Naa Gbewaa Explained

Naa Gbewaa (also known as Nedega or Kulu Gbagha) is the founder of the Kingdom of Dagbon, in what is now northern Ghana. His sons and daughters are credited with founding several states⁣, including the Mossi Kingdoms of Burkina Faso.^[1] He established a stable and prosperous kingdom.^[2] Naa Gbewaa's shrine is located at Pusiga, 90 km east of Bolgatanga.^{[3] [4]} His descendants continue to pay respects at the shrine.^[5]

Lineage

Naa Gbewaa fathered the following children:^{[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]}

• Yemtori (Yennenga), beloved daughter, travelled northward and married Rialle. Their son, Ouedraogo founded the Mossi Kingdoms.
• Gundo Naa Kachaɣu, the eldest child of Naa Gbewa, became the first Gundo Naa. The Gundo Naa title is reserved for only females.
• Naa Ʒirli (Zirile), the eldest son of Naa Gbewaa. Younger to Gundo-Naa Kachaɣu.
• Fɔɣu (Kufɔɣu), chosen successor of Naa Gbewaa.
• Naa Shitɔbu, led majority Gbewaa children as Yaa Naa.
• Gmamprugulana Tohigu (Tosugu), younger to Zirile and Kachaɣu, but older than Shitobu. Moved to Gambaga, ruled over a land that will become Gmamprugu.
• Bimbila Naa Gmantambo, founded Nanung.
• Salagalana Kayilkuna, ruled over Salaga.
• Kuɣa Naa Subee Kpɛma.
• Karaga Naa Beemoni, ruled over Karaga.
• Sunson Naa Buɣyilgu, ruled over Sunsong.
• Sanglana Subee Bila, ruled over Sang, in the Mion District of Eastern Dagbon.
• Nyensung Yaambana.
• Savelugu Naa Yenyoo, ruled over Savelugu.
• Nanton Naa Baatanga, ruled over Nanton.
• Yamolkaragalana Kayetuli, ruled over Yemokaraga.
• Bohinsan Zugulana.
• Zantanlana Yirigitundi, ruled over Zantaani in Western Dagbon, now under Tolon District.
• Zoggolana Sungburi, ruled over Zoggu.
• Nyingaa Ʒibie.
• Kpuɣli Kungoo.

Split of Old Dagbon

When Gbewaa grew old, he preferred Fɔɣu, who was not the eldest son, to be his successor. Zirile, the eldest son, learnt of his father's intentions, and went on to murder Fɔɣu.^[11] When Gbewaa was informed about the death of his preferred successor, it did not take long for him to die. The historians of Dagbon, the Lunsi,^[12] uses a euphemism, that, Gbewaa disappeared in to the ground.^[13] When a King dies in Dagbon, Gmamprugu, and Nanung, euphemisms are used to announce their death.^{[14] [15]}

Kachaɣu, the eldest child, took on the regalia of Gbewaa and made herself Queen, but Zirile forced her to give it up.^[16] Not much is recorded about Zirile by the Historians of Dagbon. After Zirile, most of the children, including Kachaɣu, followed Shitobu, and they maintained Dagbon as the name of the lands they ruled.^[17] Tohagu, who shared the same mother as Zirile, ruled over a small portion of land in what will become Gmamprugu.^[18] Kachaɣu became the first Gundo Naa, the most senior female royal title of Dagbon.^[19] Yennenga (Yemtori) travelled northward and established the Mossi Kingdoms.^[20] Gmantambo moved further south and founded Nanung.^[21]

Eldest kingdom

Although Dagbon is largely recognized as the oldest kingdom in Ghana,^{[22] [23]} many regard Mamprugu too to be equally old.^[24] Both Shitobu and Tohagu were not the oldest of Gbewaa's sons. Kachaɣu, Zirile and Kufogu were older than these two brothers.

