Info For You Lot Mamprusi People: 1 Of The Ghana`S Unique As Well As Ancient People Inwards The Due North As Well As The Eldest Of The Mole-Dagbani Ethnic Group
Mamprusi also known every bit Mamprugu are Mole-Dagbani speaking ethnic grouping of people found mostly inward the northern together with upper eastward regions of Republic of Ghana together with northern constituent of Togo. The Mole-Dagbani ethnic grouping comprises the Moshi (Mossi), Mamprusi, Nanumba together with Dagomba.There are some 450,000 Mamprusi living inward Ghana, together with about 11,000 inward Togo. In Ghana, the Mamprusis alive mainly inward Nalerigu together with Gambaga inward the northwest of the Northern Region but also inhabit parts of the Upper East Region.
Mamprusi man child wearing Batakari dancing to traditional Mamprusi drum beats at a populace function
Identification
The people at nowadays known every bit the "Mamprusi" occupy the East together with West Mamprusi districts of northern Ghana. Their scream is linked to "Mamprugu," the scream of the kingdom amongst which they are associated. Until recently, "Mamprusi" was a term mainly used past times outsiders. They called themselves "Dagbamba," a term also used past times their southern neighbors, known inward English linguistic communication every bit "Dagomba." Mamprusi called these people "Yooba" (people of the forest) or "Weiya," inward reference to the marshy areas also occupied past times these neighbors.
Mamprusi woman
Similarly, their northern neighbors, the Mossi, were named for the grassy bush ( moo ) that characterizes the ecological zone to the north. Mamprusi usage of the term "Dagbamba" every bit an autonym, combined amongst their reference to their neighbors inward damage of a feature habitat, reflects their take in of themselves every bit inhabiting a cardinal together with civilized identify inward the universe of peripheral peoples. Since their southern neighbors remove keep appropriated the scream "Dagbamba" together with its English linguistic communication equivalent "Dagomba," the onetime Dagbamba remove keep acquire Mamprusi.
Mamprusi human being amongst his traditional dondoo drum
Location
The East together with West Mamprusi districts (formerly the South Mamprusi District) extend due west some 320 kilometers from the international border dividing Republic of Ghana together with Togo. Some lxxx kilometers separate the Nasia River, inward the south, from the White Volta River, which marks the northern boundary of this area. In the northeast of the region, the Gambaga escarpment rises 450 meters to a higher identify body of body of water grade at the southward curvature of the White Volta River, together with continues eastward into Togo. It is probable that inward the precolonial period, the Mamprusi zone of influence followed this escarpment.
Mamprusi household. By haunsinafrica
The part falls inside the climatic zone of the Republic of Guinea Savanna. The rainy flavor falls betwixt Apr together with September, together with at that topographic point are no 2nd rains. Jan together with Feb are characterized past times a harmattan season, during which a cold, dry out air current sweeps through the country. South of the Gambaga scarp, wooded slopes contract amongst the arid dry reason together with lathyritic soils, lying forthwith to the north, or the deforested continuation of the scarp to the northwest.
Mamprusi performing Damba trip the low-cal fantastic at a populace business office at Nalerigu,Ghana
In the south, southeast, together with western margins of the districts, dry reason is periodically flooded past times tributaries of the Nasia, Oti, together with Volta rivers. In the 1960s the Mamprusi districts marked the northern margin of the yam-growing part of Ghana. Deforestation, periodic drought, together with increased population pressure level remove keep caused some impairment to the surroundings since then, together with yams are at nowadays said to last much to a greater extent than hard to grow. Land-fallowing periods are to a greater extent than often than non shorter than they were inward the 1960s, together with at that topographic point is less uncultivated land.
Mamprusi people at a populace business office at Nalerigu,Ghana
Demography together with Settlement Patterns
The Mamprusi, although soundless less than a bulk of the population, go along to constitute the largest unmarried ethnic group. Mamprusi settlements, inward contrast amongst those of neighboring peoples, are nucleated rather than dispersed; often they are clustered nigh a chief's compound. Larger settlements are divided into sections ( foanna; sing. foango ).
Mamprusi theatre at Nalerigu
In the neighborhood of Nalerigu, the nowadays working capital missive of the alphabet of the Mamprusi ex-kingdom, at that topographic point are the remains of an ancient wall that appears to remove keep partially surrounded the king's village, leaving it opened upwards to the due north together with northeast, where the dry reason rises rapidly, but protecting the lower-lying parts of the village. The wall enclosed streams together with farmland every bit good every bit a residential area.
Mamprusi human being amongst his facial Mamprusi tribal mark
History/Origins
The Mamprusi amongst their kingdom Mamprugu is 1 of the earliest known states inward the due north of what is at nowadays Ghana. Their kingdom flourished inward the 12th together with fourteenth centuries. The Mamprusi Kingdom was founded past times the Great Naa Gbanwah/Gbewah at Pusiga, a hamlet 14 kilometres from Bawku. The Kingdom spans most of the Northern together with the Upper East Regions of Ghana, together with into the due west African land of Burkina Faso. Thus, establishing this kingdom every bit the pre-eminent of its kind, together with the only kingdom inward nowadays twenty-four sixty minutes menses Republic of Ghana whose relevance together with authorization cuts across national boundaries on the weight of its humble supremacy.
Nayiiri together with his subjects. By Retlaw Snellac
They are believed to remove keep descended from Na Gbewa also known every bit Na Nedega. Of the 4 people/groups descended from the loins of Na Gbewa, the Mamprusi are the leaders. The Dagomba, Nanumba, together with fifty-fifty the Mossi recognize them every bit the concluding authorization amidst themselves. As a result, the King of Mossi to this twenty-four sixty minutes menses is enskinned past times the Nayiri – the manlike someone monarch of Mamprugu. Mamprusis revere the hallowed grounds of Bawku every bit their ancestral home, their origin. That is why Naa Gbewah's tomb inward Pusiga, is a shrine of repute to this day. It is believed that his disappearance was subteraneal, 1 of the marvels of Northern Ghana, together with many ethnicities grip to grip amongst this uncommon historical account. It was after his expiry that his children moved farther afield together with founded other kingdoms, namely: Dagbon together with Nanum.
Na Gbewa’s progenitor was the legendaryToha-Zie or Red-Hunter believed to remove keep migrated from Tunga (supposedly eastward of Lake Chad) to Zamfara inward northern Nigeria, through Republic of Mali together with and so to Gurma inward modern twenty-four sixty minutes menses Burkina Faso.
Mamprusi chiefs. By chakaorleans.
Toha-Zie every bit his scream suggests is reputed to remove keep been a swell warrior who fought inward state of war amongst the Malian king. Pleased amongst his state of war prowess, the Malian manlike someone monarch is said to remove keep given 1 of her daughters called Paga Wabga inward wedlock to Toha-Zie. This wedlock begot Kpogonumbo, who remained inward Malian service for sometime, but later migrated southwards to the province of Gurma inward nowadays twenty-four sixty minutes menses Burkina Faso. The ruler of Gurma at that fourth dimension was Daramani who also gave 1 of his daughters called Suhuyini to Kpogunumbo together with they begot Na Gbewa from whom all the Mole-Dagbani ethnic groups claim descent.
"Little Mamprusi boys, Boyeni."Circa 1910, [photographer] Fisch, Rudolf (Mr)
According to legend Na Gbewa settled inward Pusiga the commencement identify he settled together with founded,for a rattling long time. The legend continued that when he was rattling old, the succession was contested together with his favorite boy slain past times a competition prince together with the eldest boy Zirili. On hearing the intelligence of his son's death, Na Gbewa disappeared—he was swallowed into the world at the site of his palace, a identify inward the bush where sacrifices are soundless made to his spirit. In the class of the conflict that followed his death, his kingdom was divided; elderberry together with younger brothers became kings of the Mamprusi together with Dagomba peoples, respectively. The configuration of relationships amidst Mamprusi, Dagomba, together with Mossi kingdoms that arises from this history is expressed inward the Mamprusi take in of Dagomba kings every bit their junior brothers together with Mossi kings every bit grandsons of their ain king. This amounts to an assertion of Mamprusi seniority. In the past, this presumed seniority was translated into item forms of conventional demeanour held to last appropriate amidst kin when Mossi, Dagomba, together with Mamprusi met 1 another, specially inward marketplace seat situations but also inward political/ritual contexts.
