Franz Kröger
FIOK/FEOK AND SIMILAR BULSA FESTIVALS
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1. GENERAL FIOK FESTIVALS AT SANDEMA
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December 1988
1988: Rawlings, guest of honour
Fiok in Sandema; Jerry John Rawlings, 1992 President of the Republic of Ghana, is guest of honour
December 14, 1994
Fiok Festival at Sandema Community Park. Participants: Rt. Hon. Sir Azantilow Sandem-Naab, all Bulsa-chiefs, Bolgatanga-Chief, Navro-Pio, Chana-Pio, the Regional Secretary and many other opinion leaders as well as heads of departments.
December 16, 1996
Annual Fiok Festival filmed on video by Mr and Mrs Harald Rulinski of Celle (Germany) and Gbedema (Ghana) respectively. The film has been shown a number of times on Ghana Television
December 16, 1997
Bulsa annual Fiok Festival celebration in Sandema: war dances, shooting-competition, drumming and dancing
December 18, 1999
Annual Fiok Festival (durbar) of the Bulsa at Sandema’s new play park near the Sandema Traditional Law Court (before Atuiri’s house)
Because of quarrels some groups of Sandema and Wiaga did not participate in the traditional war dance.
December, 19, 2000: Archery competition among competitors of Bulsa war dancers; a Siniensi warrior won the competition.
December 19, 2001
Bulsa chiefs and their subjects celebrate the annual year’s Fiok Festival at Sandema.
December 20, 2002
First Day of Fiok Festival in Sandema; present were the chiefs of
Babatu, the slave-raider, has been caught
Sandema, Wiaga, Kadema, Siniensi … at about 3 p.m the Vice-President, Mt Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Regional Minister, Mr. Mahami Salifu, and several other ministers and high officers arrived; men of Sandema-Abilyeri performed a short drama about Babatu, his being captured by the Bulsa and his successful escape
On the second day (21st December) the traditional archery competition took place. The target was placed at such a long distance and the wind was so strong that nobody could hit it.
December 18, 2004
The annual Fiok Festival was celebrated with only Sandema people attending it.
Traditional war dance
December 21, 2011
Fiok Festival in Sandema
Activities initiated by BMY in connection with the Fiok Festival (December 16 – 21, 2011):
• A seminar with the following topics discussed on Bulsa Radio: Alcoholism/drug addiction; teenage pregnancies and abortions; power in unity.
Topics treated at Azenero Social Centre were: Falling standards of education; significance of our traditions in today’s world; BMY’s vision, objectives and goals; power in unity.
• December17th: Cleanup campaign (comprising the office of the DCE, hospital, district court, the chief’s palace and market).
• December 18th: Route march from the Presbyterian Church through the principal streets of Sandema to the Azenero Social Centre.
• December 18th: Food bazaar at Azenero Social Centre.
• December 21st, 7 p.m.: Election of Miss Fiok at Azenero Social Centre.
“The election of Miss Fiok, though originally organized by Bulsa radio, is said not to be transparent, especially since a non-Bulsa was declared winner recently. BMY was therefore given the opportunity to take over and rebrand it to make it an awesome competition.”
• Musical concert with Abolik Kwame and Apolinya.
December 18, 2013
Celebration of the Annual Fiok Festival
Pre-Fiok Football Tournament organized by Radio Bulsa and Bulsa football clubs. Uwasi emerged as champions (December 2013)
September 5, 2014
A documentary film about the Bulsa Fiok Festival of December 2012 was transmitted on Ghana TV (Gtv). Azagsuk Azantilow II, the Chief of Sandema and Paramount Chief of the Bulsa Traditional Area, is not only the main chairperson of the Festival, but also the main speaker in the film. Through his commentary the viewer learns details about the history of the Fiok Festival and of the Bulsa. According to him, Fiok was founded by his father, the late Sandemnaab Azantilow, in 1972 and has since become one of the greatest and best known festivals in North Ghana. Two episodes of Bulsa history are dealt with in detail: the origin of the Atuga-bisa, the descendants of Atuga, the best known among the first ancestors of the Bulsa, and the slave raids by Babatu. Apart from scenes of the Festival, for example, war dances, people dressed in old traditional costumes, pictures of the Bulsa chiefs and visitors from other parts of Ghana there is also an interesting presentation about of the Sandema tanggbain Azagsuk, whose name the Sandemnaab himself bears.
