Kir Suallah Saeed Sare, the Bissa Chief of Bortianor/New Weija, has taken full financial responsibility for bringing renowned Bissa singer Striker De Donzy to perform at this year’s Zekula festival on May 4th in Kulungungu.
As the Bissa community in Ghana’s Upper East region prepares to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their iconic Zekula festival, the chief has stepped up to ensure the event features top musical talent.
Striker De Donzy’s hit song ‘Zekula N Pagna’ has earned worldwide listening and has become somewhat of an anthem for every Bissa gathering. He is expected to thrill attendees and make Zekula@20 a truly memorable event, uplifting the entire community.
De Donzy is one of five major artists scheduled for the milestone 20th-anniversary celebration, including two musicians coming from neighboring Burkina Faso. The Zekula festival, instituted by the Bissa Development Association (BDA) in 2004, draws thousands annually from across Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast.
In addition to musical performances, the festival features traditional Bissa rituals, prayers, poems, and celebrations of their cultural identity and unity. Vendors from across the region also converge to sell food, crafts, and goods, providing an economic boost.
Kir Suallah has a personal connection to De Donzy, as the musician previously released a song dedicated to the chief. His intervention was timely after it appeared the musician was not going to be on the list for the occasion.
Organizers from the BDA hope the cross-border homecoming fosters a sense of unity and pride in being Bissa among the diaspora community spread across West Africa.
Since launching its crowdfunding appeal ahead of the celebration, individuals and organizations within the Bissa fraternity have come out to donate their widow’s mite.
Howwer the BDA need not add the musician’s appearance fee to its budget as the Boortiano palace has taken charge of that.
The Chief announced on Thursday, May 2nd, that he would take full charge of the musician, who is regarded as the star performer for the day. His sponsorship aims to make this year’s Zekula festival a unifying event that strengthens bonds amid ethnic tensions in the area.
Zekula, since its inception in 2004, has become a rallying point where Bissa across regions and nations meet to celebrate a moment of unity and togetherness. It attracts over 10,000 attendees, including those in the diaspora.
On Saturday’s event, Bissa kinsfolk from neighboring Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast will cross borders to Ghana to fraternize with their fellow Bissa people.