Image credit: Image belongs to William Haun.

The Bugum Festival, also known as the Fire Festival or Bugum Chugu, is one of the most important and spectacular festivals in Ghana. It is celebrated by the Dagomba ethnic group, who live in the northern region of the country, as well as by other groups such as the Gonja, Mamprusi, and Nanumba.

The Dagomba call it Buɣim Chuɣu in Dagbani, while the Mampruli refer to the Fire Festival as Bugum Toobu (Fire Throwing) or Bugum Kyuu (Fire Festival). The Mampruli and Dagomba are brothers as their founders were siblings some centuries ago.

When is the Bugum Festival Celebrated?

The Bugum Festival takes place on the ninth day of the first month of the Dagomba lunar year, called Bugum Goli (the month of fire). The date varies each year according to the lunar calendar.

Just like the Damba festival, the Bugum festival is a cultural-religious event that commemorates a historical legend, honours the ancestors, seeks blessings, and wards off evil spirits. It involves lighting torches made of thatch or grass and marching through the streets at night, accompanied by drumming, singing, and dancing.

The History and Legend of the Bugum Festival: What is the origin of Bugum Chugu?

The origin of the Bugum Festival dates back to the 15th century, during the reign of an early Dagbon King (some claim to be Naa Zoligu). According to legend, Naa Zoligu’s son went out to play with friends and never returned. 

The king believed the boy was with his wife the queen, while his wife thought he was with his father. It was later that it was realised the child had not returned home at all. The Yaa Naa then tasked his subjects with searching for the child. The King charged his warriors, Sapashinnima, to lead the search party. The search party lit torches to see in the dark and went around the neighbourhood seeking Yaa Naa’s child. 

They finally found the boy sleeping under a tree and brought him back to his parents, who were overjoyed. However, they also thought that the tree was evil and had stolen their son. They threw their torches at the tree and set it on fire.

The king decreed that this event should be celebrated every year to remember his son’s miraculous return. He also ordered that every man should light a torch and march to the evil tree to shame it. The tree became known as Bugum Tuya (the fire tree) and the festival became known as Bugum Chugu (the fire festival).

The Meaning and Rituals of the Bugum Festival

The Bugum Festival is more than just a historical reenactment. It is also a way of honouring the ancestors, and expressing gratitude for their blessings. The festival is also a way of cleansing the community from evil spirits, bad luck, and diseases.

The festival begins with prayers at the mosque on the ninth day of Bugum Goli. Then, every man prepares his torch by tying dry grass or thatch around a stick. The torches are lit at sunset and carried by the men to their King’s palace.

The King is the first one to light his torch and lead his people to march through the streets. He does not go far and returns to his palace after dropping his torch. The rest of the men continue marching to various shrines and sacred places where they offer sacrifices and prayers to their gods and ancestors.

The marchers also chant war songs called Ziem meant to scare away evil spirits and enemies. They also dance a traditional dance called Tindaamba.

The festival reaches its climax when the marchers arrive at Bugum Tuya, the fire tree where Naa Zoligu’s son was found. They throw their torches at the tree and set it ablaze. They then return to their homes or gather around bonfires to celebrate with food, drinks, music, and stories.

The Significance and Impact of the Bugum Festival

The Bugum Festival is a significant event for the Dagomba people and their culture. It is a way of preserving their history, identity, and traditions. It is also a way of strengthening their social bonds, unity, and solidarity.

The festival also attracts many tourists and visitors who are interested in learning about the Dagomba culture and witnessing their spectacular fire displays. The festival boosts tourism and economic development in the northern region of Ghana.

The Bugum Festival is a unique and fascinating celebration that showcases the rich cultural heritage of Ghana’s Dagomba people. It is a festival that honors the past, celebrates the present, and hopes for the future.