Fostering peaceful co-existence: Herders, indigenes unite through intercultural celebration at Bagurugu

Conflicts between herdsmen and indigenous farming communities have been a persistent issue across northern Ghana, resulting in the loss of lives and destruction of property. 

These conflicts often arise from competition over natural resources, particularly land and water, and are exacerbated by cattle encroaching on farmlands and causing damage to crops.

The Fulbes are predominantly nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralists who migrate across regions in search of grazing lands for their cattle.

Environmental factors such as desertification and climate change have reduced available pasturelands, compelling herders to move into territories occupied by peasant farming communities.

In many parts of the Northern Region, the situation is more serious as cattle stray into cultivated farmlands, resulting in crop destruction and heightened tension.

For instance, in the Bagurugu community in the Karaga District, farmer-herder conflict has become a recurring phenomenon. 

For the past few years, several people have lost their lives, while large tracts of farmlands and property running into thousands of Ghana cedis have been destroyed as a result of the recurring clashes.

Peaceful coexistence

In light of these recurring conflicts, various organisations have initiated interventions to promote understanding and harmony between Fulani herders and indigenous communities.

One such is an intercultural celebration held in Bagurugu, a major herders’ host community in the Karaga District, providing a platform for cross-cultural exchange between Fulani herders (Fulbes) and indigenous community members (Dagombas).

The event, which was to foster unity and peace, saw the Fulbes, who were drawn from various parts of the Northern Region, and Dagombas at Bagurugu, celebrate their unique cultural practices, performances and traditions, emphasising the values of respect, understanding and collaboration.

It was organised by Changing Lives in Innovative Partnerships (CLIP), an NGO, under its Support Project for the Strengthening of Social Cohesion at the Level of Strategic Cross-Border Territories (PARCS Project), which is being implemented in partnership with Acting for Life and funded by Agence Française de Développement.

The CLIP-PARCS Project Officer, Sayibu Sulemana Wumbei, said the event sought to create an open and inclusive space for sharing cultural practices, thereby enhancing mutual respect and breaking down existing barriers.

Mr Wumbei said “by facilitating these interactions, the event aims to challenge stereotypes, promote empathy and create a deeper understanding between the two groups.”

He added that the intervention was in line with the objective of the PARCS project, which was to strengthen social cohesion in strategic cross-border areas by fostering mutual understanding, collaboration and peaceful coexistence among diverse communities.

He emphasised the need for all to remain peaceful and coexist harmoniously to promote development.

Committee

Meanwhile, a Dispute Resolution Committee, comprising representatives from both communities, has been set up in the community to amicably address any farmer-herder issues and ensure peaceful coexistence.

The Chairman of the Dispute Resolution Committee, Alhassan Hassan, indicated that the initiative had been instrumental in resolving several disputes, resulting in harmonious coexistence in the area.

He lauded CLIP and its partners for the intervention and said it would go a long way to strengthen the bond of unity and friendship between the herders and the indigenous people.

Inter-marriages

For his part, the Fulani Chief of the Karaga District, Seidu Musah, also lauded the event, saying it was a further boost to the peace and harmony existing between the herders and the local people in the area.

The indigenes performing a cultural dance

He proposed inter-marriages between the Fulbes and the indigenes to help deepen the peaceful co-existence between them.

Additionally, he emphasised the need to provide an alternative source of livelihood for the Fulbe youth as some of them were not interested in herding cattle anymore.

This, he said, would help prevent them from being influenced by violent extremist elements to foment trouble.

An Assistant Director at the Karaga District Assembly, Salifu Mohammed Awal, commended CLIP and its partners for complementing the efforts of the assembly to promote peaceful coexistence in the area, as well as development.

Writer’s email: mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh