The chiefs and people of Suke, Sinaa, Kongor, and Dindee in the Lambussie District of the Upper West Region constitute the Da-nwan Clan. With Sinaa as the traditional capital the clan traces its origin to Setii in Burkina Faso.
The Da-nwan Festival is therefore an annual festival celebrated by the Da-nwan Clan, the celebration of the event was however suspended since 2020 until this year, due to the outbreak of COVID -19 Pandemic that necessitated a ban on public gatherings.
On 29th April, 2023 however, the 12th edition of the event was held at the premises of Suke Basic School under the theme:“Gender Equity, a Tool for Development”.
The event was attended by dignitaries such as Hon Winifred Diyaka, a former DCE and Former Deputy Regional Minister, Hon. Bamie Salam (Guest of Honor), the District Chief Executive for Lambussie District, Hon. Naluri George Gerard and the Paramout Chief of Lambussie Traditional Area.
In the welcome address, the chief of Suke community, Kuoru Dakui Yiriminoh Zimi III gave brief history of the Da-Nwan clan.
According to him, “Oral tradition has it that the people of Da-nwan migrated from Savelugu in the Northern Region and settled at Setii in Burkina Faso.
He stated that due to the desire of the people for territorial expansion, some family heads of Setii migrated to the present day Da-Nwan which is made up of Sina, Dinder, Kongo and Suke with Sinaa as the traditional capital.
The Chief also revealed that available information though scanty, also linked the Da-nwan Clan to Mwankuri, Sabuli and Sombo communities. This according to him, prompted their invitation by their brothers in that area, to join them in marking a similar occasion early this year.
In conformity with the theme for this year’s Da-nwan Festival; which is “Gender Equity, A Tool for Development”, an Educational Fund was instituted to combat and support both the girl and boy child educational challenges in their quest to strive for better and quality education in the Da-nwan enclave.
Through an appeal for funds to support the Educational Fund at the durbar grounds, an amount of two thousand one hundred and fifty Ghana Cedis (Gh¢2150.00) was generated.
Some individuals also made pledges that amounted to six thousand, five hundred Ghana Cedis (Gh¢6500.00).
Hon. Winifred Diyaka who chaired the occasion, also highlighted the relationship between the Da-nwan and the people of Mwankur, saying that they are believed to have migrated from Northern Region, to Setii in Burkina Faso and later moved Southwards to settle at Mwankuri, Sabuli and Sombo”.
She added that Da-nwan moved to Sinaa, their traditional capital and later to areas like Dinde, Suke and Kongor in the Lambussie District and now spread to other parts of the Upper West Region like Guo, Kogle, Charia Wellembele, Konguol among others.
The District Chief Executive for Lambusie District, Hon. Naluri George Gerard who was the Special Guest of Honor described the theme as appropriate since investing in the education sector is undoubtedly, an essential ingredient for accelerated socio-economic development.
He indicated that the theme reflects on their commitment to achieving gender equity and empowering all women and girls as envisaged by Sustainable Development Goal five (5).
Hon. Naluri George Gerard reminded the people about the fact that the desert is fast approaching the area. He lamented about the fact that though the area is very close to the Sahara, human activities and attitude towards the environment leaves much to be desired.
The DCE therefore appealed to the citizenry to stop these practices to enable them overcome the threat of climate change in the district.
During the occasion, Chiefs of the area called on authorities especially the District Assembly to come to the aid of the community by providing classrooms and posting more teachers to the community.
He bemoaned the congestion’s of pupils in the schools where more than eighty (80) pupils are placed in some classrooms making class management extremely difficult, for teachers.
Kuoru Dakui Yiriminorh also bemoaned the worrying rate of school dropout in the area especially among girls.
He therefore urged parents to always preform their parental responsibilities to complement the efforts of the few teachers.
He also expressed worry about the rate at which the environment is being desecrated through felling of economic trees for commercial charcoal production, calling for a permanent halt to the felling of trees such as Shea, Dawadawa and other edible trees that form the backbone of the local economy.
Time to act according to him, is now as the desertification is approaching the area at an accelerated level.
Kuoru Dakui Yiriminorh recommended the World Vision’s concept of Farmer Managed Natural Resource Regeneration (FMNR) as the best innovation to adopt, in the management of the environment.
As part of activities marking the Festival, a football gala competition was organized among communities in the area. Nyentie and Nyivil made it to the finals.
Nyentie community however won the final match and was awarded with a trophy during the festival.
Story by: Babia Mubaric [Mystic]