"The Chief of Nasia together with his youngest son." Circa 1910. [photographer] Fisch, Rudolf (Mr)
Naa Gbewaa’s sons together with immature lady married from all the linguistic groups about Pusiga, Bawku, Fadangruma, Bongo, Zebilla etc, together with his only immature lady created Mossi Kingdom. Gbewaa’s senior boy Tohagu is the manlike someone parent of all Mamprusi people together with after the creation of Gambaga/ Nalerigu every bit capital, he moved from Pusiga to caput it. He married from indigenous tribes together with the other sons also did throughout their history.
In the eighteenth century, the Mamprusi people organized forces to protect the merchandise inward slaves together with goods amongst mercenaries from the Cote d'Ivoire (now Côte d'Ivoire). The Frafra, Nabdem, Talensi, together with Kusai are champaign of study to them but things remove keep changed nowadays amongst regards to subjugation every bit at that topographic point is a protracted conflicts especially betwixt the Kusasis together with the Mamprusi people. The Mamprusi remove keep 5 chiefs nether their king.
Nayiiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, King of Mamprusi, Nalerigu, Ghana,By Alfred Weidinger
The Mamprusi king's title, nayiiri, ( na = "king" or "chief"; yiiri = "house") is unique, and, dissimilar that of the provincial paramounts or those of the Mossi together with Dagomba kings, it is non linked to the scream of whatever item territory. It implies his seat at the rattling centre of the polity, where he is the source of naam, the mystical aspect of chiefly power.
Mamprusi dancing Damba at Nalerigu,Ghana.
Linguistic Affiliation
Mampruli is 1 of a issue of Mole Dagbani languages spoken inward Ghana, Burkina Faso, together with Togo. Many languages of this grouping are spoken past times contiguous populations; neighboring peoples are probable to speak mutually intelligible variants of a mutual tongue. Given frequent intermarriage of Mamprusi amongst their non-Mamprusi neighbors, many Mamprusi speak several Mole-Dagbani languages. Those who remove keep traveled south, inward Ghana, often speak Twi. Many traders speak Hausa, together with all schoolchildren larn some English. Familiarity amongst French is increasing. Muslims are learning to speak every bit good every bit to read Arabic.
Mamprusi old human being dancing at a funeral
Economy
Agriculture together with creature husbandry render subsistence for most of the population. Sheep, goats, pigeons, fowl, together with guinea foul are kept past times most households, together with wealthier families remove keep cattle. Chiefs may remove keep horses for ceremonial use, but horses together with donkeys (formerly of import beasts for transport) are bred farther north, inward Mossi territory. Increased population density has led to greater pressure level on land.
Grazing land, formerly used past times transhumant Fulani herders, is at nowadays scarce. Fallowing periods are shorter, and, inward some areas, drought has led to the devastation of basis cover. Traditionally, millet, guinea corn, together with sorghum were the major cereal crops, but maize is at nowadays increasingly cultivated despite widespread recognition that it is of less nutritive value than traditional crops that require longer growing seasons. Rice, which has a long history of tillage every bit a little crop, has been introduced inward novel varieties every bit a cash crop.
Portrait of Mamprusi farmer. By whaun
Division of Labor
Mamprusi used to claim that their women did non farm, past times which they meant that their wives did non hoe, every bit do women of neighboring peoples, but helped inward the sowing together with harvesting of crops; however, famine weather condition during the early on 1980s resulted inward the utilization of all available labor inward agriculture.
Mamprusi adult woman at Namkpanduri Market
Men together with women at nowadays both participate inward all phases of the farming cycle other than firing the bush together with clearing dry reason for cultivation, which is the piece of work of men. Dawadawa pods together with shea nuts, collected past times women, are soundless an of import source of food, together with their elaborate processing is a chore for women. Building houses is men's work. Women complete the floors together with walls. Baskets, pots, together with locally woven stuff are made past times neighboring peoples, together with for certain foodstuffs (e.g., smoked fish) are also bought from neighbors rather than produced past times Mamprusi. Literate adults who remove keep been through the Ghanaian schoolhouse scheme are employed past times local authorities offices or piece of work for unusual missionaries together with nongovernmental organizations. Local salaries are usually insufficient, however, together with farming is a necessary adjunct to most other occupations.
Dr Mahamadu Bawumia,Ghana`s Politician,Banker together with Econmist is a Mamprusi
Trade
Women are expected to merchandise every bit an extension of their domestic duties. Traditionally, they received cereal from their husbands to brand the staple porridge but were expected to collect or merchandise for ingredients to brand soup to accompany the porridge. Shea butter together with dawadawa flour, firewood, together with millet beer were prepared past times women, both for domestic utilization together with trade. Some women are engaged inward large-scale merchandise of grain together with yams, cooked food, beets, kola nuts, smoked fish, together with imported manufactured goods.
Mamprusi women at the Market inward Nalerigu,Ghana. By Curly-Q
Mamprusi men may engage inward merchandise every bit a full-time choice to agriculture. Specialists merchandise inward salt, kola, cattle, yams, and, now, manufactured goods. Although women ain livestock, they never purchase alive animals themselves; fifty-fifty hens together with guinea fowl are bought together with sold past times men. Local markets are held either on every 3rd or every 6th day, together with specialist traders follow item sets of markets, which constitute local marketplace seat cycles. Major marketplace seat towns remove keep a permanent marketplace seat site, daily markets, a few little stores, together with beer bars. Smaller villages remove keep only periodic markets.
Mamprusi women coming dorsum from Market,Nalerigu,Ghana.By Curly-Q
Land Tenure
Traditionally, Mamprusi remove keep regarded dry reason every bit belonging to the ancestors together with to futurity generations; hence, the sale of dry reason is considered an criminal offence against the ancestors. In urban areas, houses are sold, but this is considered sale of the construction alone. Use rights to cultivate dry reason belong to the someone who has cleared it. Usufructuary claims to dry reason may last inherited inside a family, but unused dry reason reverts to the community, to last allocated past times hamlet chiefs together with elders. Until the belatedly twentieth century, at that topographic point had been relatively picayune pressure level on land, together with the only major conflicts over dry reason utilization occurred betwixt neighboring hamlet communities. Formerly, these conflicts mightiness last resolved past times the motility of farmers to unused dry reason together with the relocation of hamlet communities. This has acquire to a greater extent than hard amongst increased population density together with working capital missive of the alphabet investment inward unmovable hamlet infrastructure (e.g., school, clinic, authorities office, market, church/mosque, H2O pipes).
Mamprusi adult woman at Nalerigu,Ghana. By Curly-Q
Mamprusi Belief
Eighty-two per centum of Mamprusis practise traditional religion. Naa-wuni is the supreme god, whose scream is used past times Mamprusi Muslims and traditional worshipers. In the traditional faith he is non worshiped or referred to except inward exclamations. Ancestors are believed to aid inward a crisis through diverse diviners who alive inward each village. The Mamprusi communicate amongst their ancestors through sacrifices together with offerings. Fourteen per centum of Mamprusis are Muslims, together with 4 per centum are Christians. Great social pressure level is set on whatever who desire to change.
