Gologo festival

The Gologo Festival is among the major festivals^[1] in Ghana and is celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of Talensi, Tong-Zuf, in the Upper East Region of the country,^[2] serving "to reinforce the community belief in the Nnoo shrine or Golib god",^[3] which deity regulates Talensi agricultural life.^[4] It is a pre-harvest festival celebrated in the months of March and April, with sacrifices offered to seek protection and ensure plentiful rain and a good harvest in the coming season from the earthly gods.^[1] The festival has a three-day programme at three different villages. The first part takes place at Gorogo, the second at Yinduri, and the final and biggest at Teng-Zug (Tong-Zuf). Libation is poured at the Teng-Zug shrine to thank the gods for a successful occasion.^[2] The one in March is called Gol-diema, which means tutorial. The main Gologo festival is celebrated in the second week in April. Traditional songs are composed by the elders of each community for the occasion and people dance to the composed songs. During this period, noise-making is prohibited and no one mourns their dead. There is a special dress code whereby men wear a short knicker and a towel on the chest. Women are also expected to tie a long towel from their chest down to the feet and cover their heads with a special local-made cloth.

References

1. John-Bunya Klutse, "From January to December: Major Festivals in Ghana", TourAfrica360, 1 March 2016.
2. "Festivals in Ghana". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
3. Benjamin Warinsie Kankpeyeng, "The cultural landscape of Tongo-Tenzuk", Trip Down Memory Lane, 22 August 2013.
4. Benjamin W. Kankpeyeng, Timothy Insoll, and Rachel MacLean, "Identities and Archaeological Heritage Preservation at the Crossroads: Understanding the Challenges of Economic Development at Tengzug, Upper East Region, Ghana", Ghana Soc Sci J. December 2010; 7: 87–102.