In the scientific world, trees serve so many
purposes including of erosion and mitigating the climate, removal of carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere.
Subsequently they store large quantities of carbon
in their tissues.
Trees and forest provide a habitat for many species of
animals and plants. They equally provide shades and shelter, timber for
construction, fuel for cooking and fruit for food.
Due to their long life and
usefulness, trees including that of the Temarandus are sometimes revered and
are sacred groves in various cultures.
Within the Kembisi community for
instance the history and traditional significance of the Pusika Tia also known
as Temarandus can be traced to the migration of two brothers Akeama and Akamugma.
These two brothers migrated from Youwa in the southern part of Burkina Faso
about four hundred years ago amidst famine.
They settled in Pogmulgu-Sirigu in
the Kassena Nankana municipality. Consequently, the two moved again to
Sumbrungu and finally settled at Kembisi. Akamugma died about 100 years ago but his descendant’s
forms majority of the Kembisi community.
According to a soothsayer upon
consultation, the Temarandus tree symbolically represent the dead Akamugma.
Unfortunately,
the tree died in November, 2016.
The funeral rites of the tree started at the family
house of the Tindana amid drumming dancing performed by war dancers.
The
community members and chief mourners finally moved to the former house where
Akamugma lived, died and was laid to rest.
These kind of houses are locally
called (Daboo).
They aim of moving into the Daboo was to performed all the
relevant sacrifices to bid their father the Pusiga Tia fare well.
It will
interest listeners to know that the fruit of this same Temarandus tree is a
major ingredient for sour water, used to stir T. Z and a local beverage called
sobolo.
However the Tindana of the area Atindanbila Ayika explained that, the
tree was revered and according to tradition and culture of the people it is
forbidden to use the branch as a fire wood.
The Senior Programmes Officer of
the Envirnmental Protection Agency Mr Hamid Abdulai explained that they mindful
of secret grooves and Shrines when it comes to environmental impact assessment.
Aside their traditional belief system attach to these shrines and grooves, the
rules governing these places are very crucial in protecting the environment.
EPA therefore see such traditional practices very important.
Meanwhile the Paramount Chief of Bongo
Traditional area, Naba Salifu Limyarum, has urged his colleagues and other
traditional rulers not to allow modernization to over shadow the need for sacred
groves and trees to be protected.
Naba Salifu indicated that even before the
advent of the EPA laws regarding environmental Protection, chiefs were very
much concerned about shrines and grooves with strict laws. Sanctions could even
be applied where someone there was a violation.
Therefore in the wake of fierce
war against environmental degradations, those cultural and traditional
practices that promote the preservations of the environment should be
encouraged.
There are several grooves and shrines across the Upper East Region with
similar practices.
Unfortunately, due to poverty, such grooves and shrines are
gradually threatened as they are often sold out to investors, for
infrastructural development to the detriment of the environment.
GBC
END
No comments:
Post a Comment