Editorial

Twenty years of Buluk Journal! This may be worth looking back at over this period of time.

Main Features of BULUK
No. 3 (2002): School Education
No. 4 (2005): Religions and Missions among the Bulsa
No. 5 (2009): Cultural and Social Change in Buluk
No. 6 (2012): Chieftaincy
No. 7 (2013): Bulsa History
No. 8 (2015): Migration, Diaspora, Communication
No. 9 (2016): Bulsa Women
No. 10 (2017): Bulsa South District
No. 11 (2018): Cultural Heritage and Tourism

On the outside, the image of our magazine has changed a lot since 1999: from the black-and-white photocopies we made in the beginning and even the booklets bound with fabric tape to the last full colour issues printed on glossy paper and professionally bound as brochures.
Some changes have been made to the content, but the general basic concept has remained the same for 20 years. BULUK has always aimed both to inform the Bulsa in Ghana, the Bulsa in the diaspora and anyone else interested in the Bulsa about this unique culture and history and keep readers abreast of any new developments through current news.
While the first issues still contained very programmatic essays and general descriptions of the culture, a main feature was always central to issues 3-12 as the list in the adjacent box shows.
Some topics and presentations were repeated in almost all issues: messages about the most important events (later grouped under the section titled “Events”) since the publication of the last issue, examples of creative fiction by creatively gifted Bulsa in the form of poems and (more rarely) short stories, and, finally, the obituaries of great Bulsa personalities.
However, some journalistic attempts of the first issues had to be abandoned. The two editors had in mind to turn BULUK into a publication especially focused on the Bulsa living in the diaspora. As a result, lists of names and places of residence of these people were printed. Furthermore, there was hope that the published articles would elicit discussion among the readers. Although Rev. Alfred Agyenta published a very useful critique of some of these articles in BULUK 2, this plan met with little approval from other readers and was finally abandoned with the emergence of Bulsa-centered Facebook groups which perform such tasks much better.
It was also the intention of the editors, Franz Kröger and Ghanatta Ayaric, to hand over the editorial office to other editors after the publication of some issues without completely leaving as organizers, sponsors and authors. To this end, the not quite cheap and labour-intensive publication required healthy financial support. For thin copies whose production costs were about 7.50 DM (or 3.75 euros) each without postage, it was decided that each recipient should pay at least 5 DM (or 2.50 euros). (For more information, see also “Statements of receipts and expenses in BULUK 2”, p. 6). This plan did not work out, and since then free booklets have been given away to selected recipients and libraries.
The freelancers of BULUK – especially as authors of essays – changed constantly. Besides scientists (Prof. Rüdiger Schott and Dr. Barbara Meier, both of Germany, Dr. Apeintiik, Accra and Prof. Watson, USA), journalists (Martin Atuire, USA), politicians (Basco Kante, Minister), clerics (James Agalic, later DCE of the Bulsa District, and Rev. Alfred Agyenta, later Bishop of Bolgatanga-Navrongo) Bulsa from all possible professions and occupations made contributions.
Especially in the last issues when it was usually difficult for the editors to find suitable Bulsa authors, the names of some authors and co-workers appeared so often that an almost editorial team was formed. Included, among others, were:
John Agandin, who was a great help to the editors through numerous contributions, proofreading, distribution of copies, etc.
Robert Asekabta, my (F.K.) informant and co-worker since 1973, who, in addition to several contributions, made available his excellent knowledge about internal political affairs of the Bulsaland, the language and the history of the Bulsa,
Yaw Akumasi Williams, who gave me information about Wiaga by phone and who provided numerous photos and information, especially for issue number 10,
Evans A. Atuick, who wrote several articles making use of his very good knowledge of traditional culture and history,
Margaret and her daughter Christine Arnheim, who, together with Ghanatta Ayaric, filled the information gaps about the Southern Bulsa (here especially Gbedema), which has otherwise been a little neglected in BULUK.
The valuable work of my co-editor (until 2017), Ghanatta Ayaric, with his numerous articles and his great commitment to proofreading and editing the issues 1-10, has already been acknowledged in the editorial of BULUK 11.

Since 2003 the BULUK magazine has also been published as an Internet edition. After only hesitant acceptance in the beginning, it has enjoyed an ever-increasing popularity (on 18 October 2019 alone, 416 visitors were registered for this day). In the year 2017, the operator experienced major upload problems after new articles could no longer be accessed via hyperlink from the table of contents. A new website (Buluk.de/new) had to be installed. There have already been 14,805 visitors over the previous 15 months (details can be found in the article “Who on Earth is interested in the Bulsa?”).
Precisely because there is a strong need for articles for our magazine, it is regrettable that its future is overshadowed by some dark clouds. There is still a lack of suitable Bulsa authors to introduce articles on various topics. But articles by Bulsa authors are very popular all over the world. John Agandin’s report about the Bulsa Feok Festival in Sandema received the highest number of visitors of all internet articles of BULUK 12. I also received only positive feedback on his poems and article about the BHCS exhibition.
In the category of “Health and Medicine”, the main feature of BULUK 12, Joyce Bumbom (S.N.O; PERI-OP) compiled an interesting and much-read report on Dr. Benjamin Akinkang’s surgical work. Dr. Akinkang has been performing free surgical operations for needy Bulsa for several years and received a prize in the health category at the grand finale of the “MTN Heroes of Change Season”.
Two of Dr. Akinkang’s fellow medical professionals, Joyce Bumbom and Rockson Felix, point out in an article “Ambulance not on the Road…” the urgent need of an ambulance for the Bulsa area. As far as I know, such a car has been purchased in the meantime.
In keeping with the theme of BULUK 12, Evans Atuick added an article worth reading based on interviews with Bulsa mothers about malaria infections in children.
Franz Kröger deals with traditional healing methods in his article “The Medical System of the Bulsa”. In the very rich Bulsa therapies, treatments ranging from the purely magical to those which could find recognition in modern medicine are sometimes mixed. Above all, the knowledge of medicinal plants (see F.K.: “List of Plants”) would have to be exploited even more by modern medicine and pharmaceutics.
The main feature for BULUK 13 has not yet been determined. Among the possible subject areas, studies on “Bulsa Unity – Integrating and Disintegrating Components” may be a favourite. However, it would be necessary for several Bulsa authors to add contributions.
The editor wishes all readers of BULUK 12 a pleasant reading experience and an enrichment of knowledge which may also lead to a better overall understanding of Bulsa culture.