By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Talensi community living within the Accra–Tema Metropolis has held a vibrant celebration of the Daa Festival, one of its most revered traditional festivals, as part of efforts to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Taleng-Teng people.
The colourful event brought together chiefs, elders, women, youth and children in an atmosphere of joy, thanksgiving and unity, marked by traditional drumming, dancing, chanting and the display of indigenous regalia.
Celebrated under the theme “Preserving the Cultural Heritage of the Talensi Community within the Accra–Tema Metropolis for the Unborn Generations,” the festival sought to strengthen cultural identity among Talensi people living outside their ancestral homeland.
The Daa Festival is traditionally observed by the Talensi people of the Upper East Region to express gratitude for a successful farming season and to honour ancestors for protection, guidance and communal harmony.
During the Accra celebration, cultural troupes thrilled patrons with energetic performances, accompanied by traditional musical instruments, while women dressed in colourful traditional attire and beads showcased local cuisine and cultural symbols. The active participation of the youth, some of whom played traditional drums and flutes, highlighted deliberate efforts to pass on cultural values to the next generation.
An elder of the Talensi community in Accra–Tema, Mr. Puporiba Tindong, called on members to strengthen unity and consciously train younger generations to embrace their roots, language and customs, particularly as many Talensi children are born and raised in urban centres.
Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Taleng-Teng (Talensi) Community in Greater Accra, Mr. Samuel Sampana Nachinab, explained that the festival is celebrated by Talensi communities across Ghana and in the diaspora. He noted that this year’s event was significant because Talensi communities from various townships within the Accra–Tema Metropolis came together to celebrate as one family.
According to him, the festival provides an important platform for children living in Accra to learn about their culture, especially as economic activities often prevent families from frequently visiting their hometowns.
Mr. Nachinab also announced plans for a major homecoming Daa Festival in 2026 in the Talensi traditional area in the Upper East Region, which is expected to bring together Talensi people from across the country and beyond.
The celebration ended with communal dancing, drumming and renewed calls for unity, peace and development among Talensi people both in Accra and in their ancestral communities.
