2019 Sankyiba festival kick-starts with celebrations at Senchi

The chiefs and people of Nkonya Wurupong Traditional Area in the Oti Region on Saturday went “home” to mark the beginning of celebrations of the 2019 “Sankyiba” festival at Senchi in the Asuogyaman district of the eastern region.

The significance of beginning the celebrations of the festivities from Senchi was for the people to trace their roots to their previous location before migrating to their present day location in the Oti region.

Nana Ofei Addo Agyeman II, Chief of Senchi and Nifahene of the Akwamu Traditional Area, welcomed the people of Nkonya Wurupong to Senchi on behalf of the chiefs and people of the area to their former home.

Indigenes of the Nkonya- Wurupong travelled to their former home to join their compatriots still living in Senchi together with the chiefs and people of the area to mark the occasion.

The Sankyiba festival is used to recount their migration from Nyanowase through Larteh Kubease, Aseseeso, and Senchi to their current location.

At a colourful ceremony with the chiefs and people, various activities including procession through the principal streets of the town, rituals at the riverside, drumming and dancing as well as a durbar, were held.

A ram was slaughtered at the riverside, as part of activities on the day, in remembrance of their ancestors who were aided by turtles to cross the Volta Lake from Senchi enroute to their present day location.

Nana Ofei Addo Agyeman II appreciated the people of the two communities for turning up to mark the occasion.

He expressed his pleasure at the ceremony and called for unity and love amongst the people.

“Let’s unite, lets love each other,” he said.

He called on all citizens of Senchi across the country and across the world to come home and contribute towards the development of Senchi in sectors such as health and education to ensure the progress of the area.

He presented a gift (a sankofa staff) to Nana Kwadwo Asiakwa II, Paramount Chief of the Nkonya Wurupong Traditional Area, through the Kyidomhene of Nkonya Wurupong with the message that indeed, they came to their roots and were warmly received.

Kyidomhene of Nkonya Wurupong, Nana Kofi Ampadu II and Nana Nkansah Sefah I, Kyidomhene of Senchi both called for peace and unity among their people.

Nana Kofi Ampadu II said this important feature of the festival to begin the celebrations from their roots in Senchi has come to stay and would be marked each year.

He also called on his people to support the people of Nkonya Wurupong in the celebrations of the occasion.

The festival to be held from 23rd November to 1st December, 2019 would be celebrated under the theme: “Our Health, Our Culture: Bridging the Gap to Sustain the Youth,” to draw the attention of government to the health challenges the community encountered and help to resolve them.

The chiefs and people of Senchi will join Nana Kwadwo Asiakwa II, Paramount Chief of the Nkonya Wurupong Traditional Area and his people to climax the festival with a durbar.