Stories and facts

The Kobine Festival is a treasured harvest rite observed by the Dagara people of Lawra in Ghana’s Upper West Region.

Held yearly during September and October, the festival celebrates the end of the farming season and serves as a meaningful time for families to return home, honour ancestors, and express gratitude to spiritual forces for plentiful crops.

Spanning four days, the festival combines ritual, dance, and community gathering. The opening day is usually devoted to family visits and reunions, while the following two days feature formal public events.

A durbar of chiefs leads a grand procession, often accompanied by young men dressed as hunters or elephants. Speeches and formal addresses precede the highlight—the Kobine dance contest, where performers captivate the crowd.

Central to Kobine is the lively music and dance tradition. Participants use indigenous instruments such as the kuor a drum crafted from a gourd and the dalar, fashioned from clay pot necks.

Men display skill and strength wearing elaborately decorated skirts and bare chests, while women wear adorned blouses.

Both men and women fasten ankle bells that amplify the beat, accompanying vigorous upper-body movements. At the dance’s height, women may approach and join their chosen male dancers in spirited duets, adding to the festival’s vibrant spirit.

Learn about other Ghanaian festivals that mark the harvest season: