Chiefdom of the canton of Gaoua
Bifate II or « the lost child » inducted
The new chief of the canton of Gaoua, capital of the South-West region, Binkoété Oussé Albert dit Bifate II was enthroned on Friday July 29, 2022 in Gaoua. The ceremony was attended by several delegations of customary chiefs from within Burkina Faso but also from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
Binkoété Oussé Albert known as Bifate II (the lost child in the local Lobiri language) is now the 5e canton chief of Gaoua, capital of the South-West region. He received his attributes on Friday July 29, 2022. He succeeds Yari Oussé, his “ dad who reigned over the township for 27 years. The new leader intends to work, like his predecessor, for social cohesion and the promotion of peace in the canton. Several acts marked the ceremony. First, very early in the morning, the new chief, accompanied by his notables, honored the traditional ceremony of enthronement, in privacy, with sacrifices made to the ancestors. The event continued at the place of the nation of Gaoua where the great ceremony took place which brought together the populations of the region, delegations of customary and traditional chiefs from different kingdoms and cantons of Burkina Faso, Ghana and from Ivory Coast. Libation, artistic and cultural performances, messages of congratulations and blessings were the highlights of the ceremony. Regarding the enthronement process, the notable Warsité Ollo Palé clarified that in the Lobi tradition, it is the land chief who is responsible for sitting the chief.
« The first step was for the land chief to consult to see if the land was fertile. When he realizes that there are problems, he tries to settle with God and the ancestors. The other step, that of his family and the whole population, will consist in helping the new chief in his mission. “, explained the notable. Returning to the mode of designation, Warsité Ollo Palé indicated that on the death of his father, the administrative authorities wanted someone to replace him on the throne. Also, he continued, before his death, the late canton chief had called not to leave the position vacant.
From kinship to joke
« He told me: all my brothers are dead and only our children remain and among them, choose one. Three days following his disappearance, I gathered all the children for their presenter the situation. This is how their choice fell on Binkoété Oussé Albert “, related the notable. After the induction phase, the notable suggested that Bifate II might designate focal points in the neighborhoods and villages to assist him. Present at the event, the joking parents of the Cascades region testified to the historical relations between the two regions.
“We came as special guests to enhance the image of the ceremony. Without us, this leader cannot be inducted. We had to agree from the first step “, launched the representative of the youth of the chiefdom of the canton of Karaborola, Hamidou Midassan. For him, these family ties between the Lobis and the Senoufu must continue. On the sidelines of the enthronement, several other activities were organized with the aim of promoting the Lobi culture. These include the harvest festival or lam-binan, a night of distinction for actors of peace, panels and an exhibition of local products.
Joseph HARO