Mamprusi men removing the pare of a slaughtered sheep. By haunsinafrica
Kingship. Mamprusi kingship is both a religious together with a political institution. The manlike someone monarch together with royal ancestors are held responsible for the fertility of dry reason together with people. Respect for a hamlet original is a manifestation both of political allegiance together with reverence for the kingship. The manlike someone monarch embodies the royal ancestors together with owns all the dry reason together with everything on it; royal chiefs replicate his powers on a to a greater extent than limited scale. The living manlike someone monarch together with royal chiefs delegate responsibleness to members of other manlike someone monarch groups, which remove keep other divinities, together with those, too, are regarded every bit having a constituent to play inward providing for the full general welfare.
Islam. The historical connections betwixt the Mamprusi together with Islam are unclear. In major marketplace seat towns together with the working capital missive of the alphabet village, a few Muslim families are clearly distinguished from other Mamprusi. Muslim men get hitched amongst non-Muslim women, together with their wives tend to adopt Islam. They line their origins to royals who did non attain business office or to immigrant traders. The oldest Muslim community is located inward Gambaga, a major marketplace seat inward the precolonial period.
Mamprusi muslims
Muslims at that topographic point provided services for the caravan merchandise together with were, until the belatedly twentieth century, dyers. The king's liman resides inward Gambaga. Liman Baba, who acted every bit a go-between for Na Barga, the reigning manlike someone monarch when the British arrived, is also mentioned inward reports from Kumasi. He clearly was an of import together with literate figure of the period. At present, Muslims participate at courtroom together with inward domestic rituals performed at expiry together with naming. It is traditionally forbidden for the manlike someone monarch to last a Muslim, but, during the belatedly twentieth century, kings remove keep been converted to Islam. Since the 1960s, evangelical Muslims remove keep been active together with the issue of mosques together with the multifariousness of Muslim communities has increased inward the Mamprusi area.
Christianity. The commencement Christian mission inward the Mamprusi part was belike the Assemblies of God, established about 1925.
Mamprusi Christians of Baptist faith. Courtesy: baptistmedicalcenter.org
After independence, the Baptist Mission Hospital was built inward Nalerigu, the king's village, amongst funds from the United States; since then, both British together with U.S.-based missions remove keep established themselves. Ghanaian churches remove keep also founded congregations.
Kin Groups together with Descent.
Mamprusi kids
The calculation of patrilineal descent is pregnant at both the domestic together with political levels. The royal patrician descended from the commencement king, Na Gbewa, is constituted at nowadays past times the 5 patrilineages that articulate the territorial framework of Mamprusi political organisation (see "History together with Cultural Relations"). Each royal lineage provides a original for the working capital missive of the alphabet hamlet inward its respective province; the centrally localized lineage provides the king. Chiefs of the working capital missive of the alphabet villages inward each province are selected together with installed past times the manlike someone monarch together with his court, but they, amongst their courts, inward plough select together with install hamlet chiefs inside their provinces. Although each lineage is localized inward a corresponding province, its constituent segments are dispersed throughout the many little settlements of that territory. Villages may comprise a variety of commoner kin groups together with 1 or to a greater extent than segments of a royal lineage, or they may last made upwards of a unmarried extended kin grouping consisting entirely of either royals or commoners.
Mamprusi human being dancing traditional Damba trip the low-cal fantastic past times swirling his fugu. By www.baptistmedicalcenter.org -
The patrilineages that shape the royal clan are subdivided into "gates" ( zanoaya; sing. zanoari ); many commoner lineages are similarly organized. H5N1 gate consists of agnates who line connexion through iii generations of deceased patrikin. Within a gate, business office is inherited, together with gate numbers cooperate inward the surgical operation of funerals. Members of the same gate sacrifice together to their mutual ancestors. The distinction betwixt royals ( nabiisi ) together with commoners ( tarima ) depends on patrilineal filiation, together with Mamprusi claim that all patrilineal descendants of kings, all the same distantly related, are royal. Large numbers of commoner gates belike remove keep royal origins.
Mamprusi man child inward his batakari dress
Although it is said that royals should non intermarry, neither at clan nor at lineage levels are Mamprusi royals an exogamous group. The exogamous unit of measurement is the gate. Beyond this attain of patrikin, marriages occur, although 1 or both partners may relinquish royal status inward establishing the union. Where intermarriage occurs betwixt members of different royal lineages or different gates of a unmarried lineage, 1 segment volition last regarded every bit royal, piece the other volition last classified every bit commoner. If royal descent is non reaffirmed past times tenure of royal office, royal status is eventually lost. Thus, the commoner population consists of descendants of royals who remove keep lost claim to royal business office every bit good every bit immigrants from a variety of different ethnic groups, most notably Tampollensi, Tchokossi, Kantonshi, together with other neighboring peoples. Some commoners claim autochthonous origins. Commoners grip business office every bit elders inward the chiefly courts together with may also grip chiefly office, although their chiefships, dissimilar those of royals, are non ranked; they are regarded every bit nonresident elders of a royal chief's court.
Kinship Terminology.
Elderly Mamprusi woman
The Mamprusi classificatory terminology distinguishes iii generations, together with great-grandparent/great-grandchild relationships tin last described. In Ego's generation, men distinguish senior blood brother ( bere ) from junior brother, who is classed together amongst sisters every bit junior sibling ( tizoa' ) . Female ( tizo-pwa'a ) together with manlike someone ( tizo-doo ) junior siblings tin last identified. Women class their senior sisters together with brothers together (bere) together with their junior brothers together with sisters together (tizoa'). In the commencement ascending generation, Ego categorizes siblings of the same sexual activity every bit a parent, depending on their historic menses relative to the parent. The categories senior manlike someone parent ( bakpema ) together with junior manlike someone parent ( bapura ), or senior woman parent ( makpema ) together with junior woman parent ( mapura ) include all persons for whom Ego's parents utilization sibling terms. Special damage distinguish a mother's blood brother ( nyahaba ) together with a sister's kid ( nyahanga ). H5N1 father's sis ( piriba ) refers to her brother's kid every bit kid ( bia ). Ego refers to his ain children together with to those of persons he calls past times a sibling term, every bit kid (bia); manlike someone kid ( bi-dibiga ) together with woman someone kid ( bipunga ) may last distinguished. The kid of whatever someone called kid volition last called grandchild ( ya'anga ), for which the reciprocal is woman someone grandparent ( yapwa'a ) or manlike someone grandparent ( yadoo ). The term for grandparent ( yaaba ) is also used for ancestor.
Elderly Mamprusi man. by haunsinafrica
Affines distinguished inward Ego's generation include hubby ( sira ), married adult woman (pwa'a), sister's hubby ( datyia; pl. datyisi ), together with brother's married adult woman ( pwaatia; pl. pwaatyisi ). H5N1 adult woman calls her husband's blood brother "husband" (sira) but usually specifies his relative historic menses amongst honor to her hubby ( sira-kpema = senior husband; sira-pira = junior husband). H5N1 human being calls his brother's wife, married adult woman (pwa'a). All the to a higher identify damage are used both inward address together with reference together with supersede personal names inward most contexts.
Elderly Mamprusi adult woman amongst a tribal mark
Sociopolitical Organization
The manlike someone monarch (nayiiri) sits amongst his courtroom inward his palace (nayiini ) at the hamlet of Nalerigu, roughly inward the territorial centre of the onetime kingdom. Although aspects of the kingship are replicated inward the paramount chiefship of each province, only the king's palace contains the regalia used to install the manlike someone monarch together with to invest the heads of the other royal provinces.
Nayiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai, paramount original of the Mamprusi people, at his palace inward Nalerigu, Ghana.
Each manlike someone monarch is regarded every bit embodying all preceding kings, together with his courtroom is, straight or indirectly, the source of kingship/chiefship (naam) throughout the kingdom. It is the most elaborate together with largest courtroom containing offices represented inward smaller numbers inward all other royal courts. Of these, the Master of Horses (wudaana ) together with the Master of Spears (kpanaraana ) are most common. Courts also include gun bearers, drummers, together with local earth-priests, every bit good every bit Muslims. Also numbered amidst the king's elders are all the household heads of a settlement, special drummers together with officeholders responsible for his article of apparel together with regalia, successors to the titles of onetime executioners, together with eunuchs.
