The Gbono Festival: A Legacy of Courage and Tradition in Debibi”
The History of the Gbono Festival by the People of Debibi**
The origins of the Gbono festival can be traced back to the 9th century when our ancestors were relocating to their present location. They brought this tradition with them as they settled in a place called Dapaa in Debibi, where our forefathers established their community and performed their rituals.
In ancient times, during periods of war and conflict, the men of the community would often go off to battle, leaving the women behind. On one such occasion, after the men had departed, the village was attacked once again. However, the women, empowered by the spirit of Gbono, stood in place of the men and bravely defended their home. The power of Gbono enabled them to achieve victory against their enemies.
The tradition of cross-dressing during the festival originated from this event. The women had donned men’s clothing to take on the roles of warriors, as the men were not present. When the men returned from battle, the women recounted their victory. To fully understand how the battle was fought, the men asked the women to reenact the event.
During the reenactment, the women dressed in all white, forming a queue and holding their weapons—bows and arrows. Some of the warriors moved up and down, holding their guards, ensuring that they were prepared for any sudden attack. The women, camouflaged with leaves and symbols, moved through the town with their weapons, celebrating their hard-earned victory.
The Gbono festival, which is celebrated today, commemorates how the spirit of Gbono protected its people from several attacks. During the celebration, an old woman, dressed in white and holding a stick adorned with a bone—believed to be the jawbone of an enemy beheaded during one of the wars—makes an appearance. The day before the visit to the sacred site where Gbono resides, this old woman moves through the town at dawn, around 2:00 AM. The chief and elders of Debibi also pay homage at the burial site of the town’s late kings to perform rituals.
Women sing praises to Gbono, Gbongo, and Mampa—Gbongo and Mampa being rivers in Debibi that served as vital water sources for our ancestors. During the festival, the youth and all members of the community are given the liberty to express their concerns about issues affecting the town. They sing songs that name and shame chiefs and individuals who engage in bad behavior within the community.
After a week of festivities, the chiefs and elders perform rituals to welcome the new yams, marking the climax of the festival. Originally an annual celebration, a consensus was made to celebrate the Gbono festival every two years.
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