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The Bassare cultural fire dance is a revered tradition that offers a glimpse into the community and any other person’s future. This ancient practice is always seen in most of the Bassare communities across Africa including Ghana to gain a deeper understanding of what is to come and prepare sacrifices to mitigate potential challenges.
The fire dancers gazed into the flames and saw visions of future occurrences, these visions revealed impending events that could impact either on the community or individuals. After emerging from the fire, the dancers provide interpretations of their visions to traditional authorities.
The dancers therefore warned of potential challenges and offered guidance on how to prevent these occurrences. The traditional leaders received the warnings and guidance with seriousness, pledging to take necessary steps to protect the community. They performed with precision and reverence, with participants believed to be a form of communication with the spirits.
Over the weekend, the fire dance event provided a unique opportunity for the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to observe and document the Bassare traditional fire dance, at KpareKpare, a farming community in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region.
During the performance, GNA observed fire dancers demonstrating remarkable endurance as they jumped into the fire, performing intricate movements for about twenty minutes with spellbound gesticulations.
The fire dancer’s rhythmic movements are not just a display of physical endurance but also a spiritual journey.
Obor Malik Kwabena Tadiche, Bassare chief of Dambai Wonkaya, told GNA that as they gazed into the fire, they believe to receive visions and messages about upcoming events, challenges and opportunities affecting the community and the public.
He said the dancers’ trance-like state allows them to be tapped into the spiritual realm, providing insights that guide the community.
This ancient tradition displays the Bassare people’s deep connection with their spiritual heritage, highlighting the significance of the fire dance in their cultural and spiritual practices.
Source: GNA
