By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Tamale, Jan 14, GNA – A swarm of bees has begun leading the Chief of Kumbungu, Alhaji Naa Abu Iddrisu (II) and his entourage on a four-day journey from Kumbungu to Yendi, the traditional capital of Dagbon, for the final funeral rites of Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani (II).
This practice is an important part of Dagbon custom and is undertaken during the enskinning of Yaa Naa.
The journey, which began on Monday, would see the bees, known in local parlance as Logu, lead the Chief and his entourage from Kumbungu to Tamale, where they would spend the night and proceed to Mion and spend two days there and finally enter Yendi on Thursday.
As part of the custom, all shops and businesses along the path of the Chief and his entourage are to close when they are passing, and any pregnant woman who catches the eye of the Chief will lose the pregnancy.
The streets being used for the journey today were Tamale – Kumbungu Road through sharp corner, the ADB/ Commercial Bank Road to MTN Office, all the way to Kalpohini, a suburb of Tamale.
The streets to be used on Tuesday are; Kalpohini Estate to Sara Junction, along the Nim Avenue Road, and from Tamale Teaching Hospital through Vittin Barrier to Mion where they would spend two days and finally leave for Yendi on Thursday, January 17.
Meanwhile, hundreds of residents have lined up the streets to catch a glimpse of the traditional practice, which was last held over 40 years ago.
As part of the road map for resolving the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis, the Andani Royal Family resumed the cultural processes yesterday, January 13, as part of the funeral of Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani (II).
The performance of the funeral is expected to end on January 19, where a new Yaa Naa will be selected and enskinned to rule the Dagbon Kingdom.
The Abudu Royal Family already performed the funeral of Yaa Naa Mahamadu Abdulai (IV) from December 14, to December 28, last year.
GNA