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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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Muslims across the country celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in a colourful and spiritually uplifting atmosphere under the theme, “A Season of Sacrifice, Solidarity and Spiritual Renewal.”
The celebration brought together Muslims from diverse backgrounds in a remarkable display of faith, unity and cultural heritage.
The occasion was marked by special Eid prayers at various designated grounds, the slaughtering of rams in homes for sharing among family members, friends and the less privileged, as well as musical concerts and recreational activities including horse riding.
Leading the celebration was the Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Sharubutu.
While the national celebration was held at the Black Star Square where President John Dramani Mahama was the Special Guest of Honour, similar gatherings took place at different centres across the capital and other regions of the country.
A visit by The Spectator to some celebration grounds revealed Muslims, both young and old, elegantly dressed in colourful jalabiya and other Islamic attire, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
The celebration also portrayed the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the country, as a number of Christians joined their Muslim counterparts to mark the occasion.
Muslim leaders and government officials used the opportunity to call on the faithful to uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran, renew their spiritual commitment and refrain from acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.
They further urged Ghanaians to continue to live in harmony and support one another for national development.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
