The History of the Kagbanya (Gonja) People

In constructing a history from such sources, the writer is obliged to clutch at straws and has to be contented with a finished work bearing more relationship to an ill sewn patchwork quilt than an intricate tapestry of harmoniously blended colours. To avoid any charge of attempting to force facts, the four written sources whence I have drawn most of my material are included in the appendices to this essay, together with a list of persons who have given me verbal information. Thus the reader will himself be able to judge the validity of my deductions.

All manuscript and traditional sources agree that the Gonjas came from the Mande country (Known as the MANDINGOS) to the North West of the Gold Coast. This is the story of their coming.

Gisi Jarra, the King of Mande Kabba, heard there was gold at Segou, so he sent messengers to the Chief of Segou to ask him to pay tribute in gold, but the Chief of Segou refused. The King of Mande Kabba therefore sent an army against Segou which razed the town and captured its Chief. Now in the army were two boys Maba'a and lmoru, sons of the King of Mande Kabba who made Irnoru, the elder, Chief of Segou. When later a report reached lmoru that gold was to be found at Buna he sent for his brother, Naba'a, and told him the news and said "Gbonya Ka na," "Go and return quickly" which is the origin of the name Kagbanya or Gonja as it is now lcnown.1 So Naba'a went and conquered Buna which he sacked, but instead of returning he pressed on Eastward across the Black Volta River at Ntereso to Wabili and Sakpa where the Chief arranged for the submission of the villages immediately West and South West of Bole. He continued his career of conquest until at length he was killed fighting the Nkoranzas.²

2 All dates in this chapter are according to the chronology of Mr. Jack Goody.

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Now in the course of Naba'a's expedition a Moslem called Ismaila came to Buipe³ with his son Mallam Mohamed Labayiru to salute hi. The two were well received but Ismaila died at Sanfi on his way home. When the sad tidings were brought to Naba'a he sent money and gifts for the dead Moslem's obsequies. When these had been performed Mohamed Labayiru returned to see Naba'a his father's friend, but he found that in the meantime Naba'a had died and his son Manwura sat in his place. He met Manwura at Kawlaw one Friday while his forces were engaged in battle. The sun was very fierce so Mohammed Labayiru said "Let us go into the shade of that large tree," and Manwura replied "We cannot do so because it is too close to the fighting." Mohammed Labayiru rejoined "If God wills we will drive away the unbelievers and sit beneath the tree.', Whereupon he arose and followed by Manwura walked to the tree, beat the ground with his leather headed staff and stuck it in the earth between the combatants. When the enemy saw this they fled and Kawlaw opened its gates to the Gonjas.⁴ So impressed was Manwura with the power of the Moslem's religion that he, his brothers and his nephews straight-away adopted Islam and received new names. Manwura was succeeded by Amoah lmoru Seidu Alhaj who ruled for twenty one years. He was followed by Jakpa Lanta who can be none other than Ndewura Jakpa, the great Gonja here and the subject of many legends.

Up to this time it seems that the Gonjas had not penetrated beyond the area round the confluence of the Black and White Voltas and had their base at Buipe. Now Ndewura Jakpa with his "band of brothers" by a series of decisive military campaigns established his way Northward towards Mamprussi and Eastward to beyond the Oti River. First he struck Northward to deal the death blow to Dagomba hegemony over the Tampluma in what is now the Wasipe Division by defeating the Dagomba army and slaying Na Dariziogo their King. Other sections of the Dagbon Empire were now ripe for plucking. After the defeat of Na

a This is according to the Kanakulaiwura's Ms., which I favour on the grounds that Buipe Liman is the senior of the kamagte or Sakpare Limans. The version of the Mande Kabba MS. is that Mohamnied Labyiru met Naba'a at Segou. Another fact which makes me indine towards the Kanakulaiwura's Ms. is that he mentions two Mallams-Ismaila and his son Mohammed Labayiru-and says that the first did not know Naba'a for long. This accords with oral tradition as related by Kpernbe Uman in 1953 and serns further to point to the identification of Mallam Fatu-Mo~pe, the founder of the Kamagte line, as Ismaila and his successor Mawuli Fatigi who accompanied the Gonjas in their conquests even to Nanurna, as Mohammed Labayiru.

