The Greater Accra Bissa community marked a significant milestone on Saturday with the celebration of their first-ever Sukuma festival, using the occasion to officially introduce their new chief to the public.
The celebration was a spectacular display of Bissa culture, featuring traditional music, dance, and cuisine, marking a significant milestone in their cultural calendar.
Held at the Alajo Astroturf, the vibrant event drew thousands of attendees who gathered to witness the formal introduction of Kir Salisu Ali Dabre IV, the newly installed president of the Greater Accra Council of Bissa Chiefs.
The festival, organised by the Greater Accra Bissa Development Association (BDA) under the auspices of the Greater Accra Council of Bissa Chiefs, showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Bissa people. Various Bissa groups took turns to greet the chief in a colourful procession, adding to the festive atmosphere of the day.
Kir Salisu Ali Dabre IV, who arrived from the United States for the occasion, made his first public appearance since his installation in April this year. His presence added an extra layer of significance to the event, as it marked the beginning of his leadership following the passing of his predecessor, the late Dabre Mohammed Ali Dabre III. His participation heightened the anticipation and excitement surrounding the festivities.
It was under the theme: “Preserving Our Culture and Building Unity to Promote Peace Towards Election 2024—The Role of All Citizens.”
In his keynote address, the National Chairman of the BDA Shaibu Gutare Zanni, showed gratitude to the landowners of Accra for their wonderful hospitality to the Bissa people.
“The BDA, in collaboration with the various Regional Councils of Bissa Chiefs, has been engaging various Bissa communities across the country to ensure that there is unity among us and to promote peaceful coexistence with our neighbours,” he said.
“The peace-loving nature of the Bissa people has not been achieved on a silver platter. It is a cause the BDA and the Bissa chiefs continue to pursue in order to maintain this enviable record.
“We therefore wish to assure the good people of Accra and all other host towns and cities across the country that we do not take your hospitality for granted. We forever owe you all, a debt of gratitude for the love shown us.”
The Sukuma festival, established in 2022, is a cultural celebration designed specifically for Bissa diaspora communities. Unlike the annual Zekula festival held in Kulungungu, Sukuma allows local Bissa groups outside their ancestral homeland to set their own dates for cultural gatherings.
This flexibility enables dispersed Bissa communities to maintain strong connections to their heritage and roots.
The Greater Accra Sukuma festival is particularly noteworthy as it is only the third such celebration since the festival’s inception, with the Ashanti region having hosted the previous two.
This event underscores the growing importance of maintaining cultural connections for diaspora communities in an increasingly globalised world.
As the festival concluded, attendees left with a renewed sense of cultural pride and community spirit.
The successful outdoor of Kir Salisu Ali Dabre IV and the vibrant celebrations have set a positive tone for future Sukuma festivals in Greater Accra, promising to strengthen the bonds within the Bissa community for years to come.