture do not just plant with the seasons—they plant with spiritual timing.
How the Calendar Guides Farming:
Certain days are forbidden for tilling the land, as it is believed to disturb ancestral spirits.
Yam festivals (e.g., Ohum, Homowo) are held after planting seasons, guided by the Akan calendar.
Rainy season preparation and harvest cycles align with sacred days to ensure spiritual favor.
Farmers who ignore the calendar risk spiritual backlash… or worse—disapproval from Grandma.
🎉 Festivals: Time to Feast and Honor Ancestors
Major Akan festivals like:
Akwasidae
Adae Kese (The Grand Adae)
Ohum (Yam Festival)
…are all rooted in the Akan calendar.
These festivals are NOT randomly picked. They’re calculated based on the traditional cycle.
At Akwasidae, for instance:
The royal stool is purified
Libations are poured
Ancestors are honored with drumming, dancing, and storytelling
It’s not just a party—it’s spiritual accounting.
🎓 Daily Life: Names, Taboos, and Time
Day Names
You’re not truly Akan unless your name reflects the day you were born:
Kwame (Saturday-born male)
Akosua (Sunday-born female), and so on.
This is more than identity. It’s cosmology—day names come with personality traits and spiritual roles.
Taboos
Certain days are reserved for rest or rituals.
No farming, no fighting, no funerals—on days like Fofie.
You don’t want to host a barbecue on a taboo day. That’s how ghost uncles show up uninvited.
🧩 Why It Still Matters Today
In modern Ghana, many still use the Akan calendar in tandem with the Gregorian one.
Chiefs time festivals using the Akan calendar.
Families plan naming ceremonies around sacred days.
Even Christian and Muslim Akan sometimes sneak in a libation on Akwasidae—just in case.
It’s proof that tradition isn’t old—it’s just deeply rooted.
Final Thoughts: A Calendar That Breathes
The Akan calendar isn’t just about measuring time—it’s about aligning with the ancestors, the land, and your destiny. It influences when people plant, worship, name children, rest, and celebrate.
So next time someone asks you what day it is, tell them: "It’s Akwasidae… act accordingly."
Want to learn how to pronounce all these days and festivals like a true Akan? Explore interactive lessons on the NKENNE app today!
🙌 Yɛ da wo ase! (We thank you!)