Fire Festival (Bugum Kyuu) In North East And Northern Region Of Ghana & Why Existence.

 

FIRE FESTIVAL

This energizing, boisterous yearly occasion is commended in most Mamprusi people group across the North East Region in recognition of an old legend. In Mampruli, the Fire Festival is called Bugum Toobu (Fire Throwing) or Bugum Kyuu (Fire Festival). Dagomba individuals who are connected with the Mamprusi and live only south in the Northern Region call.

When is the Fire Festival?

The Fire Festival falls on the 10th day of the conventional month of Bugum Gɔri. Conventional Mamprusi celebrations depend on the lunar schedule, in this way the specific date of the Fire Festival changes from one year to another. Nonetheless, the occasion as a rule falls in the long stretches of August, September, or October. It generally happens two lunar cycles before the Damba Festival. So one can look into Mohammed's birthday and deduct around 58 days to get a decent gauge.

What Happens at the Fire Festival?

While the celebration is seen at the main's royal residence is most towns, the biggest recognition is in Nalerigu at the NaYiri Palace.

 The celebration authoritatively starts a little while after dull when Muslims have completed their night supplications had opportunity and willpower to plan for the occasion. The central will emerge from his royal residence and toss the main flaring light in the wake of spinning it around his head multiple times. In Nalerigu, the lord's rising up out of his castle is generally something truly amazing. His parade is comprised of his seniors, sub-bosses, drummers, fiddlers, and different squires.

Odd Beliefs Around the Festival

It is a practice to take a flaring light and wave the fire around your head multiple times to get best of luck the new year. People will then welcome each other with "Naawunni kyɛ ka yuumni ti ya nya hoo nŋɔa taabu ka mari la nyɔvuri ni alafɛa n laa n-toori bugum," and that signifies "May God permit me to survive the approaching year with wellbeing and toss fire once more."

 In Nalerigu, an enormous bowl of sacred water (favored by the Gambaga imam) is brought out from the Nayiri's castle and individuals races to get from it. The conviction is that anybody with any ailment or illness who washes with or hydrates will be relieved.

 The evening of the celebration, a few conservatives will butcher a cow, sheep or goat and leave bits of meat on the walls of their family compounds as contributions to their predecessors. They will then partake in a dinner together.

 A few men perform hazardous tricks to flaunt their fortitude (however some would contend it is stupidity) and their tiim or juju (supernatural powers). You might see some cutting themselves with blades yet not draining and others contacting flares and not being scorched.

While the neighborhood youth unquestionably partake in the turmoil and disorder of the Fire Festival, the celebration is protected to go to as a vacationer or guest. It is exhorted that one remain nearby the central's royal residence and not stay out past the point of no return.

 The firearm discharged at the celebration are not stacked with fired or shots - basically black powder. Regardless, one ought to stay away as weapon related mishaps can (and do) happen. The weapons are additionally incredibly clearly at short proximity.

The Origin of the Fire Festival

Coming up next is the oral custom, or legend, behind the festival of the Fire Festival by the

 Quite a while back, the ruler's child was out playing with his companions. He became drained and set down under a tree to rest. He nodded off and the others disregarded him.

 That evening after dinner the lord and the mother understood the kid was missing when they called him to hit the hay. They had each thought he was with the other parent.

 The ruler requested his kin to circumvent the to village searching for the missing child. There was no power so they generally lit grass lights for their pursuit. Expecting that a wild creature had taken him, the men drew out the entirety of their firearms.

 At the point when they came to the edge of the village they tracked down him under the tree in a profound rest. Imagining that the tree (or a shrewd soul in it) had taken the kid, every one individuals tossed their lights on the tree to consume and disgrace it.

To commend the event the lord declared that consistently they ought to remember this blissful occasion. Then individuals every year accumulated at the lord's royal residence, where he would arise with a light and toss it down. Every one of those with weapons would draw out their weapons and discharge them off. Then, at that point, individuals would light their lights and go external the town to toss them into the bramble.

Substitute Origin Story

There is an other history for the most part heard from Muslim Dagombas toward the south. It attempts to associate the Fire Festival (Bugum Chugu in Dagbani) to the hour of Noah and the Biblical flood. The thought is that one of Noah's children didn't make it onto the ark and after the waters subsided, Noah and his family came out waving lights searching so that him might check whether he made due. This variant was logical thought up by early Muslims in Dagombaland as a way for converts to legitimize a prior customary festival.