It was a sunny day in Lawra, a town in the north-western part of Ghana. The people were celebrating the Kobine festival, a traditional dance and festival unique to the Dagara tribe. The festival was a time to thank the gods and ancestors for a bumper harvest and to celebrate family and culture.

Among the crowd of people, there was a 63-year-old tortoise. Celebrity tortoise was not an ordinary tortoise. He had a special talent: he could dance. He loved to move his shell and legs to the rhythm of the kuor and dalar, the drum instruments used for the Kobine music. He also had a special problem: he flatulated a lot. He could not help it. He blamed it on his diet of beans and cabbage.

Celebrity tortoise is from the Royal Cosy Hills Safari Resort, where he is kept as a pet for tourists. They brought him to see the world and have some fun.

He had heard about the Kobine festival from his owner. He decided to sneak out and join the festivities.
He arrived at the festival grounds, where he saw many people dressed in colorful skirts, headgear, and caps. They were dancing with quick rhythmic moves, especially with their upper body. Celebrity tortoise was amazed by their skill and grace. He wanted to join them.

He found a spot in front of the durbar grounds, where he could see and hear the music better. He started to dance, mimicking the moves of the human dancers. He swayed his shell from side to side, lifted his legs up and down, and bobbed his head back and forth. He felt happy and free.

He also felt some pressure in his stomach. He tried to ignore it, but it was too strong. He let out a loud fart, which sounded like a trumpet blast. The people around him heard it and smelled it. They turned to see where it came from. They saw the dancing tortoise.
They were surprised and amused by the sight of him. They laughed and clapped for him. They thought he was part of the show, a comic relief. They took pictures with him and gave him money. Kofi did not mind. He enjoyed the attention and the praise.

He continued to dance and fart, making everyone laugh and cheer. He became the star of the festival, attracting more and more people to watch him. He even caught the eye of some dignitaries, foreigners, and tourists who came closer to him and danced in front of him.

Celebrity tortoise felt flattered and happy.
He had never had so much fun in his life. He decided to stay at the festival for as long as he could. He did not want to go back to his owner’s house, where he was bored and lonely. He wanted to live in Lawra, where he was loved and celebrated.
He hoped that the Kobine festival would never end.

Source: Justin Abesig