Other traditional and political personalities in the two Bulsa districts were interviewed and they contributed valuable information:
Hon. Bonaventure Adangabey, DCE of Bulsa North
Hon. Elizabeth Jane Afiuc, DCE of Bulsa South
Conrad Seidu, presiding member of the Bulsa South Assembly
Paul Afoko, a member of the royal family.
The producer of the 26-minute-film was Abibata Mahama, the production manager Chris Puplampu and the editor Patrick Y. Amegede. In the acknowledgements, at the end of the film, articles of the BULUK Journal (no 7) were recognized as one of the sources for the historical data.
November 4, 2014
Twelve communities will participate in this year’s Fiok Football Games in order to determine which community has the best soccer players.
• FIRST ROUND (Knock out stages): 1st Match: 28th November, 2014; 2nd Match: 30th November, 2014; 3rd Match: 2nd December, 2014.
• SECOND ROUND (All play all): 1st Match: 4th December, 2014; 2nd Match: 6th December, 2014; 3rd Match: 8th December, 2014.
• SEMI FINALS: 1st Match: 10th December, 2014; 2nd Match: 11th December, 2014.
• THIRD PLACE MATCH: 14th December, 2014.
• FINAL MATCH: 15th December, 2014.
Archery competitioon 2014
December (date?) 2014
Fiok in Sandema. Archery competition on the second day
January 1, 2015
Miss Buluk Second Edition (programme planned in December 2014)
Draft Concept / Program
The second edition of Miss Buluk comes off on the 1st January 2015 at Conifah Guest House, Sandema.
Theme: Checking alcohol and drug abuse amongst the youth: youth arise, we are the future!
This is a two-phase theme. The first is, “Alcohol and drug abuse” which will be addressed by a medical/health expert (10 minutes) presentation.
The second phase of the theme is, “Youth arise, we are the future!” will be addressed by the Deputy Upper East regional minister.
The event will be preceded by warm-up parties in Chuchuliga, Sandema, Wiaga and Fumbisi. This is to officially launch the program in the districts.
Nomination forms will officially be out for sale on the 1st December 2014.
Eligibility:
Must be 18 years and above; Single
Must be able to communicate fluently in the Buli language
Must have completed secondary school.
Must be of Builsa descent.
Preparation: Contestants are required to attend a non-residential rehearsal/ practice session daily from 23rd -31st December at Conifah Guest house Conference hall.
Miss Buluk 2014
Honorary Awards: This is a unique feature of the program that seeks to motivate hardworking sons and daughters of Buluk who have in diverse ways contributed immensely to the cause of development. It is a non-voting category. Motion Crew through consultations will present citations to four deserving sons and daughters on the day of the main event.
This will be repeated annually.
Other features of the program include live performances by a mainstream artist and four local artists.
Contestants to be scored on
1. Knowledge of Bulsa culture
2. Confidence
3. Stage craft
4. Articulation; relevance of chosen problem and offered SMART Solution
5. Performance on her chosen topic
Tickets for the event will be released on the 1st December 2014.
December 18, 2015
The Chiefs and people of the Bulsa Traditional area have climaxed the 2015 Feok Festival celebration. The weeklong celebration successfully ended on Friday (December 18) with a grand durbar of chiefs, people of the Bulsa Traditional Area, other Paramount Chiefs within the Upper East Region, people from the sister traditional areas, DCEs for Bulsa North and South and other sister districts, the Upper East Regional Minister and his Deputy, the two Members of Parliament for both Bulsa North and South and His Excellency Adanzi Kangah Member of Council of State.
The annual Feok Festival is to commemorate the victory over Babatu, the slave raider, who was defeated in the 19th century by Bulsa warriors. Delivering his key note address, the overlord of the Bulsa Traditional Area, His Royal Highness Naab Azaksuk Azantilow II, thanked all dignitaries who travelled from far and near to witness the Festival.
According to him, bush burning and indiscriminate felling of trees contribute to the shorter rains as witnessed within the area lately thereby reducing agricultural production. Naab Azaksuk Azantilow further noted: It is important to plant and grow trees adding that the late venerated overlord [Azantilow I] showed the way and took the lead by planting trees along the roads and the principal streets of Sandema.
Speaking on the health of the people the paramount chief appealed to the district Assemblies to cease issuing licence for the sale of Akpeteshi. He said there are better ways of generating and increasing the internally generated funds of the Assemblies than the imposition of Akpeteshi fees.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. James Zuugah Tiigah, commended the Chiefs and organizers for sustaining the celebration of the Feok Festival for the past 41 years. He said culture has become a rich business because of its inextricable link to tourism and creative arts as it is the 4th highest foreign exchange earner in Ghana.
