Palm Sunday - A Ghanaian Perspective
April 9, 2025
Palm Sunday in Ghana is more than a liturgical observance; it is a vibrant cultural and spiritual celebration that speaks to the heart of our identity as a people of faith, community, and joy. Marking the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, this Sunday becomes a living reenactment of that sacred moment, woven with uniquely Ghanaian colors, sounds, and flavors (Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–10; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19).
From the early hours of the morning, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation. In towns and villages across the country, churches organize processions, known in some places as the stress procession, a lively and sometimes intense march through the streets, led by singing, drumming, and dancing. The roads become our Jerusalem, and our palm branches serve as welcoming banners for the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; Zechariah 9:9). This public expression of faith turns worship outward, allowing entire communities to witness and share in the sacred story.
Ghanaians do not merely wave palm fronds; we decorate them with flowers, transforming simple leaves into artistic expressions of praise. Children and adults alike take time to weave palm crosses, braid leaves into creative shapes, and attach colorful blossoms that symbolize life and resurrection (John 11:25–26). These palms are not just ornaments; they are declarations of our faith, beauty offered to the One who rides humbly on a donkey yet reigns as King (Matthew 21:5; Zechariah 9:9). Joy is everywhere, not the quiet, contemplative kind, but the exuberant joy sung with choruses, danced in vibrant rhythms, and shouted with hallelujahs. Churches are filled with jubilant hymns, and members dress in bright clothing, knowing that Palm Sunday is both a remembrance and a promise: after suffering comes triumph, after humility comes glory (Philippians 2:6–11; Romans 8:17–18). The celebration continues at home, where families prepare special meals, most notably, palm-nut soup, a rich and flavorful dish with culinary and symbolic meanings. Cooking palm-nut soup on Palm Sunday goes beyond tradition; it is a sacred act of hospitality and remembrance. Just as the palms greeted Christ, the soup welcomes His presence into the heart of the home (Revelation 3:20). Shared around family tables, it binds generations together in faith and festivity (Psalm 128:1–4).
In all of this, Palm Sunday in Ghana is a celebration that transcends the sanctuary. It is a Sunday where the sacred dances with the everyday, where Scripture comes alive in street processions, floral palms, laughter, music, and meals. It reminds us that Christ comes not only to Jerusalem but also to Badu, Sunyani, Kumasi, Accra, Tamale, and every corner of our land. And He arrives not as a distant king but as one who shares in our joy, walks our roads, and dines at our tables (John 1:14; Luke 24:30–31; Matthew 18:20).
Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord (Matthew 21:9;Psalm 118:25–26).
Manson ANANE ADJEI, M. Phil., D. Min., (Candidate)
Catholic Theological Union, Hyde Park-Chicago