Fiok

Babatu and the battle of Sandema

Babatu was a Zarma warlord who led slave raids across what is now northern Ghana in the late 19th century. The Builsa defeated his forces at the battle of Sandema, and Fiok remembers that stand.¹²

The festival is said to have begun as household thanksgivings for good crops before it became a public celebration, and it is seen as a source of Builsa identity and solidarity.³

What happens

The festival opens with libations to the ancestors for peace and prosperity.³ Then dancers armed with bows and arrows, short axes, shields and spears, many in horned headdresses, re-enact the resistance and Babatu’s defeat.¹² The 2024 edition was held at Sandema on 21 December, under the theme of peace as a tool for development.²

Good to know if you go

• Where: Sandema is the Builsa capital, west of Navrongo and Bolgatanga.
• Weather: December is harmattan season in the north: dry, dusty and cool at night.
• Check the dates: the traditional council sets the days each year, often only weeks ahead. Local radio and the national press carry the announcement.
• Respect the rites: some rituals are sacred and not for cameras. Ask before photographing chiefs, priests or anyone taking part, and follow what the ushers ask.