The Dumba Festival celebrated by the Waalas is linked with Islam to mark the birth of the Holy Prophet Mohammed, but the festival has gradually taken on a traditional tone.
The 2023 activities of the Dumba festival is a week-long festival that included prayers and fasting led by the Islamic clerics and processions of people amidst drumming and dancing through the streets of the Wa township to pay homage to the Overlord, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV.
The 2023 Dumba festival also witnessed a beauty pageant and a music festival to mark the occasion.
The climax of the festival was the successful jumping over a cow by the Overlord which signified a successful year and a long reign ahead. The celebration attracted eminent traditional and opinion leaders from the north, politicians, diplomats, tourists and people from all walks of life.
It showcased the rich and diverse culture of the people of the Wa Traditional Area as the crowd of people gathered at the forecourt of the Overlord cheered and offered courtesies to traditional authorities who dressed in colorful smocks.
During the celebration, an exhibition of a variety of crafts, including beads, earrings, tie and dye, smocks, silk and cotton fabrics woven by females were displayed.
There was also a display of traditional musical instruments such as drums and xylophones accompanied by dancers who moved in utter unison. The men came in smocks of various shapes and sizes to dance in semi-circles and circles to the tunes from the xylophone.