Old human being sitting nether a hut inward Nalerigu,Ghana. By Curly-Q
Courts allocate dry reason together with bargain amongst disputes arising from dry reason claims together with litigation arising from marriage, every bit good every bit other domestic together with civil disputes. Most disputes are dealt amongst commencement inward a chief's courtroom rather than inward authorities courts. Chiefly courts bargain amongst funerals together with succession to office, organize annual cylindrical celebrations, perform sacrifices on behalf of the community to world together with ancestor divinities, together with mediate betwixt the local communities together with national government. Special commoner-chiefs bargain amongst witchcraft accusations together with remove keep custody of convicted witches.
Commoner elders inward the king's courtroom play a crucial role inward the pick of each novel manlike someone monarch together with are involved inward the pick together with installation of royal chiefs. Succession to royal business office is competitive; numerous candidates nowadays themselves, and, through gifts together with persuasion, endeavour to influence the courtroom inward their favor. Office should circulate through the diverse gates of a royal lineage, together with a boy should non succeed his manlike someone parent inward office. The participation of commoners—as king/chief makers together with every bit followers of competition princes inward competitions for royal office—balances the hegemony of royals together with acts every bit a cheque on the abuse of ability past times 1 segment of the royal lineages. All offices are held for life; hence much of the courtroom endures beyond the reign of a item manlike someone monarch or chief.
Mamprusi chiefs of Walewale
Since 1957, numerous local institutions remove keep been laid upwards inward the Mamprusi districts past times the Ghanaian authorities to extend the processes of technological together with social transformation begun during the colonial period. Police together with basis forces units stand upwards for the cardinal government, every bit do schools together with local authorities offices. Roads, a postal system, telephone communication, together with omnibus carry connect the Mamprusi districts amongst the repose of the world. Increased merchandise amongst southern Republic of Ghana has resulted inward the expansion of markets together with increased distribution for commodities made elsewhere.
The due north of Republic of Ghana has been the scene of numerous small-scale conflicts since the belatedly 1960s, most of which remove keep non involved Mamprusi. One of the longest-standing conflicts involves people resident forthwith to the due north who claim Mamprui identity together with are descended from royal Mamprusi who emigrated to that expanse prior to the British conquest. They speak Hausa or Kusal rather than Mampruli, and, although they consider themselves Mamprusi, they should last considered separately from the ethnic grouping residing inward the Mamprusi districts.
Mamprusi kids exterior nigh corn mill.
Two-thirds of marriages are polygamous. Children are given both Mamprusi together with Muslim names, together with are circumcised. When a someone dies, Mamprusis dig a temporary grave nigh the compound. At the adjacent dry out flavor they grip a special funeral, amongst food, dancing, together with the decision of the crusade of death, to honour the person. At this fourth dimension the dead person’s spirit is in conclusion released.
Mamprusi human being performing traditional Damba trip the low-cal fantastic of the North
Marriage together with Family
Marriage. In theory Mamprusi royals must get hitched amongst commoners. In effect, they seek to spread their matrimonial alliances every bit widely every bit possible. Among royals together with commoners members of the same gate are forbidden to marry, together with wedlock to patrikin amongst whom precise genealogical connexion tin last traced is frowned upon. Matrilateral cross-cousin marriage—that is, wedlock to a cross cousin who is non the kid of a parent's ain sibling—is regarded every bit a practiced marriage, specially past times Mamprusi Muslims.
Mamprusi human being from Nalerigu
Men aspire to polygynous marriages. Chiefs together with of import commoners remove keep many wives. Mamprusi frown upon sororal polygyny, saying that wedlock amongst ii women from the same theatre leads to quarrels amidst the wives together with difficulties inward administration for the household head. Marriage is established past times gifts of kola. Two prestations of kola are sent past times the caput of the husband's gate to the caput of the wife's gate. Both are sent via the original or chiefs of the villages inward which the partners reside. The first, message kola, establishes that the adult woman has spent the nighttime amongst her futurity husband. If this kola is accepted, the pardon kola follows. The wedlock kola is distributed to members of the woman's gate, together with a share of both prestations is taken past times the original or chiefs together with distributed to elders.
Mamprusi human being together with his wife
Chiefs thus involved volition afterward mediate inward disputes arising inside or from the marriage. The substitution makes children legitimate members of the father's gate. H5N1 son-in-law acquires of import ongoing responsibilities amongst regard to his wife's kin. He must attend the funeral of senior members of her gate together with give her grain, a sheep, together with cash to contribute. He must heighten a grouping of dancers together with gun bearers to celebrate the deceased. H5N1 husband's failure to render the requisite funeral contribution is grounds for divorce. When, every bit often happens, Mamprusi men get hitched amongst women of neighboring ethnic groups, they follow the woman's group's customs for establishing the marriage.
Mamprusi woman,Memuna Sandow is an assemblywoman inward West Mamprusi District, Northern Ghana. She has a Mamprusi facial beautification marks
A determined adult woman tin at nowadays exit a wedlock she dislikes. This is said to last the resultant of modern authorities intervention, but it seems probable that fifty-fifty formerly, it was non impossible for a adult woman to exit 1 hubby for another. It is to a greater extent than hard however, for her to render to her kin. Men also cannot easily dismiss a married adult woman of long standing. Although wedlock is unstable inward the commencement years, it becomes to a greater extent than stable after the nativity of children. After a hubby s death, his widow may pick out to get hitched amongst 1 of his brothers, but cannot last forced to do so against her will. Young widows may render identify together with bring gifts from suitors, which they volition utilization to trade. They are together with so supposed to pick out a hubby together with render the gifts to the rejected suitors. An elderly widow is household caput if she has a married boy amongst whom she lives inward her deceased husband's house. H5N1 widow without sons volition reluctantly render to her ain kin.
Mamprusi immature lady exterior of a corn manufacturing flora inward Nalerigu, Ghana.
Domestic Unit. The center of the household is the patrilineal family. Royal households commonly include a polygynous household head, perchance amongst his younger married sons together with unrelated dependents. Commoner households to a greater extent than often include older married brothers amongst children, together with often iii generations of agnates reside together. Older men are often polygynous; of import chiefs together with wealthy commoners remove keep many to a greater extent than than the maximum of 4 wives permitted Muslims. Marriage is invariably patri-virilocal. H5N1 adult woman retains membership inward her natal lineage. Although she commonly volition last buried inward her husband's house, a concluding funeral is performed for her inward her natal home.
Mamprusi women from Nalerigu showing her tattoo palms that she is married
Although women detect an etiquette of honor when dealing straight amongst their husbands, together with the male
household caput is treated amongst deference past times resident identify unit of measurement members, women command the domestic domain. Significantly, a manlike someone household caput is said to last subordinate to his father's sis if such a relative is inward residence. The internal hierarchy of the household is based on the ranking of women inward polygynous marriages. H5N1 senior married adult woman has authorization over junior wives, together with their children slumber inward her room. She supervises their collective surgical operation of the major domestic tasks together with may also organize trading enterprises. Mothers-in-law remove keep authorization over their husband's wives.
Beautiful Mamprusi immature lady from Nalerigu,Ghana
Mamprusi Drums/Dance
Mamprusi drummers
In the Mamprusi kingdom, drummers are custodians of history. Children inward drumming families are schooled inward the histories past times their elders. The histories are sung to the accompaniment of the "talking" drums on formal province occasions.
Mamprusi drummer
A "talking" drum allows communication inward drum language. The role musician squeezes the hour-glass shaped drum nether the arm to alter the pitch. According the Mamprusi drummers "the histories tell of creation together with of the reigns of previous kings which bridge to a greater extent than than 500 years. They province the norms together with values of gild through the utilization of proverbs together with metaphors."
