A Day of Mourning: The King of the Gulmu People
– 2 min read
by Firefly Productions Staff
The Government of Burkina Faso announced today the untimely passing of His Highness Numbado (King) Untaamba, the beloved paramount King and traditional ruler of the Gulmu Kingdom. Known for his unwavering dedication to the unification of the Gulmu people, who span Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger and Chad, His majesty Untaamba was the 32nd in a line of traditional authorities who represent the strength, perseverance and dignity of Africa’s ancient heartbeat.
In Fada N’Gourma, also known as “the City of the Rising Sun”, when a King passes, it is said that their sun has set. His Majesty Untaamba truly was a beacon of hope for many, illuminating the path back to dignity in one’s Ancestral identity
Carrying a message of unity, cohesion and solidarity, he represented the powerful movement unfolding in Burkina Faso, in the countries of the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES) and all across the continent. The sense of pride and commitment to self-determination among the children of Africa is steadily growing and has no signs of waning. Across the continent and the Diaspora, many are turning away from divisive ideas and imperialistic philosophies and returning to the unifying cultural roots that long pre-existed them. His Majesty played a pivotal role in ushering in this era, valiantly standing for the traditions of the great Ancestors and calling on his children to come together for the sole purpose of unifying what the colonization of Africa tried to break apart.
His commitment to unification was so profound that, among his many projects, he established an alliance to help the Children of the Diaspora through the non-profit organization KEBTAH. Through this alliance, His Majesty sought to provide diasporans with a bridge back to their ancestral heritage, from which they have been long disconnected.
News of his passing has triggered an outpouring of messages of sorrow and condolences from all across the globe. From social media to chat groups to personal text messages, all are feeling the immense weight of this loss and grappling with what with the obscurity of his absence means for the Gulmu people and for the wider movement he helped to build.
It is not every indigenous ruler who reigns for ages on end. His Majesty Untaamba’s time was so impactful that, in all of his endeavors, he planted seeds across the world, and we already see them taking root — sprouting with quiet power and unmistakable pride.
His initiatives will continue to unify, empower and reawaken the spirit of Indigenous Africa long after his time on Earth. And the children of the Motherland from across the globe who have been inspired by his commitment to human dignity must all honor his legacy and commit to our part: watering the seeds he planted so that future generations may enjoy the fruits and shade to come.
The world is mourning the loss of his Majesty Untaamba. May he continue to guide all of us, and may the Great Royal ancestors of the Gulmu, as well as the ancestors of all who benefit from his life, receive him with benediction.
