Northern Ghana diaspora C’nity celebrates Damba Festival in New Jersey
The Northern Ghana Diaspora Community in the United States and other parts of the World last Saturday observed the maiden celebration of Damba festival in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States.
It was on the theme:”Northern Ghana Development: The Role of the Northerners in the Diaspora”.
It was used to educate the residents on the history of Dagbon and Damba, Culture and Traditional dancing, merry-making, meet old and make new friends and also raised funds to support the development of Dagbon.
Addressing the gathering, Pishigu-Lana, Dr Alhassan Andani, Chairman of the Dagbon Development Fund (DDF), urged natives of Dagbon in the United States to promote the culture, tradition and history of Dagbon to the International Community.
Pishigu-Lana Andani, whose speech was read on his behalf by Dr Mohammed Marzuq Abubakari, a Lecturer, said that the celebration could be used as part of efforts to foster peace and unity among the Northern Ghana Diaspora Community in the United States and other parts of the World.
Speaking on the topic,”Dagbon Development Fund, the Role of Dagombas in the Diaspora,” he said the DDF was a robust financial management system put in place with the appropriate governance structures to oversee the administration of the fund.
Pishigu-Lana Andani revealed that the fund was to partner the government, the Northern Development Authority, the private sector and other international development partners to rebrand and repackage Dagbon Chieftaincy institution to become a major vehicle for development.
Chief Ife Bell, Zosimli-Naa of Tamale (An American friend of Tamale), who was the special guest said her office was committed to establishing a formidable group known as the “Friends of Tamale” and that the group would be a diverse group of African Americans who desire to visit their ancestral home to participate in building or to investing in Ghana, as well as visiting tourist sites to boost tourism in Northern Ghana and Ghana at large.
She said this approach would demonstrate the preparedness of the youth to be stakeholders in the work of development for Tamale and encourage everyone to reach out to the Tamale-Louisville Sister Cities office to join the movement.
Bo-Naa, Professor S. Nantogma, former Member of the Council of State, took the celebrants through the history of Damba and how the culture and tradition of Dagbon was performed during the celebration of the Damba festival.
Mr Osman Shitu, a member of the Organising Committee, in his welcome address called on the Northern Community to promote the culture and tradition of the north wherever they found themselves.
Other Speakers and dignitaries who graced the celebration were, Dr Grace Hampton of the Department of Art, Pennsylvania State University, Dr Mohammed Habib Adam, a retiree of the US Army and Alhaji Dagomba, a revered Businessman from the North.
Also, at the celebration was the Wuza-Wuza Dance Ensemble from Ghana based in New York who spiced up the celebration with the traditional drums and dance, a Veteran Musician from the North who now resides in Chicago, Sirina Issah, and a young Musician, Tuba Clan, also from the North and resides in the States.
By Amadu Kamil Sanah, GNA Correspondent, New Jersey, USA
