During the recent celebration of the Damba Festival at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi, one unique ritual that caught the attention of many was the display of Yodoya, sacred bamboo sticks carried by women to protect the Kpatuya Chief.
Kpatuya, a community under Yendi, is one of the communities reserved for the daughters (Female children) of overlords of Dagbon.
The Yodoya, literally meaning "woman power", which is believed to possess the powers of the chief, are spiritually fortified by the gods of the land.
Each stick is carefully carved and adorned with welded feathers, symbolising the bond between the chief and her divine protectors.
Like the royal guards who protect paramount chiefs and the Overlord of Dagbon, these women are guardians of female chiefs.
In essence, the sacred sticks are used to protect princesses or female chiefs whenever they step out to attend functions.
Significance
A traditional historian, Abdulai Mohammed Murtala, explained that the Yodoya has been part of Dagbon’s traditional structure since the establishment of the chieftaincy system.
“These sticks are used exclusively to protect women chiefs, especially those holding the highest titles in Dagbon,” he said.
He indicated that the sacred sticks should not be displayed in public frequently, except during major festivals such as Damba.
Regular exposure, he added, could weaken their spiritual potency.
He added that “they are very powerful — more powerful than guns, in a symbolic sense, they can even be used to challenge the overlord during misunderstandings between women chiefs and the palace.”
Purification
Murtala further explained that any woman permitted to carry a Yodoya must first undergo spiritual purification to prove her loyalty and discipline.
He, however, cautioned handlers to avoid actions that could defile or diminish the sacred power of the sticks.
Many participants were intrigued by the rare spectacle.
Some, like Mariama Mashud, attending the festival for the first time, admitted they were unaware of the meaning and spiritual role of the bamboo sticks.
Spiritual role
The sticks are believed to embody the spirits of past overlords of Dagbon, particularly that of the chief’s father.
Their spiritual essence is said to infuse the people with resilience, courage, and a profound sense of unity.
This ancestral spirit is believed to manifest when it is most needed — offering guidance in times of uncertainty and wisdom when important decisions must be made.
The spirits of the overlords do not belong solely to history; they are regarded as living guardians whose influence extends into the present, offering protection in moments of war, strife, and calamity.
As the women carry the sacred sticks behind the chief amid chanting and jubilation, the act symbolises that they are earthly representatives of the overlord’s spirit — embodying strength, continuity, and divine protection.