He added that a research conducted by the coalition of NGOs in health in 2014 ranked the Upper East Region as the most alcohol consuming region in Ghana adding that the narcotics control board also established that the three regions of the north account for 60% of all drugs abuse cases in Ghana which captured the young people between the age of 18 to 35 years.
The Member of Parliament for the Bulsa North Constituency and Deputy Interior Minister, Hon. James Agalga, assured the Paramount Chief of their support in the fight against the high consumption of the locally manufactured drink popularly known as Akpeteshi.
He said through the initiative of both the Bulsa north and south MPs they will be providing 100 toilet facilities to help address the sanitation challenges facing the two districts.
December 20, 2015
Installation of Queen Mothers in Buluk
The installation of a queen mother in Buluk has been received with great excitement from the citizenry especially the women. On Friday 18th December, 2015 during the climax of the annual Feok Festival, her royal ladyship Poknab Atebalie Azantilow was introduced as the first ever queen mother in Buluk.
Discussing her installation on the Radio Bulsa Weekend Review talk show on Saturday evening, panellists on the programme expressed commendation to the chiefs of the traditional area for the selection of a queen mother. They said women issues will now be given much prominence because she will serve as the mouth piece for women at the traditional council.
Mr. Richard Alando, who appeared on the programme with Mr. Matin Akandawon, Mr. Denis Abasiwie as well as Mr. John Acheampong suggested that an office space should be created for her to fully function. He expressed delight in the fact that FISTRAD played a part in advocating for the installation of the queen mother.
December 15, 2016
The Chiefs and people of the Bulsa traditional area have climaxed their annual Feok Festival celebration on the 15th of December, 2016. The festival is celebrated every year to offer thanks to the almighty God and the gods of the land for their protection over the year and also to commemorate the attacks of the 19th centuries slave raider Babatu and his armed men.
Delivering his key note address, the overlord of the Bulsa Traditional Area, His Royal Highness Nab Azagsuk Azantilow II, said the wide spread of HIV/AIDS, not only in Buluk but in Ghana at large, is very alarming. For that matter it needs a collective effort to support the health institutions and professionals to curb the menace.
He also urged the people to get themselves tested of the disease in order to know their status.
Speaking on the sale of the locally manufactured gin “Akpeteshi”, Nab Azagsuk Azantilow said the health of the people is paramount and appealed to the district Assemblies to support the traditional council in its quest to stop the sale of Akpeteshi in the area.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Albert Abongo, who represented the President expressed gratitude to the chiefs and people of the traditional area for their commitment in ensuring peace and unity, the resolution of chieftaincy disputes and the unwavering efforts at minimizing alcohol abuse in the land.
At this year’s festival celebration he emphasized that preserving our cultural heritage for prosperity, was timely and appropriate. Hence he called on everyone to embrace the rich culture and tradition that has been passed on to the current generation by the ancestors.
Hon. Albert Abongo said many social vices have visited our society and beyond owing to the breakdown of the moral fabric of society, leading to teenage pregnancy and school drop-out, incidence of HIV and AIDS, violence and crime.
He also said that excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco has become fashionable leading to the loss of many lives.
Hon. Albert Abongo indicated that in order to preserve the culture from the seeming invasion, there is the urgent need for a re-orientation of people; especially the youth, to enable them to appreciate the wealth of tradition instead of looking up beyond the shores of their environment for acceptance and direction.
He called on the political parties and their supporters to bury their political difference and rally round the new government and stop bickering and divisions that has the potential of hampering the country’s democracy and development
October 18, 2016
(Facebook) A first meeting to plan the election of a new Miss Feok Ghana took place. Judges will be Agnes Chigabatia, Evans Atuick and Cornelius Adumpo.
December 22-23, 2017
Feok Festival on the Durbar Grounds in Sandema
First day: Grand Durbar, Second Day: Archers’ Competition
See Review by Augustine A. Atano (Buluk 11)
December 20, 2018
Feok Festival in Sandema with archery competition as part of the festival
December 21, 2019
Feok Festival on the Bulsa Traditional Council durbar grounds (see articles pp. 25-29 in Buluk 13). The Feok Festival was preceded by a football competition among
December 26, 2023
(Robert Asekabta 28.12.23: Election of Miss Feok 2023
Miss Albright Asekabta Ayietalie was crowned Miss Feok 2023 on 26th December, 2023 at Lakeside hotel in Balansa, Sandema. This was one of the events that marked the annual Feok Festival of the Bulsa people to signify the bumper harvest and the conquest of Babatu a notorious Zambarima slave raider.