Mamprusi drummer
The kings are ever praised together with their stories are presented inward a positive low-cal inward histories, which encourages their descendants to give coin to the drummers- the economical side of the occasion.
Mamprusi drummer boy
Damba Festival
The Damba festival is celebrated past times the Mamprusis. The main venue of the celebration is Bawku together with its environs. It is held betwixt the months of July together with August.
Originally linked amongst Islam to score the nativity of Mohammed, the festival has gradually taken on a traditional rather than Islamic tone. The 2-day festival is total of pageantry together with showmanship together with is celebrated inward the towns of Dagbon, Gonjaland, Mamprusiland together with Nanumbaland.
Source;http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458001527.html
Encyclopedia of World Cultures | 1996 |
FACES OF MAMPRUSI
Nayiiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, King of Mamprusi, Nalerigu, Ghana,By Alfred Weidinger
Mamprusi (Dagbamba)
c.1450 Mamprusi or Dagbamba province founded.
Beautiful Mamprusi girl. By haunsinafrica
Mamprusi elders
Mamprusi adult woman carrying charge at Nalerigu. By haunsinafrica
Mamprusi people of Gambaga inward grouping transport
Mamprusi man, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia
Mamprusi human being performing damba dance
Mamprusi adult woman together with child. By haunsinafrica
Damba dancer
Boy amongst Damber armpit drum
Nayiiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, King of Mamprusi, Nalerigu, Ghana
Women at Gambaga witches army camp amongst their kids
Mamprusi human being together with pol Dr Mahamadu Bawmia wearing traditional Batakari dress
Mamprus woman
Portrait of a Mamprusi boy
Mamprusi people
Mamprusi people
Photographs by:http://www.baptistmedicalcenter.org
The witches of Gambaga
Gambaga witches army camp inward Republic of Ghana has housed 'convicted' witches for to a greater extent than than 200 years
Courtesy:http://www.geographical.co.uk/Magazine/Witches_of_Ghana
Sacrificial rites
Belief inward witchcraft is widespread across Africa, thriving inward regions inhabited past times peoples amongst picayune knowledge of modern scientific discipline together with who remove keep few effective methods for dealing amongst everyday crises such every bit sickness. Such suffering becomes the resultant of an ancestor’s spirit or the hatred of a witch – every bit solid a laid of causal theories every bit those we’re given when nosotros see a doctor. When an accusation of witchcraft is made, the defendant is totally ostracised from her community together with often has to flee for her life. Once cast out, she must seek out an world priest who, through the enactment of a sacrificial rite, volition discovery whether or non she is a witch.
'Ma' Asana Mahama, the caput outcast inward the Gambaga witch camp
If ‘convicted’, she has her ability neutralised amongst a farther ritual that only remains effective unopen to the shrine where it was performed. Hence the witch is effectively confined to the local expanse together with is forced to alive communally inward a camp. Gambaga, a little marketplace seat town inward Ghana’s eastern Mamprusi district, has played host to such a army camp for to a greater extent than than 200 years. Arriving ruby amongst dust from a long together with arduous journey, I could run into picayune to confirm that this was in 1 trial the working capital missive of the alphabet of the ancient Mamprusi kingdom. Instead, Gambaga, amongst its mixture of thatched together with tin-roofed dwellings about the in 1 trial of import market, struck me every bit merely a modest, sleepy town.
Accompanied past times my local contact, Simon Ngota, who has worked for several years amongst the Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s GO-HOME projection trying to repatriate the witches, I visited the town’s chief, Yahaya Wuni, essential protocol every bit the army camp is on his land.
I found him sitting on a raised dais inward his compound. Initially severe together with unsmiling, he interrogated me closely, fearing bad publicity. I managed to reassure him, together with Simon together with I left the chemical compound together with walked about the dorsum to the camp, a grouping of extended mud-built homesteads roofing about 150 foursquare metres. We were greeted past times the kindly original of the camp, or Magazia, ‘Ma’ Asana Mahama, who gave her approving for me to speak to the inmates.
Yahaya Wuni, original of Gambaga. An world priest, he performs the ritual that decides if women are witches. The army camp is inward his land, together with the women piece of work inward his fields together with render him amongst firewood.
Accusations together with repatriations
During the adjacent week, I spoke amongst together with photographed many of the lxx women living every bit outcasts inward Gambaga. Among the to a greater extent than outspoken was Samatu Sumani, who’d been inward the army camp for virtually a year. Her anger at her handling was soundless palpable. “A vecino got sick together with defendant me of bewitching her,” she told me. “I was rattling frightened together with pleaded amongst her that it was non true. My immature lady also appealed on my behalf, together with fifty-fifty donated blood for a transfusion to brand her good again, but soundless she didn’t relent.” The adult woman died of her affliction together with Samatu was convicted of witchcraft.
Dong Lari,a Bimoba tribe adult woman has been inward Gambaga for about thirteen years
Repatriation of outcasts is hard but non impossible. I spoke to 1 of the GO-HOME project’s success stories, Salmata Achiri. Simon together with I went to see Salmata inward a nearby hamlet to listen her story. We sat inward the shade amongst her boy together with daughter-in-law, surrounded past times a throng of children. “A stepson from my husband’s side became ill. His relatives came to his bedside, together with every bit he got worse, they began to blame me,” she told me. “I don’t know why, every bit the man child himself never defendant me. I felt rattling sorry for him together with angry amongst them but what could I do? He didn’t die, but I was soundless sent to Gambaga, where I stayed for 8 years. It isn’t a bad place, but I was ever hungry together with I missed my family. One of my sons managed to acquire his ain identify together with invited me to bring together him, so hither I am, I’m so happy to last free.”
Witches Camp,Gambaga
Some of the women inward the army camp haven’t themselves been accused, but remove keep chosen to last at that topographic point to aspect after relatives. “A immature adult woman defendant my woman parent of causing her affliction but she had zip to do amongst it,” said Ayishetu Isshaku, a large, friendly adult woman who has been inward the army camp amongst her partially sighted woman parent for 5 years. “When she was sent hither I decided to accompany her every bit she needed me together with I would remove keep been defendant adjacent anyway; the adult woman recovered together with at nowadays has iii children.”
Witches of Gambaga
The only matter preventing most of the women from leaving the refuge is the lack of anywhere else to go. The bulk of the defendant are late-middle-aged women who became vulnerable after losing their husbands. Often they’ve had to displace dorsum to their father’s compound, where they may last seen every bit a drain on resources. While children are often sympathetic, it may last years earlier they tin flora their ain household together with suit an outcast relative.
Challenging beliefs
There’s no escaping the fact that the segregation of women inward Gambaga together with other witch camps is a shape of imprisonment. The outcasts are forced to exit their homes together with families, together with although they tin piece of work together with trade, they are typically poor, demeaned together with stigmatised past times their situation. Education is key to tackling the situation, both inward challenging people’s belief inward witchcraft together with inward changing their attitudes towards traditional gender roles.
Mamprusi gild is rigidly patriarchal, together with women deemed to last subverting the established gender roles tin acquire a target for witchcraft accusations past times men seeking to re-establish control. It’s believed that women who attain success without the aid of a human being must remove keep done so past times resorting to witchcraft. In the camp, I spoke amongst Asara Azindu, a confident together with cheerful adult woman inward her 50s. She had been a successful, independent businesswoman earlier she was defendant next an outbreak of meningitis. Her conspicuously plump figure (compared to others inward the camp) attested to her previous affluence. However, her assured agency evaporated when she told me her story. “I was living away from my husband, inward Gushiegu, together with was defendant along amongst ii other women of causing a sickness,” she said. “I had to come upwards to Gambaga for my ain safety, but lost my house, possessions together with business.”
