The Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor (II) has commended Sakpares (Muslim Clan) of the Buipe Traditional area for appointing Imam Sufian as the new Chief Imam of the Buipe traditional area after the demise of late Chief Alhaji Seidu Saaka.
The new Chief Imam of Buipe was presented formally to the Buipewura for his acceptance at the usual Friday meetings at his Palace on Friday 21st July, 2023.
Addressing the sub-chiefs of the Buipe Traditional area and the Sakpares Buipewura Jinapor (II) gladly gave his approval to the appointed Buipe Chief Imam and prayed that Allah gives the Imam wisdom to be able to lead the Muslim fraternity in the Traditional Area.
Buipewura thanked the Sakpares of Buipe for coming up with a Chief Imam without any controversy.
The Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional area also mentioned that Gonjas are Muslims by origin and per the customs and traditions, the Sakpares have the duty to intercede and offer prayers for Gonja Chiefs.
He said Sakpares are the Imams of Gonja Chiefs and that has been the tradition since time immemorial.
The Paramount Chief of Buipe said Gonjas are free to belomg to any Religion but once a Gonja becomes a Chief and passes on, he is converted to Islam so that the rites during his burial and funeral are Islamic.
Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor (II) directed the newly appointed Chief Imam of the Buipe Traditional area to pay a courtesy call on the Kimg and Overlord of Gonja Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale (I) ans the Yagbon Imam (Supreme Imam of the Gonja Kingdom) before he will be enrobed as the Chief Imam in Buipe.
The Paramount chief of the Buipe Traditional Area, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor (II) also announced to the people of his Traditional area that he will jointly celebrate both the yam and fire festivals on Thursday 27th July, 2023.
According to the Buipewura, the yam festival will be celebrated in the morning whilst the fire festival takes place at night same day.
Addressing his sub-chiefs Buipewura indicated that the yam festival is mostly celebrated to usher in the new harvesting season and to thank God and the ancestors for a bountiful harvest whilst the fire festival which is a cultural-religious festivity marks the beginning of a new Gonja calendar with the 2023 edition of the two Gonja festivals expected to be different since this is his 15 years on the throne of the Buipe skins.
Fire festival is marked by the lighting of thatch torches and marching along approved routes, amidst the chanting of war songs known among the Gonja people.
Source: nkilgifmonline.com