The contestants were seven in number… At the end Albright Asekabta Ayietalie emerged first with 23,980 votes. Her award was a motorcycle and three certificates on most Eloquent, Star performer, Highest Voter and a certificate of participation.
The first runner was Celina Afellie with twenty thousand, two hundred and forty eight votes and she was awarded with a double door refrigerator and a Miss Culture certificate.
The second runner was Shelli Abangkaniaka. She had an award of a mini refrigerator.
The contestants (see photo): Sitting: the winner Miss Albright Asekabta Ayietalie. Source: Buluk Kaniak, Photo: J.H. Akanluk Akanpatulsi
2023: Miss Feok elected
2. FESTIVALS IN OTHER TOWONS AND VILLAGES
Accra
March 3, 2018
Bulsa of Accra and its surroundings celebrate the Festival called “Bulsa Feok -Accra Chapter”.
“The Accra edition of Bulsa Feok came off successfully at the Kawukudi Park. The event was organized by Buluk Bisa Club, an association of Bulsa in Accra. Activities carried out as part of the celebration included cultural drumming and dancing, and an exhibition of Bulsa cultural objects, dishes, drinks, clothing, and lifestyle. The event was crowned with the Bulsa war dance performed by a selection of war dancers from Sandema” (J. Agandin)
(See also John Agandin’s contribution “The Bulsa Feok- Accra Chapter” and the “Discussions in the Facebook Group Buluk Kaniak” in Buluk 11).
October 5, 2019
Second Edition of Bulsa Cultural Festival in Accra
Organised by the Buluk Bisa Club, Accra
Place: Kawokudi Park, Nima-Accra
Theme: Mobilizing to improve education in Buluk
Some items of the programme: War dances, solo dances, speeches, cultural music display, exhibition of Bulsa cultural materials of the Bulsa Heritage and Cultural Society
(See John A. Agandin’s article “Bulsa Pomp and Pageantry on Display in Accra”, Buluk 12)
Chuchuliga
March 27, 2016
Third Edition of Achula Home Coming Celebration
The Chuchuliga Development Association, the chief and people of the Chuchuliga community in the Bulsa North District have marked the third edition of the Achula home coming celebration. The celebration took place on 27th March at the Chuchuliga Old Primary School.
The Achula home coming is an initiative by the people of Chuchuliga to bring all sons, daughters and friends of the village together so as to reinvigorate the spirit of unity, solidarity and togetherness that appears to have been lost amongst the people over the past years. The celebration was under the theme “Chuchuliga Community Senior High School, the concern of all”.
Speaking during the celebration, the Chairman of the Association, Mr Edmond Alagpulinsa, said since the inception of the Association the construction of the Community Senior High/Technical School is in progress with the support of the community in terms of labour.
He said the foundation of the six-class-room-block has been completed and work is progressing steadily.
December 29, 2021
Chuchuliga Faagu Festival
The MCE, Madame Vida
(Adachaasa David, by mail) This year’s Faagu Festival (Chuchuliga) was celebrated on the 29th of December. The Municipal chief executive, Builsa North Madam Vida Akantagriwen Anaab, the member of parliament, Builsa North were some of the guests to grace the occasion. As part of the program marking the Faagu, a medical screening under the auspices of the municipal chief executive who is a retired midwife.
(Ghanaweb 31.12.21) The District Chief Executive (sic) for Builsa North District, Vida Akantagriwen Anaab, has commended the chiefs and people of the Chuchuliga Traditional area … for the construction of six classroom blocks with its axillaries… The DCE made the commendation during the annual celebration of the 2021 Chuchuliga Festival (FAAGU)..
Doninga
January 4, 2022
(Source: Samuel Abem in Buluk Kaniak, 6.1.22)
The chief of Doninga, Nab Akambiaknab Atuidem Akanbong I, his subchiefs and elders took their turn to celebrate the Feok festival at Doninga…
Doninga Festival 2022
Fumbisi
January 9, 2015
Fumbisi celebrates its 6th Annual Feok Festival.
In a welcome address, Chief Clement Anyatuik Akanko expressed his gratitude to the central administration under President John Mahama for giving them their own district and for all the developmental projects that are brought to the area, e.g. the community centre, which is under construction now.
Kanjaga
December 31, 2021
(Dr. Apaak in Buluk Kaniak): I joined the Chief and people of Kanjarga for their annual community festival. The issues raised were: 1) Security; 2) Roads; 3) Teenage pregnancy; 4) Agricultural imputes; 5) Education; and 6) Community centre.