Stories and facts

The Paari Gbiele Festival is a significant cultural event celebrated by the Dagaaba people in the Upper West Region of Ghana, particularly in the communities of Nandom, Lawra, and their surrounding areas.

This festival holds historical, spiritual, and cultural importance for the Dagaaba people, serving as a time for communal bonding, thanksgiving, and the preservation of their cultural heritage.

With deep historical roots in the Dagaaba people's tradition, the Paari Gbiele Festival derives its name from "Paari Gbiele," which translates to "Remember the Ancestors" or "Honoring the Ancestors." This festival is an expression of the people's respect and reverence for their ancestors, who are believed to play a vital role in the protection and well-being of the community.

Explore the various festivals celebrated in Ghana below.

The Dagaaba people are believed to have migrated from present-day Burkina Faso to their current location in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The festival likely originated as a way to honor the ancestors who guided and protected them during their migration and settlement in their new homeland. Over time, it evolved to include various cultural practices and rituals that reflect the people's connection to their land, ancestors, and spiritual beliefs.

Central to the Paari Gbiele Festival is the offering of libations and sacrifices to the ancestors to seek their blessings, protection, and guidance for the community. Sacrifices often include livestock, such as chickens and goats, offered at sacred sites, including shrines and ancestral groves.

The festival features vibrant cultural performances, including traditional dances, drumming, and singing. These performances entertain, educate, and reinforce the cultural values and traditions of the Dagaaba people. The festival is also a time for communal activities, such as feasting, sharing food, and renewing social ties. It is an occasion for the people to come together, celebrate their unity, and reaffirm their commitment to the well-being of the community.

A highlight of the festival is the ancestral procession, where community members, dressed in traditional attire, visit sacred sites and shrines to pay homage to their ancestors. This procession symbolizes the living community's connection with the spiritual world of the ancestors.

The festival is an opportunity for the community to express gratitude for the harvest and other blessings received throughout the year, thanking the ancestors and the gods for their protection and provision.

The Paari Gbiele Festival plays a crucial role in preserving the cultural identity of the Dagaaba people. It serves as a reminder of their history, traditions, and the importance of ancestral worship in their spiritual life.

The festival also strengthens social bonds within the community, as people come together to celebrate their shared heritage and values. In recent years, the festival has also become an occasion for the Dagaaba people, both at home and in the diaspora, to reconnect with their roots and contribute to the development of their communities.

It has gained recognition beyond the local area and is celebrated with increased participation from people across the region, making it an important cultural event in Ghana's calendar.

The Paari Gbiele Festival is typically celebrated in December, aligning with the end of the harvest season.