THIS YEAR'S DAMBA WAS UNIQUE (PAGE 29)

THIS year’s Damba Festival in the Tamale metropolis was very significant in many ways. The newly enskinned Tamale Chief, Dakpema Naa Mohammed Alhassan Dawuni, was marking the festival for the fist time since his induction a few months ago.
The festival was also important because it was coming a couple of weeks after the altercation between some supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tamale that resulted in a clash between some of the protagonists with its ensuing loss of life and destruction of property.
All eyes were, therefore, on Tamale as feverish preparations were being made towards the celebration of this year’s festival.
The much talked about Damba festival came to pass last Monday without any incident. It was hugely successful and the rest is history.
It is also necessary to make it clear that there has never been any infraction that has marred the successful celebration of the time-tested Damba festival in the metropolis.
Indeed majority of people in the Tamale metropolis have described this year’s festival as one of the most successful in recent years.
In spite of the large turnout of revellers, it also attracted people from all political and chieftaincy divides.
The occasion was witnessed by people from all walks of life including foreign tourists some of whom could not resist the euphoria generated by the revellers and joined them to dance.
The revellers were robed in their colourful smocks of varying sizes and shapes as they responded to the throbbing beats from the beaters.
Various youth groups also paraded along the streets with their beautifully clad ladies as if to showcase who was who.
The immaculately dressed sub-chiefs rather stole the show as they sat on their equally decorated horses and danced majestically to beats of the “Lungsi” drummers amidst the firing of musketry whose smolder temporarily lighted the bright skies.
The joyous crowd accompanying them had to meander their way to the Dakpema Chief’s Palace, which is the rallying point of the celebrants.
And by 5 p.m. almost all the sub-chiefs, accompanied by their respective retinues and ‘‘warriors’’ from the suburbs, had gathered at the palace to demonstrate the rich cultural heritage that is associated with the festival.
A 22-year-old student, Seidu Inusah, said, “I have never seen such a large crowd of people at a Damba; this year’s festival was well organised and in spite of the numbers, it went on peacefully.”
“Even though the occasion was successful, I hope more will be done to organise the Damba even better with much publicity to attract more tourists,” Abibata Alhassan stated.
“I was happy with the turn of events; there was no party coloration nor the Abudu and Andani divide: It was purely the celebration of the Damba,” an observer, Kofi Antwi, noted.
The Monday “farewell” dance climaxed the week-long activities that marked the Damba celebration.
The festival, which is a merger between Islam and tradition, is celebrated by majority of Muslim-dominated communities in northern Ghana and largely by Dagombas.
It is to mark the birth and subsequent ‘‘outdooring’’ of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W), the Founder of Islam. It is used to offer sacrifices to show appreciation to Allah and also chart a new course for the coming years.
Earlier, the Dakpema used the occasion to entreat the people to bury their differences and rather unite to fight poverty, disease and illiteracy, which were their common enemy.
“I am very optimistic that if all of us put our heads together we can make Tamale, which is reported to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the West African sub-region, a beautiful and peaceful place for all of us to reside in,” he entreated.
The Dakpema further advised the youth to be disciplined at all times and also ensure good sanitary practices within their surroundings.
“I want to assure the people of Tamale that as the Dakpema, I will be a father to all but will not countenance indiscipline in the metropolis. I hope to co-operate with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and the Regional Co-ordinating Council and security agencies to maintain peace and order in this area,” he assured.