Ghana: Witches of Gambaga / guardian.co.uk
Despite the patriarchal nature of Mamprusi society, women remove keep ever been responsible for their ain finances, together with at nowadays at that topographic point is ever to a greater extent than demand for cash to pay for schoolhouse fees, article of apparel together with medicine. Women are supposed to last submissive together with subservient to men, yet their autonomy is increasing every bit they are forced to farm, go together with merchandise to a greater extent than inward monastic enjoin to render for their families. This expansion of women’s roles began every bit a reply to the famine crisis of the mid-1980s; indeed, the authorities actively encouraged it. Traditionally, Mamprusi men were primarily engaged inward the raising together with trading of livestock. But the famine devastated their herds, together with the province has since faced stiffer competition inward livestock together with other trading markets.
The hunting of animals for sale every bit bush-meat, some other manlike someone preserve, has also acquire less reliable due to a decrease inward the abundance of game. Women eventually began to outstrip men inward the productivity together with income stakes, together with the social monastic enjoin was unacceptably subverted. The increasing frequency together with virulence of witchcraft accusations inward recent years tin last seen every bit an endeavour to command women together with re-establish normality inward Mamprusi gender relations.
Gambaga witches camp
Meanwhile, the Gambaga women caught inward the middle endure amongst cheerful, humbling stoicism. Ma Asana is philosophical: “We brand the best of it hither together with are grateful to remove keep somewhere condom to last nether the circumstances, but aspect frontward to the twenty-four sixty minutes menses when nosotros tin go home.”
Mamprusi man child wearing Batakari dancing to traditional Mamprusi drum beats at a populace function
Identification
The people at nowadays known every bit the "Mamprusi" occupy the East together with West Mamprusi districts of northern Ghana. Their scream is linked to "Mamprugu," the scream of the kingdom amongst which they are associated. Until recently, "Mamprusi" was a term mainly used past times outsiders. They called themselves "Dagbamba," a term also used past times their southern neighbors, known inward English linguistic communication every bit "Dagomba." Mamprusi called these people "Yooba" (people of the forest) or "Weiya," inward reference to the marshy areas also occupied past times these neighbors.
Mamprusi woman
Similarly, their northern neighbors, the Mossi, were named for the grassy bush ( moo ) that characterizes the ecological zone to the north. Mamprusi usage of the term "Dagbamba" every bit an autonym, combined amongst their reference to their neighbors inward damage of a feature habitat, reflects their take in of themselves every bit inhabiting a cardinal together with civilized identify inward the universe of peripheral peoples. Since their southern neighbors remove keep appropriated the scream "Dagbamba" together with its English linguistic communication equivalent "Dagomba," the onetime Dagbamba remove keep acquire Mamprusi.
Mamprusi human being amongst his traditional dondoo drum
Location
The East together with West Mamprusi districts (formerly the South Mamprusi District) extend due west some 320 kilometers from the international border dividing Republic of Ghana together with Togo. Some lxxx kilometers separate the Nasia River, inward the south, from the White Volta River, which marks the northern boundary of this area. In the northeast of the region, the Gambaga escarpment rises 450 meters to a higher identify body of body of water grade at the southward curvature of the White Volta River, together with continues eastward into Togo. It is probable that inward the precolonial period, the Mamprusi zone of influence followed this escarpment.
The part falls inside the climatic zone of the Republic of Guinea Savanna. The rainy flavor falls betwixt Apr together with September, together with at that topographic point are no 2nd rains. Jan together with Feb are characterized past times a harmattan season, during which a cold, dry out air current sweeps through the country. South of the Gambaga scarp, wooded slopes contract amongst the arid dry reason together with lathyritic soils, lying forthwith to the north, or the deforested continuation of the scarp to the northwest.
In the south, southeast, together with western margins of the districts, dry reason is periodically flooded past times tributaries of the Nasia, Oti, together with Volta rivers. In the 1960s the Mamprusi districts marked the northern margin of the yam-growing part of Ghana. Deforestation, periodic drought, together with increased population pressure level remove keep caused some impairment to the surroundings since then, together with yams are at nowadays said to last much to a greater extent than hard to grow. Land-fallowing periods are to a greater extent than often than non shorter than they were inward the 1960s, together with at that topographic point is less uncultivated land.
Mamprusi people at a populace business office at Nalerigu,Ghana
Demography together with Settlement Patterns
The Mamprusi, although soundless less than a bulk of the population, go along to constitute the largest unmarried ethnic group. Mamprusi settlements, inward contrast amongst those of neighboring peoples, are nucleated rather than dispersed; often they are clustered nigh a chief's compound. Larger settlements are divided into sections ( foanna; sing. foango ).
In the neighborhood of Nalerigu, the nowadays working capital missive of the alphabet of the Mamprusi ex-kingdom, at that topographic point are the remains of an ancient wall that appears to remove keep partially surrounded the king's village, leaving it opened upwards to the due north together with northeast, where the dry reason rises rapidly, but protecting the lower-lying parts of the village. The wall enclosed streams together with farmland every bit good every bit a residential area.
Mamprusi human being amongst his facial Mamprusi tribal mark
History/Origins
The Mamprusi amongst their kingdom Mamprugu is 1 of the earliest known states inward the due north of what is at nowadays Ghana. Their kingdom flourished inward the 12th together with fourteenth centuries. The Mamprusi Kingdom was founded past times the Great Naa Gbanwah/Gbewah at Pusiga, a hamlet 14 kilometres from Bawku. The Kingdom spans most of the Northern together with the Upper East Regions of Ghana, together with into the due west African land of Burkina Faso. Thus, establishing this kingdom every bit the pre-eminent of its kind, together with the only kingdom inward nowadays twenty-four sixty minutes menses Republic of Ghana whose relevance together with authorization cuts across national boundaries on the weight of its humble supremacy.
They are believed to remove keep descended from Na Gbewa also known every bit Na Nedega. Of the 4 people/groups descended from the loins of Na Gbewa, the Mamprusi are the leaders. The Dagomba, Nanumba, together with fifty-fifty the Mossi recognize them every bit the concluding authorization amidst themselves. As a result, the King of Mossi to this twenty-four sixty minutes menses is enskinned past times the Nayiri – the manlike someone monarch of Mamprugu. Mamprusis revere the hallowed grounds of Bawku every bit their ancestral home, their origin. That is why Naa Gbewah's tomb inward Pusiga, is a shrine of repute to this day. It is believed that his disappearance was subteraneal, 1 of the marvels of Northern Ghana, together with many ethnicities grip to grip amongst this uncommon historical account. It was after his expiry that his children moved farther afield together with founded other kingdoms, namely: Dagbon together with Nanum.
Na Gbewa’s progenitor was the legendaryToha-Zie or Red-Hunter believed to remove keep migrated from Tunga (supposedly eastward of Lake Chad) to Zamfara inward northern Nigeria, through Republic of Mali together with and so to Gurma inward modern twenty-four sixty minutes menses Burkina Faso.
Mamprusi chiefs. By chakaorleans.
Toha-Zie every bit his scream suggests is reputed to remove keep been a swell warrior who fought inward state of war amongst the Malian king. Pleased amongst his state of war prowess, the Malian manlike someone monarch is said to remove keep given 1 of her daughters called Paga Wabga inward wedlock to Toha-Zie. This wedlock begot Kpogonumbo, who remained inward Malian service for sometime, but later migrated southwards to the province of Gurma inward nowadays twenty-four sixty minutes menses Burkina Faso. The ruler of Gurma at that fourth dimension was Daramani who also gave 1 of his daughters called Suhuyini to Kpogunumbo together with they begot Na Gbewa from whom all the Mole-Dagbani ethnic groups claim descent.
