Blog 68. Excursion to the Chiefs Palace in Sandema, for the opening of the Feok festival.

Every year we celebrate The Feok Festival in the Builsa District. It is to honour the brave warriors, who fought against slavery. From every village the warriors come to dance, fully dressed as a warrior of those days. The first day the warriors from all villages must greet the Paramount Chief. After that they go to the market, to show the war-dance there. This goes on till the next market day (3 days later) where the festival comes to an end at a huge celebration on the ‘debbah’- grounds, where all dignitaries, local and governmental, and lots of other people come and see all the warriors dance. Builsa people living abroad or down south come to see this event! And I have to say: it is really special to witness the festival!

We decided to visit the opening. That is not so busy, so all the children are able to see the dancers and the 2 horses that are living in Sandema! A small challenge is, that the dancers come on their own time. (That is to say, as a whole community, not individual.) An advantage of that is, that the dry soil is not blown around by the dancers, so you can still breath!

It was a great happening. We went by bus, with a wheelchair and we had our banner with us. (To see and to be seen!)

We saw 5 communities dance their war-dances. We saw 2 horses, we saw the Paramount Chief, ánd we have pictures with us and a few warriors.