Yaa Naa

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The Yaa Naa is the title of the king of Dagbon, the Kingdom of the Dagomba people, located in the Northern Region of present-day Ghana. The current Yaa Naa is Mahama Abukari Gariba II. [1] He was enskinned on Friday, January 25, 2019.

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The Lion of Gbewaa is the totemic symbol of the Yaa Naa. [2]

The Konkomba, Bimoba, Chekosi, Basaari, Chamba, Gurusi and Zantasi tribes reside within Dagbon. [3]

Titles of the Yaa Naa

The titles of the Yaa Naa include Naa Gbewaa, Yoɣu Tolana, Saɣinlana, Tihi ni Mori Lana.[ citation needed ]

List of the Yaa Naas

For detailed genealogy, see List of Kings of Dagbon

Name of Yaa NaaPeriod of KingshipNumber of Years
Naa Nyagse1416 - 143216 Years
Naa Zuulande1432–144210 Years
Naa Beriguyumda1442–145614 Years
Naa Daligudamda1456–146913 Years
Naa Zoligu1469–148617 Years
Naa Zong1486–150620 Years
Naa Neng-Mitong1506–15148 Years
Naa Dimani1514–152713 Years
Naa Yanzo1527–154316 Years
Naa Darizeugu1543–155411 Years
Naa Luro1554–157016 Years
Naa Tutugri1570–158919 Years
Naa Zagle1589–160920 Years
Naa Zolkugli1609–162718 Years
Naa Gungoble1627–164821 Years
Naa Zangina1648–167729 Years
Naa Andani Sigile1677–168710 Years
Naa Binbegu1687–170013 Years
Naa Gariba1700–172020 Years
Naa Salan Zeblim1720–173515 Years
Naa Zeblim Bandamda1735–174914 Years
Naa Andani Jengbariga1749–176516 Years
Naa Mahami1765–178520 Years
Naa Sumani Zoli1785–180621 Years
Naa Zablim Kulunku1806–182418 Years
Naa Yakubu Nantoo 1824–184925 Years
Naa Abdulai Nagbiogu1849–187627 Years
Naa Andani Naanigoe1876–189923 Years
Naa Alhassan Tipariga1899–191718 Years
Naa Abudu Satan Kugli1917–193821 Years
Naa Mahaman Kpema1938–194810 Years
Naa Mahaman Bila1948–19535 Years
Naa Abdulai Gmarigong1953–196815 Years
Naa Andani Zoli-kugli1968–1968100 Days
Naa Mahamadu Abdulai 1969–19745 Years
Naa Yakubu Andani 1974–200228 Years
Naa Gariba Banyoliyeligu 2019–present

Related Research Articles

Yaa Naa Yakubu Andani II (1945–2002) was the King of Dagbon, the traditional kingdom of the Dagomba people in northern Ghana, from 31 May 1974 until his assassination on 27 March 2002. He was born in August 1945 in Sagnarigu, a suburb of Tamale in the Northern Region of Ghana. Yakubu II was killed on 27 March 2002 at Yendi, the capital of the Kingdom of Dagbon, by unknown people when clashes broke out between the two feuding Gates of Dagbon Kingship. For 600 years the Abudu and Andani clans, named after two sons of the ancient Dagbon king Ya Naa Yakubu I, cordially rotated control of the kingdom centred in Yendi, 530 kilometres (330 mi) north of Accra, the capital of Ghana. A regent acted as sovereign of the kingdom until 18 January 2019 when a new ruler is chosen to occupy the revered Lion Skins of Yendi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dagomba people</span> Ethnic group in Ghana

The Dagbamba or Dagomba are an ethnic group of Ghana, and Togo. They number more than 3.1 million people. The term Dagbamba is originally extended to refer to other related peoples who were unified by Naa Gbewaa including the Mamprusi and Nanumba. The Dagomba country is called Dagbon and they speak Dagbanli language. Dagbanli is the most spoken language of northern Ghana and second most widely spoken local language of Ghana. Dagbanli belongs to the Mabia (Mole-Dagbani) subgroup of the Gur languages, a large group of related languages in West Africa. The Dagomba practises both patrilineal and matrilineal systems of inheritance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yendi</span> Town & District Capital in Northern Region, Ghana

Yendi , is the traditional capital of the Kingdom of Dagbon and the administrative centre of the Yendi Municipal District in the Northern Region of Ghana. As of 2021, the population of Yendi was 154,421 comprising 76,142 males and 78,279 females. It is the seat of the King of the Dagbon, Ghana's oldest kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bawku</span> Town and district capital in Upper East Region, Ghana

Bawku is a town and is the capital of the Bawku Municipal District, district in the Upper East region of north Ghana, adjacent to the border with Burkina Faso. It is located approximately between latitudes 11o 111 and 100 401 North and longitude 0o 181w and 0o 61 E in the north-eastern corner of the region. The municipality has a total land area of about 257 km2. The Municipality was established by Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2103. The municipality has a total land area of about 257 km2. Bawku has a 2021 settlement population of 119,458 people. Hon. Ayariga Mahama is the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghanaian smock</span>

The Ghanaian Smock or Tani is a fabric worn by both women and men in Ghana. It is the most popular traditional attire in the country. The fabric is called Tani in Dagbani, while the male and female wear are respectively called Bin'gmaa and Bin'mangli. The smock is formally worn with a hat (zipligu)/ scarf (bobga), footwear (muɣri), and a trouser (kurugu).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bugum Chugu</span> Festival in Ghana by the Dagombas.

The Buɣim Chuɣu is the first Dagomba festival in the year. It is celebrated in the first month of the Dagomba lunar year, the Bugum Goli, and is celebrated on the ninth day of the month. The festival is celebrated to remember the "lost son of a king" during ancient Dagbon.

