THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND BEHIND THE PERIOD OF SILENCE OF THE KUNDUM FESTIVAL
The festival was preceded by a 3-week period of absolute silence. During this period, the entire people of Ahanta refrained from activities that brought about any form of noise especially after 6 of the clock in the evening. This restraint was serious to the extent that the people could not even prepare one of their favourite local dishes- fufu– since it involved pounding.
Aside this limitation vis-a-vis the silent period, the people were again prohibited from performing entrenched traditional ceremonies like puberty rite and marriage. The only traditional event which enjoyed some level of immunity was funeral rite. And even with that, only the burial service could be performed.
According to oral tradition, there were relevant reasons behind these prohibitions during the period of silence. They claimed it was during this period of silence the Kundum was taken outskirt for preparation. The drums and the drummers for the celebration of the festival were prepared and trained respectively. In addition, they held the belief that it was during this period the communities found it most convenient to prepare towards the festival including the piling up of food.
CENTRE FOR NATIONAL CULTURE
AHANTA WEST MUNICIPAL