The Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) people are one of the largest and most influential ethnic groups in northern Ghana. They have a rich and complex history that spans several centuries and involves migrations, wars, kingdoms, and culture. They celebrate many traditional festivals, the most popular being the Damba Festival.
Table of Contents
- Who are the Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) people?
- Where did the Dagbon people migrate from?
- What is the meaning of Dagomba?
- When did Dagombas come to Ghana?
- Where are they located in Ghana?
- What is the difference between Dagbon, Dagbani, Dagbaŋ, Dagomba, and Dagbamba?
- When was the kingdom of Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) founded?
- ŋmantanbo (Mantanbo) will then go further southward to form the Nanung kingdom.
- What was the first capital of Dagbon (Dagbaŋ)?
- Who was the first king of Dagbon (Dagbaŋ)?
- Who is the current Dagbon King?
- What are some of the cultural dances the Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) engage in?
- The traditional attire of the Dagbon people
- What are the Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) alphabets?
- Which languages are closely related to the Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) language?
- What is the relationship between Dagbani and Mamprusi?
Who are the Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) people?
The Dagbon people are also known as Dagomba or Dagbamba. They are a Gur ethnic group that speak the Dagbani language, which belongs to the Mole-Dagbani sub-group of the Gur languages. They inhabit the Northern Region of Ghana in the Guinea savanna region. They number more than 3 million people according to the 2010 census.
Where did the Dagbon people migrate from?
According to oral tradition, the Dagbon people trace their origin to a legendary warrior named Tohazie (translated as “red hunter”), who arrived in present-day northern Ghana in the 13th century. Tohazie is believed to be descended from Egyptian King Shabarko through his son Tiywumya who had settled in Chad and then in Zamfara, present-day Nigeria, according to sources.
Famed for his hunting prowess, Tohazie migrated from his birthplace in Zamfara to a drought-stricken town in Mali. The town’s only source of water was a small dam that was haunted by an evil bull. The Red Hunter managed to kill the animal and to show evidence of his prowess, cut off its head and tail to present to the townsfolk. Excited by his actions, the local chiefs would offer him a wife from among his daughters.
One of Tohazie’s descendants, Gbewaa, migrated southward to avoid the incessant wars. He settled in Pusiga where he established a chieftaincy called NAM.
What is the meaning of Dagomba?
The term Dagomba is derived from the Dagbani expression “daŋ kɔ ba”, which means “strong people” or “warriors”. It is also used to refer to other descendants of Tohazie, including the Mamprusi and Nanumba.
When did Dagombas come to Ghana?
The exact date of arrival of the Dagombas in Ghana is not known, but it is estimated to be around the 13th or 14th century. They came as part of a larger migration of Gur-speaking peoples from the east and north-east of Africa.
Where are they located in Ghana?
The homeland of the Dagombas is called Dagbon and covers about 20,000 km2 in area. It comprises mainly the eastern part of the Northern Region of Ghana, including districts such as Yendi, Tamale, Savelugu-Nanton, Tolon-Kumbungu, Karaga, Gushegu, Saboba-Chereponi, Zabzugu-Tatale, and Nanumba. The capital of Dagbon is Yendi.
What is the difference between Dagbon, Dagbani, Dagbaŋ, Dagomba, and Dagbamba?
Dagbon is the name of the kingdom or state founded by Gbewaa and his descendants. It is also used to refer to the homeland or territory of the Dagombas.
Dagbani is the name of the language spoken by the Dagombas. It is also used as an adjective to describe things related to Dagbon or its culture.
Dagbaŋ is an alternative spelling of Dagbon using a special character (ŋ) to represent a nasal sound. It is pronounced like “Dang-bang”.
Dagomba is a singular noun that refers to a person who belongs to the Dagbon ethnic group. It is also used as a collective noun to refer to all members of the group. Dagbamba is a plural noun that refers to two or more persons who belong to the Dagbon ethnic group.
When was the kingdom of Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) founded?
The kingdom of Dagbon was founded by Naa Gbewaa after he settled in Pusiga sometime in the 14th century. Gbewaa had lots of children from his wives. Knowing the problems that could arise with his death, he declared that one woman doesn’t give birth to two lions; the Dagbon king was a lion, and two brothers from the same mother could not inherit each other’s skin.