Naa Gbewaa 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. He established a stable and prosperous kingdom. Naa Gbewaa's shrine is located at Pusiga, 90 km east of Bolgatanga. His descendants continue to pay respects at the shrine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damba festival</span>

The Damba festival is the largest festival in Ghana, celebrated by the peoples of the Northern, Savanna, North East, Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. In recent times, Damba has become a multinational festival, attracting visitors from all over the world. The festival is annually celebrated in Germany, USA, and UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nyankpala</span> Town in Northern Region, Ghana

Nyankpala, with the appelation Beyom Yili, is a town located about 10 miles south-west of Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region of Ghana. The University for Development Studies (UDS) has its premier campus located in the town. This campus is the first of the university's campuses, the first to be established in northern Ghana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Dagbon</span> Traditional kingdom in Ghana

The Dagbon Empire (Dagbaŋ) is the oldest and one of the most organised traditional Empires in west Africa founded by the Dagomba people (Dagbamba) in the 15th century. During its rise, it comprised, at various points, the Northern, Upper West, Upper East, Savannah Region and North East regions of present-day Ghana. It also covered portions of Burkina Faso, North East Ivory Coast and North West Togo. Since Ghana's independence in 1957, the Kingdom just like all of Ghana's kingdoms and ethnic states has assumed a traditional, customary role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mole-Dagbon people</span> Ethnic group in West Africa

The Mossi-Dagbon, also called Mabia, or Mole-Dagbon are a meta-ethnicity and western Oti–Volta ethno-linguistic group residing in six present-day West Africa countries namely: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali and Togo. They number more than 30 million. The Mole/Mossi/Moore people are located primarily in Burkina Faso while Dagbon is in Ghana. Previously, the term Gur was used, Mabia has been used to refer to the linguistic supercluster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gariba II</span> Traditional ruler of the Kingdom of Dagbon in Ghana

Bukali II, known as Gariba II, is the current Yaa Naa, traditional ruler of the Kingdom of Dagbon in Northern Ghana.

The 2002 Dagbon chieftaincy crisis, also known as the Yendi conflict, was a clash between two feuding factions that occurred at the Gbewaa Palace, Ghana from March 25–27, 2002, and resulted in the killing of Yaa Naa Yakubu II and 40 of his elders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gbewaa Palace</span> Royal home of the king of Dagbon kingdom

Gbewaa Palace is the seat of the Yaa Naa of the Kingdom of Dagbon. Located at Nayilifong along the Yendi-Saboba road in Yendi, Gbewaa Palace was named after the patriarch of the Mole-Dagbani people of Ghana. In 1896, The Gbewaa palace was burnt down and plundered during the German invasion of Dagbon. On March 4, 2023, Gariba II cut sod for the redevelopment of the palace.

The Kuga Naa is an elder in the court of the Yaa Naa, in the Kingdom of Dagbon in northern Ghana, and head of a four-member committee that constitute the kingmakers of Dagbon. The current Kuga Naa is Abdulai Adam II. The Kingmakers of Dagbon are the ultimate custodians of the Dagbon constitution, with the Kuga Naa acting as the mouthpiece for the oracle that chooses a new Yaa Naa. The other Kingmakers are Tugurinam and Gomli; who are also courtiers at the Gbewaa Palace, and Gushei Naa; the chief of Gushegu. The first Kuɣu Naa was Naa Sitobu’s younger brother. After him, unlike the other courtiers, this office has been hereditary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gundonaa Samata Abudu</span>

Gundonaa Hajia Samata Abudu is the Paramount woman Chief of the Dagbon traditional area in the Northern Region of Ghana. All women Chiefs in that area are subordinate to her. She heads the Gundogu skin, the female equivalent of the Yendi skin, which is headed by the Yaa-Naa. The Gundonaa is the only Chief, be it male or female, who is able to veto the Yaa-Naa's word. She is assisted in her duties by the Kpatunaa, a female Chief of the Kpatuya clan.

Tindana is a title for historical rulers of the Dagbon and many other related peoples of West Africa. The tindaanima ruled over these lands before the centralisation of the states by Naa Gbewaa and his descendants. Their historical roles had been religious and spiritual, although this has been changing, with Tindaanima like the Tamale Dakpema, actively engaged in traditional political rulership. The Tindaanima are not appointed by the Yaa Naa, although they are under his authority.

Moliyili also known as University of Moliyili was a historical centre of learning and craftsmanship in the West African kingdom of Dagbon. Presently, it is located within the Yendi Municipal District. Moliyili Flourished during the 18th and 19th centuries, and played a significant role in the kingdom's intellectual and cultural development. It had a clerical hierarchy administering educational centres led by the Yidan Moli. Today, the Yidan Moli is the head clergy officiating the Damba festival of the Yaa Naa, the king of Dagbon, who resides in the Gbewaa Palace of Northern Ghana.

The Red Hunter or Tohaʒee is a Ghanaian and Burkinabe historical figure whose progeny founded the Dagbon and Mossi Kingdoms. He was presented a wife after slaying a menacing beast that terrorized a community. Naa Gbewaa is a great-grandson of Tohaʒee.

References

  1. ↑ "2-5: The Yaa-Naa and the Yendi Elders". www.adrummerstestament.com. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  2. ↑ admin (2021-10-05). "'Lion emblem is preserve of Yaa-Naa'". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  3. ↑ Olsen, William C.; Beek, Walter E. A. van (2015-08-30). Evil in Africa: Encounters with the Everyday. Indiana University Press. ISBN   9780253017505.
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