4 According to the Bole Ms., Warn was the subjugator of Kawlaw and was later killed by the resurgent Nkoranzas. Lata according to the same source was also engaged against the Knoranzas and died at Kappasi, which setns to have been the Gonja base in these wars. Kapoasi is the gate to the Debre skin.

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Dariziogo and possibly in the same campaign, the Gonjas pushed Eastward to receive the submission of the Mparaba Divisions of Fanshiaw, Janton and Kakpande, and Ndewura Jakpa dispatched his youngest son to take the Mpara State of Kusawgu. Ndewura Jakpa returned once again to the confluence of the Voltas whence he probed into Kawlaw, received the submission of Kafaba, took Salaga and mounted a campaign against the Konkombas⁵ east of the Daka River. This latter resulted in the capture of Alfai and even land beyond the oti River in what is now French Togoland.

Besides being a great conqueror₁ Ndewura Jakpa was also a good organizer and administrator. He treated his new subjects kindly and appointed his relatives to rule them and to render a sort of feudal service as required. In this way with fairness and firmness he consolidated his conquests and founded the Gonja political system much as we know it today. Not content with his already extensive conquests, however, Ndewura Jakpa determined to make war upon Ashanti. His ambition killed him for it was during this war at Brumasi that he received the fatal wound from which he died at Sirirninchu⁶ as he was being carried homeward.

After Ndewura Jakpa it becomes exceedingly difficult to identify successive Yabumwuras, because in the Kanakulaiwura's manuscript, which is the only document that covers this post conquest period, only the Moslem names of Chiefs are given whereas oral tradition takes cognizance of their nicknames alone. Besides this, events such as farnines and plagues which might give a vital clue, lie forgotten.

Ndewura Jakpa was succeeded by his son So’ ara Sulimanu⁷ who was Weurakung for the six years of Ndewura Jakpa's retirement to Buru⁸ after which he reigned for sixteen years. He too was a warrior and made many conquests, but his people, who were tired of warfare and pined for peace, deposed him.

Now two short reigns intervene of Limu Imoru son of Ndewura Jakpa, brother of So'ara Sulimanu, and of Banga who had once been Sagiawlira⁹ in Wasipe, before a new light dawns Upon the scene with the mention of Abbas Son of Ndewura Jakpa. Like his father he Was a Moslem and a great leader who drew followers to his Standard by his Wisdom and the liberality Which Went hand in hand with his Wealth. He Outshone his brothers in all things.

Abbas Waged war against the Chief of Longoro for twelve years before peace was made. Soon afterwards the Chief of Longoro died and for forty days Abbas shared Power with Lailga, his brother who then died leaving Abbas in absolute control. Abbas, however, did not Occupy the Yabum skins until he had successfully waged war against Bouna when he Was acclaimed, reigned one hundred days and died fighting against the Bandas at Fugula.

Mahama Labayiru of Kpembe succeeded Abbas and reigned for only two and a half years before he died. After this the Paramountcy declined in Power and importance; each Divisional Chief set himself up as a petty King and if he felt so inclined waged War against his brothers. The brother of Abbas,'¹ however, was the most powerful of these Warring Chiefs and took precedence. He it was who killed the Ya Na and he died at Palari. Now the times were very disturbed. Debrewura Sulugu was slain in a war between the Brong States of Techiman and Bondouku. In 1735-36, Kpembewura Sabalugu and his brother Murkj Sumbungwura were defeated. Kandiawura Sangaragandi and the Kongwura; son of Osmanu, also died in Battle with the Dagombas, when Mahamma Wari was defeated and killed at Sanso. He was the Yabumwura’s son and though not a Chief, was so great a favourite that no one dared announce the news of his death to his father who at length heard it from a Wandering musician.

In these middle decades of the eighteenth century, Gonja's Southern neighbors took advantage of internecine warfare to attack. Kpembe was harassed by the people of Kulasi, and the people of Buipe fled before invaders from Daura.¹³ Then the Ashantis invaded Gonja and Dagomba.

About this time a pestilence swept through the country and killed many people. It was followed by a plague of locusts and famine when the price of grain increased ten times and many people thought to leave the country. Next fell prodigious rains such as had been known only once before. Many houses were destroyed and the people made themselves grass shelters to live in.

