A Drummer's Testament
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The old princes and new princes war for Karaga; Naa Yakuba's madness; Naa Abilaai and the Bassari war; Naa Andani: the Zambarima wars, the Kumbungu war, the German conquest and victory at Adibo; Tugulana Iddi, Kari-Naa Abukari and civil war; Naa Alaasani; the coming of the British; reunification of Dagbon; colonial rule under the British
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Supplementary material
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Contents outline and links by paragraph
Introduction
- 1. chiefs from Naa Garba to Naa Yakuba
- 2. talk of the intervening chiefs is short
Separate sides of Dagbon
- 3. travel from Toma to Naya; dangers of animals; transport and roads under white men
- 4. Savelugu-Naa was main chief in Toma; Yaa-Naa in Yendi area
Chieftaincy and fighting
- 5. Yaa-Naa had to use strength to become chief; since Gbewaa
- 6. Naa Yakuba's madness; killed Naa Zoli; the alignment of the fight: Jɛŋgbarga's children against Ziblim Bandamda's grandson; Naa Yakuba and brothers were Naa Zoli's junior fathers
The Karaga war, or the old prince and new prince war
- 7. fighting between Naa Yakuba's brothers (Sunson-Naa Yahaya, Mionlana Issa, Sanglana Blemah, Kpatinlana Adirkarli) and his children: Naa Yakuba's children (Naa Abilaai as zuu and Kari-Naa Adam as Sakpiɛ-Naa) to prevent Sunson-Naa Yahaya from eating Karaga
- 8. Sakpiɛ-Naa Adam's claim to the skin of Karaga
- 9. Sunson-Naa Yahaya and Naa Yakuba's brothers were sacked from Karaga
- 10. the sacked chiefs driven away and died outside Dagbon
- 11. Sagnerigulana Sulemana died in the war (grandfather of Nanton-Naa Sule); Abilaai ate Mion; Sakpiɛ-Naa Adam ate Karaga
Naa Yakuba's madness
- 12. Naa Yakuba's madness: killed people; eye-open madness
- 13. Naa Yakuba's brothers attempt control him; led by Yelizolilana Yidantoɣma; Yelizolilana killed by Naa Yakuba's children in the Karaga war
Naa Abilaai and Naa Andani: Bassari and Zambarima wars
- 14. Naa Abilaai Naɣbiɛɣu was first-born; fought against Bassari; accompanied by his brothers to the war
- 15. explanation: in old talks, drummers refer to chief by the final chieftaincy he ate; can be confusing
- 16. Naa Abilaai collected some Bassari towns; explanation of extent of the war
- 17. Naa Andani was Savelugu-Naa; fought Gurunsis; list of towns he fought; fought Zambarimas who had come to Ghana; list of towns; ate Yendi when returned from wars
- 18. Naa Andani fought two wars in Dagbon: fought Kumbungu and fought the white men
Naa Andani: the Kumbungu war
- 19. Kumbun-Naa Abilaai sacks Toma chiefs to Yendi; Naa Andani responds
- 20. Kari-Naa Alaasani joins Kumbun-Naa; related to Kumbungu through mother
- 21. Kari-Naa's ambitions for Yendi
- 22. Naa Andani killed Kumbun-Naa Abilaai; marched to Karaga and killed Kari-Naa Alaasani
Naa Andani: the coming of the white men
- 23. Germans at Sansanne-Mango in Togo; Naa Andani refused them to enter Dagbon
- 24. Germans prepared to enter Yandi by force
- 25. battle of Adibo: Germans defeated Dagbamba; Naa Andani's elders removed him from the war; Germans burn Yendi
- 26. British entered Mamprusi at Gambaga; Mamprusis were frightened by fire from matches; Mamprusis did not fight British
Naa Alaasani: Tuglana Iddi, Kari-Naa Abukari, and the Germans
- 27. after Naa Andani died, Naa Alaasani from Karaga to Yendi; Naa Alaasani's alliance with the Germans; British at Bagabaga
- 28. Naa Andani instructed his zuu Tugulana Iddi to eat Karaga; support Naa Alaasani from Karaga to Yendi
- 29. Yendi people did not want Tugulana Iddi to go to Karaga because feared yaws there; Tugulana Iddi supported Savelugu-Naa Darimani for Yaa-Naa
- 30. the funeral of Naa Andani; the chiefs gathered
- 31. Naa Alaasani (from Karaga) prevented from entering Yendi to perform the funeral
