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Fire festival brings history alive
Celebrated by the Vaglas in Bole, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba and Damongo districts in the Savannah Region, the festival is used to remember the gods and ancestors in the area.
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During the festival, the youth of Tuna, especially the Vagla youth, both males and females, go naked at night, reaching out to the gods of the lands at each location of deities, with canes, whipping intermittently to ignite the gods up for more protection, favours and goodwill.
The youth also light heaps of firewood and throw the burning woods onto trees and shrubs, especially those found within the communities, chanting words of prayers and goodwill to their families, communities and lands.
The Fire festival is highly celebrated in other communities and tribes, especially in Northern Ghana and in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire but its time and intensity varies from one ethnic group, tradition or culture to another.
Funfair accompany the celebrations in almost all communities.
The dead and living
History has it that among the Vaglas, the celebration dated back to time immemorial when human race started.
To the Vaglas, a year cannot begin without reviewing relationships between the dead and the living — an ancestor is human who lived and gave birth to children and had grandchildren as well.
Among the Vaglas, childbirth is important and those unable are assisted through Sonyo Kiipo (Kiipo), Mankumzee (Gbolo), cleansing and purifying against dead spiritual attacks (Jebuni), consulting Masquerade (Mangu/Mengu) and consulting Sarfo Kala of the Chakali people (Kala) etc.
The living should hear from the dead through the creation of a bond between the living and the dead.
Those who die barren, especially men without children or grandchildren, no matter their age, are often not acknowledged as ancestors even though they are called.
To Vaglas, there is always the need to keep a relationship between the living and the dead.
Festival
Celebrations of the Jintigi is not mandatory and not too glamourous but according to one’s will or might.
In spite of modernisation, people still hold their belief strong in the festival.
The period is used by families, communities and fetish priests to seal relationships between the living and the dead.
Fetish priests and family heads ask for favours of rains for their farmlands and livestock, births, wealth, good omen and health for the living.
During this period, Vaglas in particular, with homes and families prepare foods and serve their ancestors known as Lalaakuu (Ancestors Tuo Zaafi).
Indigenes, home and abroad, send support for items to be bought to cook and prepare for their ancestors.
They believe that the ancestors hear and live among them, hence the need to feed them, a demonstration of their faith in the dead.
The writer is a native of Tuna in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region and a Communication Strategist.