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Damba: The festival that unites Northern Ghana
Few festivals in Ghana carry the weight of history, colour, and unity like the Damba festival.
What began centuries ago as a religious commemoration has today blossomed into the largest cultural festival in Northern Ghana, celebrated across the Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper East, and Upper West regions.
From the palaces of Dagbon, Mamprugu, and Nanumba, Damba resonates with the sound of drums, praise-singers, and the spectacle of tradition.
Its significance has even transcended borders, drawing Ghanaians and foreign admirers to international editions held in Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The name Damba is rooted in the Dagbani language, though it appears in other tongues, Damma in Mampruli.
Observed in the third month of the Dagomba calendar, which coincides with Rabia al-Awwal in the Islamic calendar, Damba was originally celebrated to mark the birth and naming of Prophet Muhammad.
Over time, it has evolved into a grand festival celebrating chieftaincy, kinship, and the resilience of Ghana’s northern kingdoms.
The festival unfolds in three major stages that is Somo Damba, Naa Damba, and the grand Belkulsi or farewell procession. In the early days, the Yila Bohambu, or nightly musical rehearsals, fill the palaces with song.
Women of the royal courts lead these performances, keeping alive the traditional chants and rhythms that set the tone for the celebrations. The Somo Damba is a solemn time of prayer, drumming, and dignified dancing.
It is followed by the youthful exuberance of the Binchera Damba, where young men and women take to palace grounds in worn yet stylish smocks, showcasing creativity and spirit in a torn couture display.
Another revered rite, the Shinkaafa Gahimbu (picking of rice), sees clerics, led by the Yidan Moli at the Gbewaa Palace, offering symbolic rituals of blessing and prosperity.
The Nahu Glibu, or rounding of the cow, performed by chiefs, demonstrates wealth, unity, and the continuity of life. But it is the Naa Damba, the King’s Damba that truly crowns the festival.
Here, the atmosphere reaches its peak: chiefs ride majestically on horseback, praise-singers proclaim ancestral glories, and the air explodes with musketry from warriors, signalling strength, protection, and bravery.
One of the most breathtaking spectacles of Damba is the procession of the queens. Adorned in regal cloths and glittering ornaments, they gracefully carry golden-coloured bowls, abolition cans, utensils, sandals, and animal skins, the very seat and symbols of authority for the chiefs.
Each item tells a story, each step a reminder of the sacred duty queens play in preserving heritage and continuity.
Their slow, elegant movement is met with admiration from the gathered crowds, reinforcing the balance between royalty and community. No Damba is complete without the vibrant dances that fill the courtyards.
The housing dance, performed with synchronised grace, captures the essence of belonging, while the warriors’ displays, accompanied by fierce drumming and bursts of musketry in the skies is to celebrate resilience and courage.
These performances not only entertain but also remind communities of their history, values, and collective identity.
The festival’s climax, Belkulsi, bids farewell in a grand procession. Families exchange visits, gifts are shared, and friendships renewed.
Streets and palace grounds explode with colour, sound, and movement, leaving behind memories that last until the next Damba.
From Gonja, Dagbon, Mamprugu, Wali and Nanumba, Damba has remained a symbol of identity and unity.
Its international editions in Cologne, New York, and London highlight the festival’s growing role as a cultural ambassador, projecting Ghana’s northern traditions to the world stage.
Damba is a living archive of history, an affirmation of heritage, and a celebration of the bond between people and tradition.
In its rhythm, regalia, and rituals, one sees not only the past but also the promise of continuity for generations to come.
From Geoffrey Buta, Yendi
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Lieutenant Colonel Jacqueline Dela Galley has become the first woman to command the Ghana Military Police Unit, marking a milestone in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Lt. Col. Galley said her appointment, announced at the beginning of the year, came as a surprise.
“I was very happy. I was very excited because I was not really expecting it,” she said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, describing it as “a very nice New Year package.”
She said her family was equally delighted, particularly as the appointment coincided with her recent completion of a Master of Philosophy degree in Human Rights, Conflict and Peace Studies.