Formation of Mamprusi, Nanung, and Dagbon Kingdoms
Gbewaa was succeeded by his son Zirili. After Zirili’s death, his brother Tohagu sought to take over the skin but was resisted due to having the same mother as Zirili. Tohagu then fled with his people and settled in Gambaga where they were called ŋmampirisi, meaning the Separatists. Tohagu founded the Mamprusi Kingdom.
ŋmantanbo (Mantanbo) will then go further southward to form the Nanung kingdom.
Shitobu, one of Naa Gbewaa’s sons will then ascend to the Dagbon skin, making him the next king. With so many supporting him due to Tohagu’s attempt, Shitobu called himself Yaa Naa, meaning King of Kings. In a way, Shitobu is the first Yaa Naa by title, though there were kings before he came.
Shitobu moved to settle at Namburugu where he formed the modern Dagbon kingdom. Naa Gbewaa’s daughter, Yennenga, will go on to marry a Gruma to birth the modern day Mossi kingdom.
What was the first capital of Dagbon (Dagbaŋ)?
Naa Gbewaa first settled in Pusiga where he ruled as King. Oral traditions, however, indicate that it was Naa Nyagsi who established the first capital of Dagbon at Yani Dabari near present-day Diare.
Who was the first king of Dagbon (Dagbaŋ)?
The first king of Dagbon was Naa Gbewaa, who is regarded as the founder of the kingdom. According to oral tradition, Naa Gbewaa was a warrior who arrived in present-day northern Ghana in the 13th century. He established his capital at Pusiga, near the border with Burkina Faso.
Naa Gbewaa’s most notable children are: Sitobu, Tohagu, Mantambo, and Yennenga. His sons became the founders of the Mamprusi, Nanumba, and Mossi kingdoms respectively, while his daughter became the mother of the Mossi people. Naa Gbewaa died around 1330 and was succeeded by his grandson Zirili.
Who is the current Dagbon King?
The current king of Dagbon is Abukari Mahama, Yaa Naa Gariba II, who was enskinned as Yaa-Naa (meaning king of kings) on 25 January 2019. He is the 43rd king of Dagbon and belongs to the Abudu royal gate.
Naa Abukari II ascended to the skin after a long-standing chieftaincy dispute between the Abudu and Andani royal gates that resulted in violence and instability in the kingdom for almost two decades. His enskinment was facilitated by a peace agreement brokered by a committee of eminent chiefs led by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, with support from successive governments and civil society groups. Naa Abukari II is widely respected as a peacemaker and a development-oriented leader. He has pledged to work with all stakeholders to restore unity and prosperity to Dagbon.
What are some of the cultural dances the Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) engage in?
The Dagbon people have a rich and diverse repertoire of cultural dances that reflect their history, values, and emotions. Some of these dances are performed for specific occasions such as festivals, ceremonies, rituals, or entertainment. Some of the most popular dances are:
– Takai: a dance of war and bravery that involves vigorous movements of the feet, arms, and head. It is performed by men wearing leather skirts, hats, and bells. It is accompanied by drums, flutes, and horns. It is usually performed during the Damba festival, which celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad and the enskinment of kings.
– Bamaya: Bamaya means the valley is wet. It is a dance of joy and celebration that involves graceful movements of the hips, waist, and shoulders. It is performed by men dressed as women wearing colourful skirts, blouses, and headscarves. It is accompanied by drums, rattles, and xylophones. It is usually performed during weddings, naming ceremonies, or harvest festivals. It is believed to have started after a long period of drought that hit Dagbon.
– Dikala: Dikala is the blacksmith’s dance.
The traditional attire of the Dagbon people
The traditional Dagbon dressing is a distinctive and colourful traditional attire that reflects their identity and heritage. The most common garment worn by both men and women is the smock, also known as fugu or batakari.
The smock is a loose-fitting tunic made of hand-woven cotton strips that are dyed with indigo or other natural colours. The smock is usually decorated with embroidery or applique patterns that have various meanings and significance. Some of the common motifs include animals, plants, geometric shapes, and Islamic symbols.
The smock is worn over trousers or skirts, and sometimes over a shirt or blouse. The smock can also be worn as a cloak or a blanket. The smock is considered a symbol of prestige and authority among the Dagbon people, especially among the royals and the elders. The smock is also worn by other ethnic groups in northern Ghana, such as the Mamprusi, Nanumba, Frafra, and Gurunsi.
The traditional attire of the Dagbon people reflects their Islamic influence and their climatic conditions. The most common fabrics used are cotton, leather, and wool. The most common colors used are white, black, and brown.