Now Murki Kpembewura died and was succeeded by his nephew who eventually succeeded to Yabum.

The Weilas,'⁴ who were Popularly known as Sunguipe, came to the large town of Bandaweila, the inhabitants of which fled, and the Weilas proceeded to the riverside where they settled. The locusts came again to Gonja this year.

Now the Weilas entered into a league with Kofi Suno and the Ashantis for the purpose of destroying and subjugating Gonja. Busunuwura, son of Abbas, heard of it and came to the river at Dikki to repel any attack. But all was quiet; Kofi Suno and his allies bided their time and when Busunuwura had gone they launched their attack. The Gonjas however defeated them and captured their leaders, while those who escaped fled to Dagomba which itself was rent by a civil war which enabled the Ashantis to Occupy Yendi.

At about this time a dispute arose between Busunwura and Banda Yaw, who had killed one of Busunuwura's children, which somehow involved Yasowura son of the Chief of Wurape.¹⁵ The dispute, had it been allowed to ripen, would have Plunged the whole country into war, but Sulimanu, son of Abbas prevented it

In Buipe, the brother of Buipewura Mahama Jarrawari seized the Silima skin from his younger brother, which deed shocked the local people because nothing of this nature had been done before.

At this time too Dagomba was in flames again and Savelugu Na sent to Wasipewura Sabunoyabung for Succour against Karaga-Na Zibirim Kulunku, his rival for the Yendi skin. Wasipewura's army was defeated at Kumbungu and Osumanu, son of Kapoasiwura, son of Debrewura Sulugu died on the field. Save for their initial great successes under Ndewura Jakpa the Gonjas were not lucky in their wars with Dagbon.

Now Jakpa, the Chief of Sansanne Mango, son of Sulimanu Chief of Kashiwu, and his brother the Chief of Longoro were defeated in Sansanne Mango with the people of that place who were their allies.

In 1764, Sulimanu Yabumwura, son of Abbas, died at Loha and was succeeded by his brother Abu Bakari,¹⁶ son of Yabumwura Mustapha. Abu Bakari had been Kilibiwura from which he became Kpembewura and he was staying at Kulipe when the news of his promotion to Yabum came. His reign was only very short but during it he always remembered Kpembe with favour. Later that year he was succeeded by Yabumwura Osumanu's son, Abu Bakari, known as Lanyon amongst the Gonjas, who likewise had only a short reign.

There is now a gap in Gonja history until the end of the nineteenth century~ when three events suddenly appear in the light of history. Firstly Babatu's slave raiding career had repercussions in Wasipe, next Kpembe was disturbed by the Kabache wars which established the Kanyasi family's rights of succession to the Division skin and finally the catastrophe of Samori's raid which immediately preceded the establishment of the British Protectorate smote Western Gonja.

Babatu himself had no dealings with the Gonjas though his career throws light on the affairs of Wasipe in the time of Wasipewura Takora in this way. When Babatu raided Walembele for slaves its people fled to Belele and Kundugu in Wasipe, repulsed their adversaries, and were thereafter allowed for seven years to practice their crafts in peace. They flourished, but Wasipewura Takora was angry because they had not paid him for his protection. He therefore seized two hundred and twenty of the refugees and sold them into slavery in lieu of payment. His brother Yarizoriwura Adama took up the refugees' cause and drove Takora from Daboya whence he fled to Dagomba. Takora remained in Dagomba for three years mustering forces to win back his Chieftenship. This period might have been shortened had not the Zabaraimas whom Takora's son Zakariya had called to his father's aid been defeated and driven back to the North West.

Sarnori's raid is interwoven with the politics of Western Gonja and is linked with the name of Kongwuar Abudulai known as Kabondogodam. Kabondogodam was an ambitious and thoroughly unscrupulous man. He first usurped the Kong skins at the expense of Nantechi the rival claimant. Then on the death of Yabumwura Seidu in 1895 he determined to become the Paramount Chief himself. His claims may not have been received favourably or he may have been merely impatient₁ but he decided to call the slave raider Samori to his aid. Samori did not come himself but sent a well equipped army under his son. This army crossed the Black Volta River into Gonja at Ntereso South West of Bole where a battle was fought For some time the issue was in doubt, then the Gonja forces seized the advantage and pressed the invaders hard. indeed had it not been that a section of Samori's army which was