- 32. Tugulana Iddi refused Naa Andani's instructions to go to Karaga; Naa Andani's funeral was delayed
- 33. Kori-Naa Mahami died: Naa Andani's junior bother; Kori-Naa Mahami's zuu Abukari (later Kari-Naa Abukari); supported Naa Alaaasani
- 34. Korli Regent Abukari and others allied with Naa Alaasani; Naa Alaasani refused to fight
- 35. Korli Regent Abukari's alliance with Germans; conflict between Germans and British for control of Dagbon
- 36. Yendi given to Savelugu-Naa Darimani (Kukara Djee); Tugulana Iddi to Savelugu; Korli Regent Abukari informed Germans; procession at Sang
- 37. Germans sent soldiers to Yendi; Darimani fled and died; not counted as Yaa-Naa
- 38. Germans attacked Dagbamba at Sang; killed Tugulana Iddi; Sang-dali
- 39. why Kukara Djee is not counted as Yaa-Naa
- 40. Germans forced the installation of Naa Alaasani; Korli Regent Abukari to Karaga
Kari-Naa Abukari and Naa Alaasani
- 41. Kari-Naa Abukari poisoned Naa Alaasani; Naa Alaasani informed Naa Abudu before dying
- 42. Savelugu-Naa Bukali Boforo was Naa Andani's son; ate Savelugu after Sang-dali
- 43. Naa Alaasani told Naa Abudu to follow Savelugu-Naa Bukali Boforo as Yaa-Naa
- 44. Germans tried to give Yendi to Kari-Naa Abukari; Naa Abudu refused
- 45. Naa Abudu appealed to British in Tamale; gave British some of the poisoned drink
- 46. Kari-Naa Abukari denied; British called meeting of chiefs; gave drink to Kari-Naa Abukari and he died
- 47. Kari-Naa Abukari's wickedness came back to eat him
- 48. Savelugu-Naa Bukali refused chieftaincy; Naa Abudu ate Yendi from Mion
Naa Abudu: reunification of Dagbon under British
- 49. British collected all of Dagbon; Dagbamba did not fight British
- 50. British unified Toma and Naya; chieftaincy of Yendi became paramount
Benefits of British rule
- 51. British rule was good; before that was suffering; unsafe to travel
- 52. Dagbon truly unified under Naa Mahama Kpɛma; lorries and roads
- 53. further unification under Naa Mahamam Bila; benefits of roads
- 54. another example: matches; previous difficulty of making fire with flint
- 55. other benefits: water, electricity, rule of law
Problems after independence
- 56. since independence, Ghana spoiled; abuse of power; lawless
- 57. government disrespects custom; exploitation, nepotism, corruption
- 58. colonial times: no shortages, prices were low; currently, money does not last
- 59. currently, modern life spoiled by corrupt politicians and soldiers; no law, no respect; especially spoiled by soldiers
- 60. current generation not the same as previous generations; need to pray for the current generation
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Proverbs and Sayings
Dagbamba people say that if you arrange with somebody before it is time, if you wink your eyes, the fellow will know what you mean.
The chieftaincy a chief died with, that is the chieftaincy we use to call him.
Yaa-Naa regards Kumbun-Naa as his bilaa, his slave.
if Yendi falls, a grandson can interfere.
It is standing that if Yaa-Naa ties war, Kari-Naa has to be behind him.
He, Naa Andani, and alizini people could not sit at the same place. And he and red monkeys could not sit and greet one another.
In Dagbon, we fear the mouth of a dead person. Whatever he said and died, if you refuse it, you will get trouble.
Our chiefs have got strong hearts that can kill them.
We don't count him into Yaa-Naas because he saw the war coming and he ran away.
A wicked man's trap catches his own child.
What he would do and it would eat him, that is what he did.
What you sow is what you harvest.
What is coming is not going back.
They made our roads to be large ones, and they made the roads that were long become short.
The time when God creates you, and you are in that time, you don't call it a bad generation.
The old people say that you shouldn't blame the current generation: you should pray for them.
