The Senior Housemaster for Lassia Toulu Senior High School in the Wa West District, Mr Isaac Donebo Kumah, has lamented about the extinction of dagaare or traditional names among the Daga-Wiile people.
According to him, names identify a person’s origin and their traditions. Speaking during the Daga-Wiile Seontaa Boor (Festival) at Vieri, Mr Kumah indicated that religion is now taking over the Daga-Wiile tradition.
Mr Kumah thus cited some of the people who have maintained their local names including the Akans and said it is promoting their identity wherever they are.
During his guest speech at the third Seontaa Boor festival, Mr. Kumah pointed out that the Daga-Wiile societies were failing to maintain traditional practices of dress, language, arts, and food.
“A lot of things make up the tradition and culture of a group of people. If you want to know the culture of any group of people you look at their language, how they dress, and their major occupation among many others.”
He continued, “We as Dagawiile have our traditional foods but today a lot of our children do not know them.”