TILAA Celebration in Northern Ghana..

Just like Hallowe'en which is celebrated by many across the globe, Tilaa is a festival which has similar traits. The white people say Trick or Treat in Halloween but Dagombas Tilaa has a different way. It is celebrated on every 27 on the Dagombas calendar which also falls on the 27 day of Ramadan.

Mention Tilaa to a Northerner, particularly a Dagomba man or woman, boy or girl and the response you get is nothing but exciting memories or stories about Tilaa.

Many believe is a Tradition of the Dagombas or northerners others believe it's part of Islam. The history of Tilaa is uncertain because many can't best tell its origin. 

I made a little research and Vox pop on Tilaa in the Tamale Metropolis and many shared the same views.

From the Dagombas version, Tilaa in the Dagomba calendar that also falls under the Islamic month of Ramadan on the 27 day of the fasting period is a day, Dagombas seen as a day of giving back to society. Dagombas believe that children are those close to the gods and when they give out gifts to the children they receive spiritual blessings. 

But others also believe that since some portions of the song describes or mentions the name of the Prophet, God and the Yaa sin, it's has a relation to Islam.

Some Imam's say the celebration falls on the same day of Lai La Til Quadir which is a scared day for Muslims. Muslims believe that, that night is so holy to the extent that when you stay awake and pray with believe you prayers will be answered with immediate effect. And that Muslims should give out, share and celebrate for God loves and bless those who give out.

To make this day even special and memorable, children go in search of drum materials and other scary stuff during day time, they make and prepare their drums and one of these children is dressed in disguise, they way the children will disguise that particular child, no one can recognise him or her unless those who where there to see him or her dressing up in that scary or comic costume.

At night, after every house hold have finished eating or presume finished eating, the children pick up their drums and lead the way on the street as the scary or comic dressed child follows their back. They sing and beat the drum. The songs goes this way..

" Tilaa Tilaa 

Tilaa Naawuni

Anabi zal li

Yaa Shini zal li

Ka di Yaa di yaa guugi 

Din kati borra

E Mongla la e Mongla e la

E mongla Naawuni 

Kpaligu bel la yi bei ni 

Nig ti Ma na 

Naazu bel la yi bei in

Nig ti ma na

Ana gurugu kpeiti na

Gurugu yaa kpeiti na

Ana gurugu kpeiti na

Gurugu yaa kpeiti na "

The song simply means, "when you give, when you give, you give God" which is " Tilaa Tilaa, Tilaa Naawuni " 

So Tilaa means Give in Dagbani. Please note; the it self is a Dagbani song.

" Anabi zal li' Yaa Shini zal li " also means the prophet stood by this act and the Yaa sin, a part of the Holy Quran agrees to this celebration. 

" E Mongla la e Mongla e la, E mongla Naawuni " means when you refuse to give, then you have refuse God. "

As they walk and sing on the street, they move into the houses and upon entering they say " yili nog nima Salamualaikum Alaikum, La Inla Laahu. " Tilaa Tilaa......

The people in the house also been aware of the celebration will prepare food, money, meat, corn or any cereal or something they feel is good or worthy and give to the children. So as the children sing the Tilaa song, beating their drums and dancing, the people in the house watch with pleasure and sometimes even join in the dancing. When all this is happening the child dressed in a comic or scary custom is hiding outside, he or she does not enter the house until he or she hears a portion of the song which request his or her presence.

The portion of the song, that request his or her presence goes this way..

" Ana gurugu kpeiti na

Gurugu yaa kpeiti na

Ana gurugu kpeiti na

Gurugu yaa kpeiti na "

Which means the scary or comic dressed child will now appear, rush into the house and begin o dance, as the drums continue to play and sing.

The dance performance of the Scary or comic dressed child and the team as a whole determine the gifts they will get in that particular house.

This portion of the song has different versions and meaning, an example is the Hausa version. But what is written here is the Dagomba version 

Ka di Yaa di yaa guugi 

Din kati borra

They move from house to house until it's midnight or they get tired.

From the people point of view, Tilaa is a Dagomba festival and its meaning and reason is similar to the Islamic Teachings, thus sharing or giving to the needy or poor.