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Dagbani words and other search terms
- Chiefs of Yendi
- Naa Abilabila
- Naa Abilaai [Naa Abilaai Bawuna, Naa Bawuna, Naa Nagbiegu] (Naa Abilaai Naɣbiɛɣu)
- Naa Abudu [zuu Abudu, Naa Abudu Setang' kugli] (Naa Abudu Setaŋ' kuɣli)
- Naa Alaasani
- Naa Andani [Naa Andan'zhee] (Naa Andan'ʒee)
- Naa Andani Jengbarga (Naa Andani Jɛŋgbarga)
- Naa Bimbiegu (Naa Bimbiɛɣu)
- Naa Dalgu
- Naa Garba
- Naa Gbewaa
- Naa Kulunku
- Naa Mahamam Bila [Naa Mahamambila]
- Naa Mahama Kpema (Naa Mahama Kpɛma, Naa Mahamankpɛma)
- Naa Mahami
- Naa Saa Ziblim [Naa Saa, Naa Saalana]
- Naa Shitɔbu (Naa Shitobu)
- Naa Siɣli (Naa Sigli)
- Naa Simaani Zoli [Naa Simaani, Naa Zoli]
- Naa Yabuka
- Naa Zibliim Bandamda
- Naa Zulandi
- Naa Zhirli (Naa Ʒirli)
- Chiefs of other towns
- Gukpe-Naa Alhassan
- Kari-Naa Abukari [Abukari, zuu Abukari, Korli Regent Abukari]
- Kari-Naa Adam Jetta
- Kari-Naa Alaasani
- Kari-Naa Mahami
- Kari-Naa Yinfa
- Kori-Naa Mahami
- Kpatinlana Adirkarli
- Kpatu-Naa Shetu
- Kudulana Issa
- Kukara Djee [Savelugu-Naa Darimani]
- Kumbun-Naa Abilaai
- Mionlana Issa
- Mionlana Mahami
- Mionlana Salifu
- Mionlana Simaani
- Nanton-Naa Alaasambila
- Nanton-Naa Sule
- Pigulana Issa
- Sagnerigulana Sulemana
- Sanglana Blemah
- Sanglana Mahama
- Sapkie-Naa Adam (Sapkiɛ-Naa Adam) [Kari-Naa Adam, Kari-Naa Adam Jetta]
- Savelugu-Naa Bukali Shegbaa (Savelugu-Naa Bukali Sheɣbaa) [Sheɣbaa Bukali]
- Savelugu-Naa Darimani [Kukara Djee]
- Savelugu-Naa Kantampara Bukari [Savelugu-Naa Abukari Kantampara]
- Savelugu-Naa Mahama Noobila (Savelugu-Naa Mahama Ŋoobila)
- Saveulgu-Naa Bukali Boforo
- Sunson-Naa Yahaya
- Tolon-Naa Sulemambila
- Tugulana Iddi
- Tugulana Salifu
- Yelizolilana Lagfu (Yelizolilana Laɣfu)
- Yelizolilana Yidantogma (Yelizolilana Yidantoɣma)
- Zangbalin-Naa Aduna
- Zoggolana Issa
- Chieftaincies and titles
- Kari-Naa [Karagalana]
- Kasuliyililana
- Kori-Naa [chief of Korli]
- Kpatinlana
- Kumbun-Naa
- Limam
- Mionlana
- Nanton-Naa
- Nyankpalalana
- Sanglana
- Sapkie-Naa (Sapkiɛ-Naa)
- Savelugulana [Savelugu-Naa]
- Tampionlana
- Tolon-Naa
- Tugulana
- Wariboggolana
- Yaa-Naa, Yaa-Naas
- Yelizolilana
- Other persons mentioned
- Acheampong [General I.K. Acheampon]
- Alhaji Adam (Alhassan) [Mangulana]
- Gomda
- Mumuni [Alhaji Mumuni Abdulai]
- Miscellaneous terms
- alizini
- anzinfa
- bilaa
- cedis
- cheb'kolgu (chɛb'kolgu)
- chebli (chɛbli)
- Dagbani
- Gbonglana (Gbɔŋlana)
- Kambonsi
- kapok
- Katin' duu
- lorry, lorries
- Naanigoo
- Naɣbiegu (Naɣbiɛɣu)
- pesewas
- pito
- Samban' lunga (Samban' luŋa)
- Sang-dali
- sarimana
- siliming'chebli (silimiŋ'chɛbli)
- threepence
- Zambalana tong (Zambalana tɔŋ)
- zuu
- Towns and places
- Adibo
- Awarayili
- Bagabaga
- Bassali
- Bassimbaliya
- Bawku
- Bimbila
- Dagbon
- Diari
- Dolbizan
- Gambaga
- Gbilijini
- Gbungbaliga
- Juni
- Karaga
- Karimari
- Korli
- Korli-gbini
- Kuduli
- Kpatinga
- Kpatuya
- Kumbungu
- Kunchumambaliya
- Malizheri
- Masaka
- Mion
- Nambaliya
- Nanchemba
- Nanton
- Navrongo
- Naya
- Nyanshegu
- Pigu
- Pisigu
- Sakasaka
- Sakpie
- Salaga
- Sang
- Sansanne-Mango
- Satili
- Savelugu
- Sechi
- Sunson
- Tampion
- Tolon
- Toma
- Tugu
- Tuusaani
- Vitin
- Wakambaliya
- Yendi
- Zangbalin
- Zoggo
- Cultural groups
- Bassari, Bassaris
- Dagbamba
- Gonja
- Gurunsi, Gurunsis
- Konkombas
- Mamprusi, Mamprusis
- Nanumbas
- Zambarima, Zambarimas