According to legend Na Gbewa settled inward Pusiga the commencement identify he settled together with founded,for a rattling long time. The legend continued that when he was rattling old, the succession was contested together with his favorite boy slain past times a competition prince together with the eldest boy Zirili. On hearing the intelligence of his son's death, Na Gbewa disappeared—he was swallowed into the world at the site of his palace, a identify inward the bush where sacrifices are soundless made to his spirit. In the class of the conflict that followed his death, his kingdom was divided; elderberry together with younger brothers became kings of the Mamprusi together with Dagomba peoples, respectively. The configuration of relationships amidst Mamprusi, Dagomba, together with Mossi kingdoms that arises from this history is expressed inward the Mamprusi take in of Dagomba kings every bit their junior brothers together with Mossi kings every bit grandsons of their ain king. This amounts to an assertion of Mamprusi seniority. In the past, this presumed seniority was translated into item forms of conventional demeanour held to last appropriate amidst kin when Mossi, Dagomba, together with Mamprusi met 1 another, specially inward marketplace seat situations but also inward political/ritual contexts.
"The Chief of Nasia together with his youngest son." Circa 1910. [photographer] Fisch, Rudolf (Mr)
Naa Gbewaa’s sons together with immature lady married from all the linguistic groups about Pusiga, Bawku, Fadangruma, Bongo, Zebilla etc, together with his only immature lady created Mossi Kingdom. Gbewaa’s senior boy Tohagu is the manlike someone parent of all Mamprusi people together with after the creation of Gambaga/ Nalerigu every bit capital, he moved from Pusiga to caput it. He married from indigenous tribes together with the other sons also did throughout their history.
In the eighteenth century, the Mamprusi people organized forces to protect the merchandise inward slaves together with goods amongst mercenaries from the Cote d'Ivoire (now Côte d'Ivoire). The Frafra, Nabdem, Talensi, together with Kusai are champaign of study to them but things remove keep changed nowadays amongst regards to subjugation every bit at that topographic point is a protracted conflicts especially betwixt the Kusasis together with the Mamprusi people. The Mamprusi remove keep 5 chiefs nether their king.
The Mamprusi king's title, nayiiri, ( na = "king" or "chief"; yiiri = "house") is unique, and, dissimilar that of the provincial paramounts or those of the Mossi together with Dagomba kings, it is non linked to the scream of whatever item territory. It implies his seat at the rattling centre of the polity, where he is the source of naam, the mystical aspect of chiefly power.
Mamprusi dancing Damba at Nalerigu,Ghana.
Linguistic Affiliation
Mampruli is 1 of a issue of Mole Dagbani languages spoken inward Ghana, Burkina Faso, together with Togo. Many languages of this grouping are spoken past times contiguous populations; neighboring peoples are probable to speak mutually intelligible variants of a mutual tongue. Given frequent intermarriage of Mamprusi amongst their non-Mamprusi neighbors, many Mamprusi speak several Mole-Dagbani languages. Those who remove keep traveled south, inward Ghana, often speak Twi. Many traders speak Hausa, together with all schoolchildren larn some English. Familiarity amongst French is increasing. Muslims are learning to speak every bit good every bit to read Arabic.
Economy
Agriculture together with creature husbandry render subsistence for most of the population. Sheep, goats, pigeons, fowl, together with guinea foul are kept past times most households, together with wealthier families remove keep cattle. Chiefs may remove keep horses for ceremonial use, but horses together with donkeys (formerly of import beasts for transport) are bred farther north, inward Mossi territory. Increased population density has led to greater pressure level on land.
Grazing land, formerly used past times transhumant Fulani herders, is at nowadays scarce. Fallowing periods are shorter, and, inward some areas, drought has led to the devastation of basis cover. Traditionally, millet, guinea corn, together with sorghum were the major cereal crops, but maize is at nowadays increasingly cultivated despite widespread recognition that it is of less nutritive value than traditional crops that require longer growing seasons. Rice, which has a long history of tillage every bit a little crop, has been introduced inward novel varieties every bit a cash crop.
Portrait of Mamprusi farmer. By whaun
Division of Labor
Mamprusi used to claim that their women did non farm, past times which they meant that their wives did non hoe, every bit do women of neighboring peoples, but helped inward the sowing together with harvesting of crops; however, famine weather condition during the early on 1980s resulted inward the utilization of all available labor inward agriculture.
Men together with women at nowadays both participate inward all phases of the farming cycle other than firing the bush together with clearing dry reason for cultivation, which is the piece of work of men. Dawadawa pods together with shea nuts, collected past times women, are soundless an of import source of food, together with their elaborate processing is a chore for women. Building houses is men's work. Women complete the floors together with walls. Baskets, pots, together with locally woven stuff are made past times neighboring peoples, together with for certain foodstuffs (e.g., smoked fish) are also bought from neighbors rather than produced past times Mamprusi. Literate adults who remove keep been through the Ghanaian schoolhouse scheme are employed past times local authorities offices or piece of work for unusual missionaries together with nongovernmental organizations. Local salaries are usually insufficient, however, together with farming is a necessary adjunct to most other occupations.
Dr Mahamadu Bawumia,Ghana`s Politician,Banker together with Econmist is a Mamprusi
Trade
Women are expected to merchandise every bit an extension of their domestic duties. Traditionally, they received cereal from their husbands to brand the staple porridge but were expected to collect or merchandise for ingredients to brand soup to accompany the porridge. Shea butter together with dawadawa flour, firewood, together with millet beer were prepared past times women, both for domestic utilization together with trade. Some women are engaged inward large-scale merchandise of grain together with yams, cooked food, beets, kola nuts, smoked fish, together with imported manufactured goods.
Mamprusi women at the Market inward Nalerigu,Ghana. By Curly-Q
Mamprusi men may engage inward merchandise every bit a full-time choice to agriculture. Specialists merchandise inward salt, kola, cattle, yams, and, now, manufactured goods. Although women ain livestock, they never purchase alive animals themselves; fifty-fifty hens together with guinea fowl are bought together with sold past times men. Local markets are held either on every 3rd or every 6th day, together with specialist traders follow item sets of markets, which constitute local marketplace seat cycles. Major marketplace seat towns remove keep a permanent marketplace seat site, daily markets, a few little stores, together with beer bars. Smaller villages remove keep only periodic markets.
Mamprusi women coming dorsum from Market,Nalerigu,Ghana.By Curly-Q
Land Tenure
Traditionally, Mamprusi remove keep regarded dry reason every bit belonging to the ancestors together with to futurity generations; hence, the sale of dry reason is considered an criminal offence against the ancestors. In urban areas, houses are sold, but this is considered sale of the construction alone. Use rights to cultivate dry reason belong to the someone who has cleared it. Usufructuary claims to dry reason may last inherited inside a family, but unused dry reason reverts to the community, to last allocated past times hamlet chiefs together with elders. Until the belatedly twentieth century, at that topographic point had been relatively picayune pressure level on land, together with the only major conflicts over dry reason utilization occurred betwixt neighboring hamlet communities. Formerly, these conflicts mightiness last resolved past times the motility of farmers to unused dry reason together with the relocation of hamlet communities. This has acquire to a greater extent than hard amongst increased population density together with working capital missive of the alphabet investment inward unmovable hamlet infrastructure (e.g., school, clinic, authorities office, market, church/mosque, H2O pipes).
Mamprusi adult woman at Nalerigu,Ghana. By Curly-Q
Mamprusi Belief
Eighty-two per centum of Mamprusis practise traditional religion. Naa-wuni is the supreme god, whose scream is used past times Mamprusi Muslims and traditional worshipers. In the traditional faith he is non worshiped or referred to except inward exclamations. Ancestors are believed to aid inward a crisis through diverse diviners who alive inward each village. The Mamprusi communicate amongst their ancestors through sacrifices together with offerings. Fourteen per centum of Mamprusis are Muslims, together with 4 per centum are Christians. Great social pressure level is set on whatever who desire to change.