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now brought into action, was armed with rifles it is likely that the invaders would have been repulsed. As it was the Gonjas gave way and fled to Jentilipe where they reformed and prepared to fight to the death. Meanwhile Samori's Captain divided his army. One section pursued the Gonjas to Jentilipe where it attacked the Gonjas who had taken their position in the village. The battle was fiercely fought The attackers formed three concentric circles around the village. When the circle nearest the village had had enough it retired through the second which then took its place and similarly in its turn the second retired through the third. The first two waves were repulsed and ammunition was running short. Tradition says that the men of the third wave were obliged to load their guns with red peppers which they fired into the compounds. This was too much for the Gonjas whose leader Kabagali had been killed and they surrendered. Some managed to escape to the fastnesses of Knokori for the victors only pursued them as far as Kbolebi while others fled to Eastern Gonja.

Meanwhile the other section of Samori's army struck down to Benyalipe where it fought and defeated the Tuluwe army. After this battle Tuluwewura Jewu and many of his followers blew themselves up to avoid the disgrace of capture. Nevertheless the victors were able to send back a train of prisoners to Bole where the Headquarters had been set up. This section of the army remained in the region of Benyalipe to keep watch and ward Eastward and to report to Bole if war threatened from that direction. As things turned out this precaution was unnecessary because the news of Tuluwewura's defeat and death proved an effective deterrent to the re-enforcement’s that were on their way from Kpembe.¹⁷

After these battles the prisoners were brought to Bole where Kabondogodam pointed out the Gonjas and leading Nyamase who were led off to execution. Very many were put to death for this was a political war and not a slave raid, and there are two or three large mounds in the town beneath which the corpses were buried. Before leaving Bole for the North in pursuit of the fugitives, Samori's people laid waste the town which in those days was more populous than it is now. They did not penetrate to Wasipe which favoured the Kong cause or to Buipe, though they did advance to Busunu where they were defeated by the Gonjas and driven towards Wa, which may have been made possible because some of the Samori force had been withdrawn to meet the new threat of British arms. Sainori's army met the Gonjas and others at Sankanna, it was driven to Mangu and thence to Samatigu where it encamped for three days. The mixed Gonja army attacked the Samori army by shooting arrows into the air which fell amongst the invaders who were hard pressed and only saved from defeat by the approach of night. When for some unaccountable reason¹⁸ the mixed Gonja army retired during the night, Samori's captain decided to retire to Bouna. During his retreat many of his captive escaped.

17 The pz~nt Kpembewijra who was a member of this expedition was my nif-omiant.

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The Samori wars had caused great havoc and ruin in Western Gonja which now for the first time made the acquaintance of the British who began to pacify and reconstruct the country, but not before the Bole people had been able to wreck their revenge on Kong by razing it to the ground and massacring its inhabitants. Kabondogodam, however, had escaped to Bouna with Samori and some of his progeny, including Mama Moruwura, his eldest son, later settled in Kintampo while other Kongs sought refuge in Wasipe or on the Coast.

When the Protectorate was divided into convenient administrative units, however, Gonja suffered by the loss of the Kandia Division which stretched as far North as Walembele and was incorporated with other Gonja possessions in the Wala District. The Government was firm in its decision for in 1923 'the Chief of Tampluma who is either Kandi's eldest son or brother" was not allowed to attend the General Gonja Conference held at Yapei and because of his determination to attend was detained in the guard room at Wa.

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Yabum Kagbapewura

Kpembe Kpembe Liman

Kusawgu Kitowura

Wasipe Jangbologuwura

Tuluwe Chefijiwura

Bole Kajumowura

Buipe

Naba'a 1566/~* - 1595/6**

Nawura Sa'ara 1595/6** - 1614/5**

Amoah 1614/5** - 1634/5

Jakpa Lanta 1634/5 - 1675/6 Became Chief of Bura d. 1681/2

So'ara 1675/6 - 1697/8 Deposed

Limu 1697/8 - 1697/8 Died

Banga 1697/8 - 1698/9 Died

Interregnum

Abbas (100 days) 1709 Killed

Mahama Labayiru 1709 - 1713/4 Died

Sulimanu - 1764 Died

Abubakaril 1764 - 1764 Died

Abu Bakari 11 1764 - 1765