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The Damba festival is celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of Nalerigu, Tamale and Wa in the Northern and Upper West Regions in the Dagomba lunar month of Damba, corresponding with the third month of the Islamic calendar, Rabia al-Awwal.

Damba is also widely celebrated by Dagombas, Gonjas, Mamprusis and Nanumbas in the Northern Region, and also Walas in the Upper West Region.

The festival commemorates the birth of the Holy Prophet of Islam, Nabi Mohammed.

The Chief of Tamale, Naa Dakpema Dawuni Alhassan, hosted the Paramount Chief of Nungua, Professor Ofaifio Welentsi III, who was the special guest.

As an annual ritual, this year’s Damba festival was celebrated in a grand style at the forecourt of the Dakpema palace in Tamale.

The ecstasy was immeasurable as people from far and near flooded the streets of Tamale, singing, dancing and firing musketry to the administration of onlookers.

The colourful durbar of traditional leaders presided over by the Chief of Tamale, Naa Dakpema Mohammed Dawuni Alhassan, had an ostentatious display of cherished regalia and paraphernalia interspersed with variety of cultural entertainment.

All sub-chiefs under the Dakpema palace stormed the forecourt with not less than ten musketeers, warriors, and a host of subordinates.

Each of them in their traditional regalia, rode decorated horses and combed through some streets in Tamale Township, and finally paid homage to Naa Dakpema Dawuni Alhassan.

Naa Dakpema Dawuni Alhassan gave each chief cola in appreciation of their presence. The Paramount Chief of Nungua, Professor Ofaifio Welentsi III, and other members of his retinue graced the occasion.

Residents described the ceremony as an exhibition of the rich and flamboyant culture of the Dagbon traditional area.

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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, told Citi News the move is to prevent clashes in areas such as Bimbilla, Kalampor and Kafaba, where tensions are high.

The festival started on Wednesday with Tamale being the host city.

People from all walks of life including some chiefs from the Ga traditional area, are expected to  participate in the festival under theme, “Promoting peace to enhance development.”

This year’s Damba festival is a significant step on the journey to the restoration of peace, unity and genuine reconciliation in the Dagbon traditional area.

The festival in the town has in the previous years resulted in violence due to the deep ethnic tensions pertaining in some of the traditional areas.

The REGSEC had earlier beefed up security at Kalampor and Kafaba near Salaga in the East Gonja district, after renewed chieftaincy clashes which has left some persons dead.

The Damba festival is celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of Nalerigu, Tamale and Wa in the Northern and Upper West Regions in the Dagomba lunar month of Damba, corresponding to the third month of the Islamic calendar, Rabia al-Awwal.

Damba is the most important festival widely celebrated by Dagombas, Gonjas, Mamprusis and Nanumbas in the Northern Region, and also Walas in the Upper West Region.

The festival commemorates the birth of the Holy Prophet of Islam, Nabi Mohammed.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Celebration of Damba festival suspended in troubled areas appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

People from all walks of life including some chiefs from the Ga traditional area, are participating in the festival which is under theme, “Promoting peace to enhance development.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”eUjWZ18CY2MvEuykXM4CGiw0bTBLO6oh”]The Chief of Tamale, Naa Dakpema Dawuni Alhassan in a Citi News interview ahead of the festival said, “This year’s Damba festival is going to be a little different from what we have been seeing. Dakpema Malizali Naa in Accra and the rest are all coming. About two or three chiefs in Accra are coming here to have the celebration with us and I am going to receive all of them and keep them nicely throughout the Damba festival.”

“In the Northern Region, there are so many chiefs they haven’t been here before and most of them have come to plead that they are coming to have Damba festival with us here.”

Dema Naa, Mohammed Hafiz, the Dakpema palace entertainment chief, mentioned activities including quiz competition for some selected second cycle institutions, soccer gala and a health walk as some of the pre-Damba activities.

He thanked the management of Citi FM for their continuous support saying, “We are grateful to the people of Citi FM for always supporting us to achieve our goals. They are our media partners and anything we do they come around and we make it happen.”

“The palace would also want to say thank you to Malizali Naa who is the Boss of Citi FM for supporting us over these years. Everything we want to do he is always there to support us.”

This year’s Damba festival is a significant step on the journey to the restoration of peace, unity and genuine reconciliation in the Dagbon traditional area.

Damba is the most important festival widely celebrated by Dagombas, Gonjas, Mamprusis and Nanumbas in the Northern Region, and also Walas in the Upper West Region.

The festival commemorates the birth of the Holy Prophet of Islam, Nabi Mohammed (S.A.W).

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Damba festival begins today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.