Organisers of the Dunseema Festival have called for stronger investment in culture-led development, describing the festival as a growing platform for heritage preservation, youth empowerment and grassroots tourism in the Upper East Region.
The call was made by Sabinus Chiravira, Team Lead for the Dunseema Festival 2025, during the festival celebration held in Kandiga under the theme “Youth, Culture, and Community: The Spirit of Dunseema.”
Addressing chiefs, elders, youth groups, development partners and visitors from across the region, Chiravira said the festival was more than a cultural display, describing it as an affirmation of identity, resilience and community purpose.
According to him, Dunseema originated in Kandiga and has since established the community as the spiritual home of the festival. He noted that the festival reflects the lived history of the savanna people, shaped by discipline, survival and leadership, rather than staged performances.
“This land represents who we are and how we have endured,” he said, adding that Dunseema serves as a reminder of shared heritage and collective memory.
Chiravira also highlighted the festival’s advocacy role, explaining that it uses presence and participation as tools for inclusion, peacebuilding and development. He said the festival demonstrates how tourism initiatives can emerge from grassroots communities and still achieve regional, national and international relevance.
He commended the Chief and people of Kandiga for embracing tourism as a pathway to sustainable development, noting that culture-based tourism creates economic opportunity while allowing communities to tell their own stories and benefit directly from their heritage.
The festival lead further emphasized collaboration as a key pillar of Dunseema’s growth, acknowledging the contributions of traditional authorities, youth groups, organisers, sponsors, donors and the media. He said the festival’s expansion from a small initiative into a wider movement reflects growing interest in reshaping the tourism landscape of the Upper East Region.
Looking ahead, Chiravira called for stronger partnerships among communities, institutions, creatives, development partners and policymakers to document heritage, invest in people and promote peace through culture and tourism.
He described Dunseema as no longer just an annual event but a movement aimed at uniting communities and positioning culture as a viable development tool.
The Dunseema Festival brought together traditional leaders, youth and cultural groups, and visitors to celebrate indigenous wrestling traditions, music and community values, reinforcing Kandiga’s role as a cultural hub in the Upper East Region.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Kandiga