Lt. Col. Galley said her rise reflected years of deliberate gender mainstreaming within the GAF, supported by international frameworks and initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for women in uniform.
She said her journey into the military was unplanned, explaining that her interest was sparked while studying at the University of Ghana, Legon.
“I did not really know anything about the military, but I was privileged to be in the same class with some service persons. I liked the way they carried themselves. They were more disciplined… very focused, and that motivated me,” she said.
She said she applied after national service, completed the required training and was commissioned into the Ghana Armed Forces on September 7, 2008.
Lt. Col. Galley said she became the first female officer to be posted directly to the Military Police Unit from the academy, a decision facilitated by the then Commanding Officer of the Ghana Military Academy, Brigadier General Ishmael Ben Quartey.
“I told him later that he made the history,” she said. “His decision 19 years ago is manifesting today.”
Lt. Col. Galley said her early years in the Military Police involved administrative duties and investigations, including serving as a provost officer with the United Nations Mission in Côte d’Ivoire and commanding detachments across the country.
“Every course I went to shaped me. My principle is to come up with something. I don’t just go and sit there,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley said she had balanced her career with family life and is married to Colonel Dominic Buah, with whom she has four sons.
“It didn’t disturb my work,” she said. “If you are supposed to produce something by 10 o’clock, it should be there.”
She said her husband’s understanding of military life had been critical to managing her responsibilities.
“He understands the system. He knows I must be there,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley rejected suggestions of tokenism, saying female officers who rose to leadership positions did so on merit.
“Women who get to the top merit it. They are qualified. They are experienced. Command has confidence in them,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley said gender mainstreaming had allowed women to demonstrate their capabilities.
“When women were allowed to come out of their shells, they start doing wonders,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley advised young female officers to remain focused and committed to their oath of service.
“It was not a joke when you were taking that oath… That is why me, if you say, go here, I’m going,” she said.
On her priorities as Commander of the Military Police, Lt. Col. Galley said her focus would be on discipline within the Armed Forces.
“My immediate priority will be tailored towards my role. And that is enforcing discipline in the Ghana Armed Forces,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley said all military deployments included briefings on human rights and rules of engagement, adding that violations were treated as individual misconduct.
“Anyone who goes contrary to that is dealt with,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley said enforcing discipline could be unpopular but was necessary.
“If you are meticulously enforcing the law, you won’t have friends. Some people will call you wicked. But once you know you’ve done the right thing, you shouldn’t be bothered,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley said relations with other security agencies remained cordial and cooperative.
“We are all doing the same thing – ensuring the security of the state,” she said.
Reflecting on her appointment, Lt. Col. Galley said it reinforced the importance of integrity.
“This appointment has made me realise that whatever you do, you are being watched. It’s good to do the right thing, even when nobody is watching,” she said.
Lt. Col. Galley encouraged young Ghanaians to pursue their ambitions but remain resilient.
“Pursue your dream… But if you don’t get the opportunity, it doesn’t mean you are not good,” she said. -GNA
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Dear Obaa Yaa,
I wrote sometime in 2024 to share a strange ordeal I have been going through. I contracted a sexually transmitted disease during my period of national service.
Initially, I thought it was a normal illness, so I visited a nearby hospital for treatment. However, I continue to experience persistent itching and pain in my manhood.
As the situation worsened, I became worried and wrote to you. You advised me to see a specialist. The doctor did his best, but the condition still persists. I have also undergone several laboratory tests, all of which show that there is nothing medically wrong with me.
Some doctors and pharmacists I have consulted have suggested that the problem could be psychological. There is a sore at the tip of my male organ, and it causes me great distress.
I feel pain when urinating, followed by sharp pains in my waist. At the moment, I am not only suffering physically but also psychologically. I cannot concentrate on my work for even five minutes.
Could this be spiritual?
Mawuli, Keta
Dear Mawuli,
There is still hope for your situation. I strongly advise you to see a qualified urologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further assessment and treatment.
I cannot say for certain whether your condition is spiritual or not. However, do not lose faith. Continue praying to God, because your healing may come when you least expect it.
Stay strong.
Obaa Yaa
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