Jewuasewura Abubakari Kipson Nyanchibre Kurkur Panfia I has been honoured by His Royal Majesty Buipewura Jinapor II for his leadership and organisational efforts behind BUDAFEST 2026, which attendees and the public have widely described as the best edition of the festival to date.
The award comprised two female cows, 25 tubers of yam, 200 bags of cement and a cash prize of GH₵20,000.
This year’s festival stood out for the quality of its programme, from the early preparations to the grand durbar and entertainment. Activities that drew particular attention included the clean-up exercise, the picking of rice, the slaughtering of a bull, the durbar and the decoration of the festival grounds.
The Buipewura identified Jewuasewura as a key figure behind the festival’s success and rewarded him for his hard work and commitment to the development and promotion of the Buipe Traditional Area. The gesture is also seen as a message that dedication, excellence and service to the community deserve recognition.
“I am grateful for your mentorship”
Responding to the honour, Jewuasewura first thanked Almighty Allah for His protection, guidance and strength throughout the planning and execution of the festival.
He then thanked the Buipewura for recognising his efforts.
“Jira Buipewura Jinapor II, I say a big thank you for noticing my hard work and honouring me in this special way. May Almighty Allah grant you good health, long life and wisdom to continue leading Buipe Traditional Area. Above all, I am grateful for your mentorship and for giving me the opportunity to be a student in your great institution,” he said.
He acknowledged the support of the Jinapor Brothers and Jinapor Sisters, whose contributions he described as essential to the success of BUDAFEST and the advancement of Buipe. He also thanked the chairman and members of the organising committee for their teamwork, and Mr Salia for the decoration that enhanced the festival grounds. All dignitaries, guests, participants and members of the public who attended were also appreciated for making the festival colourful and memorable.
In an emotional moment, Jewuasewura paid tribute to his wives for their patience and support during the demanding preparations. He disclosed that the work often required him to leave home and sleep in the office until the festival activities were over, sometimes staying away for extended periods.
“The outcome of your patience and support is this honour. I sincerely appreciate you for standing by me throughout this demanding period,” he said.
Jewuasewura also used the occasion to apologise to anyone who may have been offended by his words or actions during the organisation of the festival. He appealed for forgiveness for any shortcomings, intentional or unintentional, stressing the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence in the pursuit of collective development.
In one of the most touching moments of his message, Jewuasewura dedicated the honour to his late brother, Kunshiwura, whose first anniversary of passing falls on 24 October 2026. He described the loss as a painful personal experience and prayed for him.
“May Almighty Allah grant you Jannatul Firdaus, my beloved twin brother. May your soul continue to rest in perfect peace. This honour is also dedicated to your memory,” he said.
Jewuasewura concluded by thanking everyone who offered prayers, encouragement and support before, during and after the festival. He stressed that the honour was not his alone but a shared recognition of the collective effort of all who contributed. He called on the people of Buipe to continue working in unity, peace and mutual respect to promote the development of the Buipe Traditional Area, Gonjaland and Ghana as a whole.
Reflecting on his journey, he shared words that capture his outlook on service and legacy: “I chose duty over fear. Rank carries responsibility and rules apply to all… I came into this world with empty hands and I will live with empty hands; the question is what will I do with the hands I have today.”
The successful organisation of BUDAFEST 2026 has further shown the potential of cultural festivals to promote unity, preserve heritage, strengthen traditional institutions and create opportunities for community advancement.