– For men: a long robe (batakari) with a slit at the neck and long sleeves; a cap (takor) with a pointed top; a leather belt (kpaligu) with a pouch (kpalgu); a pair of sandals (kparikpa) made from animal skin; a sword (sambanlana) or a dagger (sambaligu) for protection or decoration.
– For women: a long skirt (tumpana) with a slit at the side and an elastic waistband; a blouse
The Dagbon women have a unique and beautiful traditional attire that reflects their culture and history.
Another important element of the traditional attire of the Dagbon people is the headgear or cap. The headgear is made of leather or cloth and has various shapes and sizes. The headgear is not only a fashion accessory but also a marker of social status and identity in the Dagbon community. The shape and direction of the headgear indicate the wearer’s clan, lineage, occupation, age, gender, and marital status.
The zuɣupili saba hat is a round cap that fits snugly on the head and is decorated with talismans.
Molifee: Molifee is a long,stiff, and straight white cap worn by prominent personalities at special occasions. A newly-installed Naa wears the molifee during his outdooring ceremony.
Mulifu: This is a stiff long red hat worn by traditional priests and the chiefs.
Kpaan-kƆbiga: This ‘guinea fowl feather’ coloured hat is a flexible and soft hat that is worn by twisting the top so it lies to the side. It is the commonest hat and is worn by many other ethnic groups including the Bissa people in Ghana and West Africa.
What are the Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) alphabets?
The Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) alphabets are a set of 28 letters that are used to write the Dagbani language. They are based on the Latin script, but with some modifications and additions to represent the sounds of Dagbani. The alphabets are:
A B C D E Ɛ F G H I J K L M N Ŋ O Ɔ P R S T U V W Y Z Ʒ Ɣ
The letters C, J, Q, X and Z are only used in loanwords from other languages, such as Arabic, English or French. The letters Ɛ, Ɔ, Ŋ, Ʒ and Ɣ are unique to Dagbani and some other Gur languages. They represent the following sounds:
– Ɛ: a low-mid front vowel, similar to the e in bed
– Ɔ: a low-mid back vowel, similar to the o in dog
– Ŋ: a velar nasal consonant, similar to the ng in sing
– Ʒ: a voiced postalveolar fricative consonant, similar to the s in measure
– Ɣ: a voiced velar fricative consonant, similar to the g in beige
The Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) alphabets were developed by linguists and educators in the 1960s and 1970s, with the aim of promoting literacy and education among the Dagbon people. They were officially adopted by the Ghanaian government in 1978, and have since been used in schools, newspapers, books and other media.
Which languages are closely related to the Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) language?
The Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) language is part of the Oti-Volta branch of the Gur languages, which belong to the Niger-Congo family. The Gur languages are spoken by about 20 million people in West Africa, mainly in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger and Togo. The Oti-Volta branch consists of about 40 languages that share some common features, such as tone, noun classes and verb serialisation.
Some of the languages that are closely related to Dagbani include:
– Mampruli: spoken by about 500,000 people in northern Ghana and southern Burkina Faso. It is mutually intelligible with Dagbani, and is considered a dialect by some linguists.
– Nanuni: spoken by about 200,000 people in northern Ghana and eastern Burkina Faso. It is also mutually intelligible with Dagbani and Mampruli.
– Kusaal: spoken by about 400,000 people in northern Ghana and western Burkina Faso. It is partially intelligible with Dagbani and Mampruli.
– Mossi: spoken by about 7 million people in Burkina Faso and neighboring countries. It is not mutually intelligible with Dagbani, but shares some vocabulary and grammar.
– Dagaare: spoken by about 1 million people in northern Ghana and southern Burkina Faso. It is not mutually intelligible with Dagbani, but shares some vocabulary and grammar.
What is the relationship between Dagbani and Mamprusi?
Dagbani and Mamprusi are two closely related languages that are spoken by two ethnic groups that share a common origin and history. The Dagbon (Dagbaŋ) people and the Mamprusi (Mamprugu) people are both descendants of Na Gbewa (or Naa Gbewaa), a legendary king who founded a powerful kingdom in northern Ghana around the 13th century.
The Dagbon and Mamprusi kingdoms maintained a close relationship for several centuries, often cooperating and intermarrying.
Today, the Dagbon and Mamprusi people still have a lot in common, such as their language, culture, religion and customs. They also face similar challenges and have made efforts to reconcile and cooperate for their mutual benefit, such as through cultural festivals, development projects and peace initiatives.
Image: Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
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