Most of the children of Gbewaa including his eldest child Kachaɣu (female) took Shitobu as the leader of the post-Gbewaa Dagbon.^[25] Kachaɣu became the first Gundo Naa. Shitobu retained the royal regalia of Gbewaa,^[26] his kingdom continued to bear the name Dagbon,^[27] maintained the Lion of Gbewaa^[28] as emblem, and today, the ruler of Dagbon resides in the Gbewaa Palace.^[29] Shitobu's tomb is located in Karaga guarded by the Tindana of Baɣli.^[30]

The Mamprusi claim to eldership is based on male-preferred/cognatic Primogeniture, where succession is through the oldest male child. However, Gbewaa did not practise this, as he designated the younger Foɣu/Kufoɣu^[31] to rule over his oldest child Kachaɣu and his eldest son Zirile. The Mamprusi adopted the elephant as its symbol.^[32]

Today, both Dagbon and mamprugu uses a succession by competition rather than primogeniture.

Eponyms

• Naa Gbewaa Interchange, Tamale^[33]
• Gbewa Residential Area, Tamale^[34]
• Gbewaa Palace, seat of King of Dagbon^[35]
• Naa Gbewaa School, Bawku^[36]
• Gbewaa College of Education, Pusiga^[37]
• Gbewaa High Street, Tamale^[38]
• GNS Naa Gbewaa, Military Ship^[39]
• Gbewaa Petrochemicals^[40]
• Gbewaa Civil Engineering Construction Limited^[41]
• Gbewaa Boys School, renamed to Tamale Senior High School^[42]
• Gbewaa Ghana Limited
• Gbewaa Chambers

References

• Dictionary of African historical biography . Na Gbewa . Mark R. . Lipschutz . R. Kent . Rasmussen . 2nd . University of California Press . 1989 . 978-0-520-06611-3.
• Book: History of West Africa . 1 . J. F. . Ade Ajayi . Michael . Crowder . 2nd . Columbia University Press . 1976 . 978-0-231-04103-4.

Further reading

• Book: Legends of Northern Ghana . Na-Gbewa and His Sons . D. . St. John-Parsons . Longmans, Green . 1958.
• Book: Ogot, Bethwell A. . Africa from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century . From the Niger to the Volta . 339–340 . General history of Africa . 5 . . 1992 . 978-92-3-101711-7.
• Book: Levtzion, Nehemia . Nehemia Levtzion

. The Cambridge history of Africa . 3 . The Western Mahgrib and Sudan . Nehemia Levtzion . 460 . J. D. . Fage . Roland . Oliver . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-20981-6.

• Institute of African Studies: Research Review . 7 . 2 . 1971 . 95–113 . The Origins of the Mossi-Dagomba States . Illiasu . A. A. .

