BANDA YAM FESTIVAL,FORDJOUR

In every society in Ghana, there are many ways to express their culture. One of the ways in which the people of Nafaland (Bandaman Gh) used to express their rich culture is the Fordjour festival.

Fordjour is the major festival for all the settlers’ of Nafaland (Bandaman Gh), which they love to celebrate every year. It is well known as Yam festival.
Fordjour is celebrated to remember the great ancestors of Nafaland and also to honor the great farmers of the land. This occasion usually take place between the month of August  and October of every year. There is no fixed date set for the festival because of variation in seasons. (i.e. rainy and dry season).

Pruruu - the minor section

To me Fordjour (the Yam festival) is divided in two sections or parts, and these are the minor and major sections. Before the actual date is set for the major section, the minor one needs to be performed. It is mainly used to introduce or welcome new yam into the various communities, it is called Proruu.

In this occasion yam tubers are brought home for the first time within the year. The traditional leaders in every town, palaces, and families pray simple prayers to their gods and ancestors. After this, a date is set for the main or major festival, Fordjour, in every community.

Fordjour festival - the major section

A day or two before the D-day, every household set off to  farm with their young boys and girls to bring home their yam tubers for the occasion. On their way home, some of these youths wash their loads (yams tubers) in every rivers or streams they come across to make the Yams look more attractive and also to reduce the weight for easy carrying.

After their arrival,  parents therefore distribute the yam tubers to their friends, in-laws, family, needy and their loved ones. Sometime meat, money, and drink are attached to the yam tubers as a gift.

At dawn, on the actual day or occasion, everything begins from the palace with joyful drumming and singing till daybreak. Traditional leaders and some of the youths sings and make joyful noise as well as prayers by the traditional priest.

In the morning, women and children become so busy preparing food in the kitchen while the men will be sitting in groups under mango trees, conversing joyfully.

Bebina sro

Another interesting practice during Fordjour festival is called Bebina. A night before to the occasion young guys present tubers of yam to their suggested girlfriends. If the yams are accepted, then, it means that she also likes you and will accept your proposal is you do so. The accepted yams will be used by the girl to prepare a very delicious food called Bebina-sro (Bebina-food) and bring it to the boy later and vice versa. 
These lucky young girls go out to prepare the Bebina food. Because of this the young girls prepare themselves before the Fordjour festival. They mound clay-tripots under mango trees and other necessities such as money, firewood, Agushi or groundnut for soup. 

Social Gathering

After eating and drinking at the noon, the whole community especially the young boys and girl grouped at one special place. This gathering creates opportunity for the kings and other leaders to express their gratitude to the people and also give advice and courageous words to the youths. 

After everything the youths entertain themselves either with both local songs and foreign song (with sound systems) till night fall.

There are many merits of celebrating Fordjour festival, such include love, unit and peace among the people of Nafalans.

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