Mamprusis are an ethnic group in northern Ghana and Togo. Estimates are that there are about 200,000 Mamprusis living in the Northern Regions of Ghana as of 2013.[1] They speak Mampruli, one of the Gur languages. In Ghana, the Mamprusis live mainly in Nalerigu, Gambaga, Walewale, and their surrounding towns and villages in the North East Region. Their origin is in the Upper East Region, principally, Nalerigu, and they also inhabit parts of the Upper West Region.
The Mamprugu Kingdom is one of the oldest Kingdoms in the territory that would afterwards be named The Gold Coast, and subsequently, Ghana.[citation needed] The Mamprusi claim to eldership is based on Cognatic Primogeniture, where succession is through the oldest male child. However, Gbewaa did not practise this, as he designated a younger son Foɣu/Kufoɣu to rule over his eldest child Kachaɣu and his eldest son Zirile.[2][3]
Mamprusi.
The Kingdom was founded around the 13th century by the Great Naa Gbanwah/Gbewah[4] at Pusiga, a village 14 kilometres from Bawku, which is why Mamprusis revere Pusiga as their ancestral home. Naa Gbanwaah's tomb is in Pusiga.
The Kingdom spans most of the North East, Northern Region of Ghana, portions of Northern Togo, and into Burkina Faso. As a consequence, the King of Mossi, Moronaba, of Burkina Faso, to this day, symbolically, is enskinned by the Nayiri – the king of Mamprugu. Thus, establishing this kingdom as one of the preeminent in the region.[5]
The name of the kingdom is Mamprugu, the ethnicity is Mamprusi, and the language is Mampruli. Succession to a skin is hereditary. Only male direct descendants of Naa Gbanwaah are eligible.[6]
The story of the Mamprusi monarchy traces its origin to a great warrior named Tohazie. Tohazie, means the Red Hunter. He was called the Red Hunter by his people because he was fair in complexion. Tohazie's grandson Naa Gbanwaah settled in Pusiga and established Mamprugu.[7]
Mamprusi is the eldest of the Mõõre-Gurma (Mole—Dagbamba) ethnic group: Mamprusi, Dagomba, Nanumba, and Moshie.[8]
The majority of the Mamprusi people are adherents of Islam. The Mamprusi began converting to Islam in the 17th century due to the influence of Dyula merchants.[10]
Traditional occupations of the Mamprusi include farming and raising livestock.[11]
↑ Davis, David C. "'Then the White Man Came with His Whitish Ideas...': The British and the Evolution of Traditional Government in Mampurugu." The International Journal of African Historical Studies, vol. 20, no. 4, 1987, pp. 632. JSTOR219655. Accessed 31 July 2021.
Plissart, Xavier (1983). "Mamprusi Proverbs". Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale Annales. 8 (111).
Drucker-Brown, Susan (1993). "Mamprusi Witchcraft, Subversion and Changing Gender Relations". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 63 (4): 531–549. doi:10.2307/1161005. JSTOR1161005. S2CID145493870.
Drucker-Brown, Susan (December 1982). "Joking at Death: The Mamprusi Grandparent-Grandchild Joking Relationship". Man. 17 (4): 714–727. doi:10.2307/2802042. JSTOR2802042.
Drucker-Brown, Susan (March 1992). "Horse, Dog, and Donkey: The Making of a Mamprusi King". Man. 21 (1): 71–90. doi:10.2307/2803595. JSTOR2803595.
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