The celebration of this year’s Damba Festival by the Overlord and King of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, brought forth a captivating display of cherished traditions, a testament to the enduring cultural heritage of the people of Gonjaland.
In the Savannah Regional capital, Damongo, lies the heart of this cultural celebration with the presence of distinguished individuals adding an extra layer of significance to the festival.
In attendance was the Minister for Lands and Natural Resource and Member of Parliament for Damongo constituency, honorable Lawyer Samuel Abu Jinapor, who represented H.E Nana Addo Dankua Akufo-Addo and the vice present Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The minister stated in his speech that, the vice president donated an amount of Ghc 50,000 with food stuff to support the Damba festival. He preached peace and emphasized that the whole Gonja kingdom unites and rally behind HRM the Yagbonwura to uplift the Gonja Kingdom.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, the special guest of honor, and his entourage, which included the Savannah Regional Chairman of the NDC and MP for Bole-Bamboi constituency joined the traditional rulers in paying homage to their ancestral traditions. The former president, congratulated the Yagbonwura on his elevation to the presidency of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs, whiles pledging his support to him. In his speech, John Mahama encouraged all sons of Gonjaland to join in the fight against deforestation, especially the cutting down of economic trees like Shea trees for charcoal production and other purposes. He urged the Yagbonwura to set up by-laws to protect the environment.
The King in his speech read by Mandariwura Gilbert Seidu Iddi, made an appeal to government to create new Districts and Municipalitites in the Savannah Region to speed up development. The King also commended the Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akufo Dampare for elevating the status of the Bole Police Command to a divisional command.
This year’s Damba festival is the maiden edition of the of Damba for His Royal Majesty, the King of the Gonja Kingdom since his coronation. He was enskinned earlier this year after the demise of his predecessor Yabgonwura Professor Tintunba Boresa II.
This great festival is celebrated to commemorate the splendid birth of the prophet Mohammed through whom Islam was propagated to the world, but the actual content of the celebration is a glorification of the chieftaincy, not specific Islamic motifs.
