The Fire Festival

The fire festival (bugum) is a festival celebrated by Dagombas in the nor then part of Ghana. The festival is celebrated on the 10th of the first month of the Traditional calendar that is the fire month. The fire festival is a festival that promote unity and peace. The origin of this festival dates back to the time Whalen a king lost his dear son. The king assembled his warriors and instructed then to look for him. It was night so very dark so the worriors lit torches in search of him. So on this day every year, the people assemble at the chief's palace with their bungles of torches. The chief is the first to light his thatch before any one else can light from his.
During this festival local guns are been short in to the air and singing of local song goes with dancing whales holding the lighted torches in the air. This continues till they reach the oldest trees and they then throw the thatched there and turn dancing back home towards the chief's palace. At the chief's palace there will be a dance floor where every body exhibits his dance moves till mid night when every one goes back home. It is a wonderful festival to take part.