Damba festival celebrated by most of the tribal groups of Muslim origin in Northern Ghana. This festival is celebrated by the chiefs and people of Dagbon, Gonjas, Mamprusis, Nanumbas and the Walas. The main aim for the merriment is to remember the birth and naming ceremony of the Holy Prophet Mohammed. Damba is celebrated in the months of March, June and July, among the various ethnic groups mentioned, thus it varies from one community to the other.
Damba festival is a twin festive namely; “Somo” Damba and “Naa” Damba. “Somo” Damba is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the prophet and Naa-Damba is held to mark his naming ceremony. Approaching the months named, Chiefs, elders and family heads not forgetting the local folk are always on the lookout for the moon of Damba. It is therefore common to see people raising their heads towards the sky each evening desperately awaiting the moon to shoot up. This is the month the Mamprusis call Damba “goori” or “billai”, the Gonjas term it as Damba “be-kuful” and the Dagombas call it Damba “gooli”. It may interest one to know why the ascent naming between the Mamprusis and the Dagombas appears to sound similar, it is because the two tribes were founded by the children of the legend Naa-Gbewaa, a rich history you would want to know more about among the Mole Dagbani states.
Once this said moon is seen in the month that has been chosen for the celebration is due, it marks the beginning of the ten day of the festival which all families happily receives it with smiles and merry making. Most importantly, the festival is also a time of unity amongst all the chieftaincy gates of Mamprugu. All unsettled grudges in the gatesare brought to the chief house for settlement before lifting the ban for the celebration of the festival. Broken marriages are reviewed and settled for the betterment of all.
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