Sandbondtenga: Naaba Tiis©, chief of the canton of Louda, installed 11 new chiefs on Saturday, including four ministers, during a customary ceremony marked by allegiances and rituals. The ceremony, which mobilized the contenders and their entourages in front of the esplanade of the royal court, made it possible to fill seven vacant village thrones, namely Tanwoko, Leleks©, Kalwagdogo, Sidogo, Boala Yarc©, Linonguin, and Googo.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Saamnaaba, the Noomnaaba, the Razangnaaba, as well as the Tomnaaba, were also enthroned as ministers in order to strengthen the governance of the canton. The day began with the appointment of the new ministers, followed by the pledges of allegiance from the contenders for the vacant thrones. Village by village, the candidates presented themselves before the canton chief, president of the designation college, to confirm their intention to run for the cap.
After the pledges of allegiance, Naaba Tiis© retired to his palace. The contenders had to wait until nightfall to learn their fate, in accordance with custom. Between hope and despair, while awaiting the verdict, an emissary emerged from the palace and delivered the first decision of the day by announcing the new chief of Boala Yarc©, to the cheers of his companions. The enthronements continued at the so-called Napouidgo square, a space dedicated to enthronements, in a twilight lit by the light of mobile phones.
It was the number two of the canton, the Naaba Koom of Napamboumbou, surrounded by other members of the electoral college, who led the operations on this site. Grouped by village and recognizable by the spear or ram's skin they held, the contenders first offered dolo to mark their presence in front of the college set up for the occasion. When called upon by each village, the candidates presented themselves in the middle of the stage. They were disarmed by palace security before submitting to questioning by emissaries about the reason for their nighttime visit to the palace.
After receiving reassuring responses, the Naaba Koom of Napamboumbou announced the chosen candidate. He was lifted up in a gesture of victory amidst the joyful cries of his supporters, before being welcomed by the council with a calabash of dolo (a local beer) and taking his place alongside the other dignitaries. The three reign names of each new chief were then publicly unveiled, before the actual enthronement ritual, marked by a dance around the Tomboko. The newly installed chiefs will receive the attributes of customary power during their zoupondo, the official installation ceremony.