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2015-04-13 . The forgotten kingdom . 2023-10-20 . africasacountry.com . en-US.
2. Web site: Origin of Mossi-Dagomba States . PDF Proc.
3. Web site: Naa Gbewaa Shrine – GACL . 2023-10-20 . Gacl . en.
4. Web site: 2021-03-19 . The Naa Gbewaa Shrine . 2023-10-20 . Gbc Ghana Online . en-US.
5. Web site: Naa Gbewaa Shrine – GACL . 2023-09-16 . Gacl . en.
6. Web site: Naa Gbewaa children . 2023-05-21 . adrummerstestament.com.
7. Web site: 2021-09-04 . The History Of Mole Dagbon State • Dagbon Kingdom: Your Gateway to the Best of Culture, History & Tourism . 2023-05-21 . Dagbon Kingdom . en-US.
8. Web site: 2015-04-13 . The forgotten kingdom . 2023-10-20 . africasacountry.com . en-US.
9. Web site: History . The African . 2022-04-08 . Kingdom of Dagbon: founded in Ghana by the Red Hunter Tohazee in 11th Century . 2023-10-20 . The African History . en-US.
10. Web site: 2014-06-30 . THE GHANAIAN HIGH SCHOOL CULTURAL FESTIVAL OF NORTHERN GHANA IN PICTURES. . 2023-10-20 . Mum Cee . en.
11. Web site: 2020-01-06 . After the death of Naa Gbewaah; the power struggle between Zirli & Kufogu . 2024-03-28 . Sanatu Zambang . en-GB.
12. Abdallah . Zablong Zakariah . Locke . David . 2010 . The Lunsi (drummers) of Dagbon: tradition and change . Research Review . en . 21 . 0855-4412.
13. Web site: About the Dagomba – Dagomba Dance Drumming . 2023-10-21 . Tufts sites . en-US.
14. Web site: The Lions of Dagbon: Political Change in Northern Ghana . Ethernet.
15. Web site: 2018-10-18 . Burial and Enskinment by Seton Nicholas . 2023-10-21 . Documenting Ghana . en.
16. Web site: PEACE EDUCATION AS CORRELATE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NANUMBA NORTH (Bimbilla) DISTRICT IN NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA .
17. Web site: 2020-10-14 . History and origin of Gushegu . 2023-10-21 . GhanaWeb . en.
18. Web site: Ratat . Lelrey . 2023-04-13 . Brief History of the Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) people of Ghana . 2023-10-21 . GH Info Site . en-GB.
19. Web site: The inescapability of local traditions in women's peace roles in Dagbon – The Nordic Africa Institute . 2023-10-21 . nai.uu.se . en.
20. Web site: The Story of the Princess Yennenga . 2023-10-21 . Yennenga Progress . en-GB.
21. Web site: SUCCESSION AND DEMOCRACY IN NANUŊ, NORTHERN GHANA .
22. Web site: alm . 2022-04-21 . KINGDOM OF DAGBON: One of Ghana's Oldest and Best-organized Traditional Kingdoms (11th Century -) . 2024-03-28 . Africa Leaders Magazine . en-US.
23. Web site: Bureau . Editorial . 2022-01-18 . Dagbon Kingdom – Kennedy intends to play a vital role in Dagbon . 2024-03-28 . British Herald . en-US.
24. Web site: 2020-01-06 . Mamprusi People; Eldest of the Mole-Dagbani Ethnic Group . 2024-03-28 . Sanatu Zambang . en-GB.
25. Web site: 2020-10-14 . History and origin of Gushegu . 2024-03-28 . GhanaWeb . en.
26. Web site: Malik . 2021-09-04 . The History Of Mole Dagbon State • Dagbon Kingdom: Your Gateway to the Best of Culture, History & Tourism . 2024-03-28 . en-US.
27. Web site: 2019-01-26 . Dagbon King Is Crowned . 2024-03-28 . DailyGuide Network . en-US.
28. Web site: admin . 2021-10-05 . Lion emblem is preserve of Yaa-Naa . 2024-03-28 . Ghanaian Times . en.
29. Web site: The Gbewaa Palace – Identity of Dagbon Kingdom .
30. Web site: Time for dagbon to develop historical and tourism sites – Mumuni Yunus .
31. Web site: Wundengba . Charles . 2018-10-16 . What You Must Know About the Mamprusi People, Eldest of the Mole-Dagbani Ethnic Group . 2024-03-28 . Northernghana.net . en-US.
32. Web site: The Nayiri Palace is the traditional seat of the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area. .
33. Web site: NORTHERN REGIONAL MINISTER EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO THE PRESIDENT FOR THE NAA GBEWAA INTERCHANGE – NRCC . 2023-10-24 . northernrcc.gov.gh.
34. Web site: 2022-04-12 . Disaster looms at Gbewaa residential; residents alert authorities about shoddy work of contractor ahead rainy season . 2023-10-24 . Zaa Radio 99.3 FM . en-GB.
35. Web site: 2023-03-06 . Ya Na Cuts Sod For New Gbewa Palace Project . 2023-10-24 . DailyGuide Network . en-US.
36. Web site: Naa- Gbeewa Junior High School, Bawku details . Course Ghana.
37. Web site: 2023-01-05 . Gbewaa College of Education Admission Requirements 2023/2024 . 2023-10-24 . GH Students . en-US.
38. Web site: All affected roads will be reconstructed" – Roads Minister assures people of Greater Tamale – Ministry of Roads & Highways . 2023-10-24 . Ministry of Roads & Highways . en-US.
39. Web site: Dogbevi . Emmanuel . 2012-07-31 . Ghana Navy receives two ships to augment fleet . 2023-10-24 . Ghana Business News . en-US.
40. Web site: 2022-02-18 . Gbewaa Petrochemicals . 2023-10-24 . Zaatu . en-US.
41. Web site: Gbewaa CEO Clashes With Martin Amidu Over Judgment Debt Defamation Suit . 2023-10-24 . Peacefmonline.com – Ghana news.
42. Web site: Wundengba . Daniel . 2021-08-07 . All You Need To Know About Tamale Senior High School, Tamasco . 2023-10-24 . Northernghana.net . en-US.