Some Banda citizens at the fire festival
BANDAS AT Wenchi in the Bono Region over the weekend celebrated the Bandajon Bene Fire Festival with calls on members of the ethnic group living everywhere in the country to unite for development.
The colourful durbar of chiefs and people amidst dancing and drumming and firing of musketry was graced by His Royal Majesty of Buipe, Abudulai Jinapor II.
In his welcome address, Wenchi Bandahene, Alhahji Iddrisus Mamaudu Midoshi said the celebration of Bandajon Bene Fire festival this year was to signify the restoration of peace. He regretted that the festival could not be celebrated on three successive years due to the misunderstanding between some executives of the Banda Heritage Council. “We must allow peace a chance to unite us all for development” he said.
The rich culture of Krubi festival which is observed by women must not be hijacked by men an anomaly which is the origin of a misunderstanding between the men and women, he said. Alhaji Iddrissu asked all Bandas to eschew factionalism and come under the umbrella of the Bandajon Bene Fire Festival for development and progress. “The presence of Buipewura was to show the peaceful coexistence between the people of Gonja and Banda so let’s all take advantage of it,” he reiterated.
Buipewura, Abdulai Jinapor II, who was the special guest of honour, in a speech called on all Muslims to unite and promote education for development. According to him, the tagging of Muslim communities with all kind of social vices such as violence, robbery, and disrespect for the elderly, prostitution and hard drugs must give way to the promotion of education of Muslim children for development. “Let us take advantage of the Free SHS introduced by Akufo-Addo’s government and educate our children,” he advised.
He also pleaded with Muslims to reconsider the tradition of marrying many wives that lead to proliferation of children thus making it difficult to take adequate care of them.
The festival brought together all Bandas living at Menji, Nanamass, Sampa, Banda Ahenkro, Wenchi and Kintampo. Let us allow all bandas living everywhere to come under the Banda Heritage Council for development and allow the continuous celebration of Krubi to be in the hands of women to promote our rich culture.
Individual Banda chiefs should maintain their authority within their areas of jurisdiction but when it comes to observation of Bandajon Bene Fire Festival at Wenchi, Wenchi Bandanhene supersedes all, a member of the Banda Heritage Council said.
danielyaodayee@yahoo.com
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Wenchi