GADANGME | Ghana National Council of Chicago

GaDangme Association

From the Heart of Accra — Ga Mashie, Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua — to the Heart of Chicago

Rooted in Legacy, Leading Across Generations

Origins and Early History

The Ga people are the indigenous inhabitants of Accra, Ghana’s capital. Oral tradition traces their migration from the east—possibly Nigeria or the Ile-Ife region—to the coast of what is now Greater Accra. There, they founded historic towns such as Ga Mashie, Osu, La, Teshie, Tema, and Nungua, which remain central to Ga-Dangme spiritual and cultural life. As early urban dwellers, the Ga developed organized city-state structures, chieftaincy systems, town councils (woetsemei), and traditional religious institutions. Their position along the coast made them key players in maritime trade and early cultural exchange with Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, and British powers. These interactions led to the introduction of Western education and Christianity, which the Ga absorbed while safeguarding their own traditions.

The Homowo Festival—meaning “hooting at hunger”—emerged from their agricultural resilience. It commemorates the triumph over famine and is marked by the sprinkling of kpokpoi, drumming, libations, and dance. Homowo remains the most celebrated festival among the Ga-Dangme, symbolizing survival, unity, and ancestral honor.

Ga Migration and the Chicago Connection

In the late 20th century, Ga-Dangme people, like many Ghanaians, migrated abroad in search of education, work, and family reunification. Chicago became a major center for this migration, giving rise to a vibrant Ga-Dangme diaspora community.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Ghanaian students and professionals in Chicago formed community-based networks, most notably the Ghana-Chicago Club (GCC)—a group deeply connected to Ga identity.

In 1987, the GCC partnered with GaDangme elders and leaders—including Nii Lante Okunka Blebodzan I (Paa Lante), Chicago’s first Ga Mantse—to organize the city’s first public Homowo Festival at Jackson Park. This successful event laid the foundation for Ghanafest, which was officially launched in 1990 through the newly formed Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago (GNC).

By 1995, the GaDangme community had formally established itself as the GaDangme Community Organization of Chicago (GACO), which eventually evolved into today’s GaDangme Association of Chicago–Ghana.

Cultural Identity and Vision

The GaDangme Association of Chicago proudly upholds a cultural identity rooted in:

Maritime and agricultural heritage
Spiritual resilience through Homowo
Traditional governance and chieftaincy
Township pride from Ga Mashie, Osu, La, Teshie, Tema, and Nungua

The annual celebration of Homowo in Chicago has become a vital expression of this identity. Through sacred food rituals, drumming, storytelling, and communal worship, the Ga-Dangme community affirms its cultural continuity across generations.

Parents teach the Ga language, uphold traditional naming customs, and promote values such as respect for elders, hospitality, and faith in Ataa Naa Nyomo (God). Second-generation Ga-Americans carry this legacy forward through language, music, professional pursuits, and cultural leadership.

Leadership and GNC Affiliation

Leadership has been a defining feature of the GaDangme presence in Chicago. Under the stewardship of Nii Lante and key community figures such as Eddie-Quartey, O. Sowah Botchway, and Sam Owoo-Bartlett, the GaDangme Association helped shape GNC’s formation and governance.

Their active participation includes:

Leadership roles in GNC’s executive and planning bodies
Inter-ethnic collaboration within the Ghanaian community
Civic outreach and cultural diplomacy

Cultural Contributions & Ghanafest Roles

At Ghanafest, the GaDangme Association plays a central and highly visible role:

Leading processions of chiefs and queenmothers in full Ga-Dangme regalia
Performing Homowo rituals, including the sprinkling of kpokpoi, libations, and blessings
Showcasing drumming, kpalongo dance, and traditional attire
Hosting a community tent that welcomes guests, shares history, and fosters cross-cultural dialogue

These contributions have made the GaDangme identity an anchor of Ghanafest, reinforcing themes of unity, history, and pride in cultural heritage.

Community Service and Diaspora Engagement

Beyond festivals and tradition, the Association engages in impactful community service:

Scholarship support for students in both the U.S. and Ghana
Charitable donations to institutions in the Ga-Dangme regions of Ghana
Mentorship and youth engagement to prepare the next generation for leadership
Strategic partnerships with the GaDangme Foundation of Chicago (GDFC), a 501(c)(3) organization focused on civic development, health, and education

Legacy and Cultural Stewardship

From Ga Mashie to Chicago, from Nungua to the North Side, the GaDangme Association continues to serve as a cultural bridge—maintaining traditions while expanding identity in the diaspora.

Their enduring presence reflects:

Commitment to Homowo and cultural continuity
Preservation of the Ga language, rites, and symbols
Intergenerational leadership grounded in values and vision
A legacy of resilience, rootedness, and global reach

The Ga people continue to “hoot at hunger”—not just in memory of famine, but as a metaphor for confronting all forms of adversity with strength, dignity, and unity.

“From Homowo to Ghanafest: The GaDangme Association of Chicago–Ghana”