Aims. Gamma-ray burst (GRB) 190829A ( z = 0.0785) was detected by Fermi and Swift and also at very high energy (VHE) by the High-Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) telescopes. The prompt emission displayed two emission episodes separated by a quiescent gap of ∼40 s. We present the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) observations of the afterglow of GRB 190829A and its underlying supernova. We also compare GRB 190829A to GRB 180728A, a GRB with similar behaviour, and discuss the implications on underlying physical mechanisms producing these two GRBs. Methods. We present multi-band photometric data along with spectroscopic follow-up observations taken with the 10.4 m GTC telescope. Together with the data from the prompt emission, the 10.4 m GTC data are used to understand the emission mechanisms and possible progenitor. Results. A detailed analysis of the multi-band observations of the afterglow requires the cooling frequency to pass between the optical and X-ray bands at early epochs. The afterglow then transitions to the underlying supernova (SN) 2019oyw, which dominates later on. Conclusions. Although the prompt emission temporal properties of GRB 190829A and GRB 180728A are similar, the two pulses are different in the spectral domain. We find that SN 2019oyw associated with GRB 190829A is powered by Ni decay and is a Type Ic-BL SN. The spectroscopic and photometric properties of this SN are consistent with those observed for SN 1998bw, but evolved earlier.