Kingship. Mamprusi kingship is both a religious together with a political institution. The manlike someone monarch together with royal ancestors are held responsible for the fertility of dry reason together with people. Respect for a hamlet original is a manifestation both of political allegiance together with reverence for the kingship. The manlike someone monarch embodies the royal ancestors together with owns all the dry reason together with everything on it; royal chiefs replicate his powers on a to a greater extent than limited scale. The living manlike someone monarch together with royal chiefs delegate responsibleness to members of other manlike someone monarch groups, which remove keep other divinities, together with those, too, are regarded every bit having a constituent to play inward providing for the full general welfare.
Islam. The historical connections betwixt the Mamprusi together with Islam are unclear. In major marketplace seat towns together with the working capital missive of the alphabet village, a few Muslim families are clearly distinguished from other Mamprusi. Muslim men get hitched amongst non-Muslim women, together with their wives tend to adopt Islam. They line their origins to royals who did non attain business office or to immigrant traders. The oldest Muslim community is located inward Gambaga, a major marketplace seat inward the precolonial period.
Mamprusi muslims
Muslims at that topographic point provided services for the caravan merchandise together with were, until the belatedly twentieth century, dyers. The king's liman resides inward Gambaga. Liman Baba, who acted every bit a go-between for Na Barga, the reigning manlike someone monarch when the British arrived, is also mentioned inward reports from Kumasi. He clearly was an of import together with literate figure of the period. At present, Muslims participate at courtroom together with inward domestic rituals performed at expiry together with naming. It is traditionally forbidden for the manlike someone monarch to last a Muslim, but, during the belatedly twentieth century, kings remove keep been converted to Islam. Since the 1960s, evangelical Muslims remove keep been active together with the issue of mosques together with the multifariousness of Muslim communities has increased inward the Mamprusi area.
Christianity. The commencement Christian mission inward the Mamprusi part was belike the Assemblies of God, established about 1925.
Mamprusi Christians of Baptist faith. Courtesy: baptistmedicalcenter.org
After independence, the Baptist Mission Hospital was built inward Nalerigu, the king's village, amongst funds from the United States; since then, both British together with U.S.-based missions remove keep established themselves. Ghanaian churches remove keep also founded congregations.
Kin Groups together with Descent.
Mamprusi kids
The calculation of patrilineal descent is pregnant at both the domestic together with political levels. The royal patrician descended from the commencement king, Na Gbewa, is constituted at nowadays past times the 5 patrilineages that articulate the territorial framework of Mamprusi political organisation (see "History together with Cultural Relations"). Each royal lineage provides a original for the working capital missive of the alphabet hamlet inward its respective province; the centrally localized lineage provides the king. Chiefs of the working capital missive of the alphabet villages inward each province are selected together with installed past times the manlike someone monarch together with his court, but they, amongst their courts, inward plough select together with install hamlet chiefs inside their provinces. Although each lineage is localized inward a corresponding province, its constituent segments are dispersed throughout the many little settlements of that territory. Villages may comprise a variety of commoner kin groups together with 1 or to a greater extent than segments of a royal lineage, or they may last made upwards of a unmarried extended kin grouping consisting entirely of either royals or commoners.
Mamprusi human being dancing traditional Damba trip the low-cal fantastic past times swirling his fugu. By www.baptistmedicalcenter.org -
The patrilineages that shape the royal clan are subdivided into "gates" ( zanoaya; sing. zanoari ); many commoner lineages are similarly organized. H5N1 gate consists of agnates who line connexion through iii generations of deceased patrikin. Within a gate, business office is inherited, together with gate numbers cooperate inward the surgical operation of funerals. Members of the same gate sacrifice together to their mutual ancestors. The distinction betwixt royals ( nabiisi ) together with commoners ( tarima ) depends on patrilineal filiation, together with Mamprusi claim that all patrilineal descendants of kings, all the same distantly related, are royal. Large numbers of commoner gates belike remove keep royal origins.
Mamprusi man child inward his batakari dress
Although it is said that royals should non intermarry, neither at clan nor at lineage levels are Mamprusi royals an exogamous group. The exogamous unit of measurement is the gate. Beyond this attain of patrikin, marriages occur, although 1 or both partners may relinquish royal status inward establishing the union. Where intermarriage occurs betwixt members of different royal lineages or different gates of a unmarried lineage, 1 segment volition last regarded every bit royal, piece the other volition last classified every bit commoner. If royal descent is non reaffirmed past times tenure of royal office, royal status is eventually lost. Thus, the commoner population consists of descendants of royals who remove keep lost claim to royal business office every bit good every bit immigrants from a variety of different ethnic groups, most notably Tampollensi, Tchokossi, Kantonshi, together with other neighboring peoples. Some commoners claim autochthonous origins. Commoners grip business office every bit elders inward the chiefly courts together with may also grip chiefly office, although their chiefships, dissimilar those of royals, are non ranked; they are regarded every bit nonresident elders of a royal chief's court.
Kinship Terminology.
Elderly Mamprusi woman
The Mamprusi classificatory terminology distinguishes iii generations, together with great-grandparent/great-grandchild relationships tin last described. In Ego's generation, men distinguish senior blood brother ( bere ) from junior brother, who is classed together amongst sisters every bit junior sibling ( tizoa' ) . Female ( tizo-pwa'a ) together with manlike someone ( tizo-doo ) junior siblings tin last identified. Women class their senior sisters together with brothers together (bere) together with their junior brothers together with sisters together (tizoa'). In the commencement ascending generation, Ego categorizes siblings of the same sexual activity every bit a parent, depending on their historic menses relative to the parent. The categories senior manlike someone parent ( bakpema ) together with junior manlike someone parent ( bapura ), or senior woman parent ( makpema ) together with junior woman parent ( mapura ) include all persons for whom Ego's parents utilization sibling terms. Special damage distinguish a mother's blood brother ( nyahaba ) together with a sister's kid ( nyahanga ). H5N1 father's sis ( piriba ) refers to her brother's kid every bit kid ( bia ). Ego refers to his ain children together with to those of persons he calls past times a sibling term, every bit kid (bia); manlike someone kid ( bi-dibiga ) together with woman someone kid ( bipunga ) may last distinguished. The kid of whatever someone called kid volition last called grandchild ( ya'anga ), for which the reciprocal is woman someone grandparent ( yapwa'a ) or manlike someone grandparent ( yadoo ). The term for grandparent ( yaaba ) is also used for ancestor.
Affines distinguished inward Ego's generation include hubby ( sira ), married adult woman (pwa'a), sister's hubby ( datyia; pl. datyisi ), together with brother's married adult woman ( pwaatia; pl. pwaatyisi ). H5N1 adult woman calls her husband's blood brother "husband" (sira) but usually specifies his relative historic menses amongst honor to her hubby ( sira-kpema = senior husband; sira-pira = junior husband). H5N1 human being calls his brother's wife, married adult woman (pwa'a). All the to a higher identify damage are used both inward address together with reference together with supersede personal names inward most contexts.
Sociopolitical Organization
The manlike someone monarch (nayiiri) sits amongst his courtroom inward his palace (nayiini ) at the hamlet of Nalerigu, roughly inward the territorial centre of the onetime kingdom. Although aspects of the kingship are replicated inward the paramount chiefship of each province, only the king's palace contains the regalia used to install the manlike someone monarch together with to invest the heads of the other royal provinces.
Nayiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai, paramount original of the Mamprusi people, at his palace inward Nalerigu, Ghana.
Each manlike someone monarch is regarded every bit embodying all preceding kings, together with his courtroom is, straight or indirectly, the source of kingship/chiefship (naam) throughout the kingdom. It is the most elaborate together with largest courtroom containing offices represented inward smaller numbers inward all other royal courts. Of these, the Master of Horses (wudaana ) together with the Master of Spears (kpanaraana ) are most common. Courts also include gun bearers, drummers, together with local earth-priests, every bit good every bit Muslims. Also numbered amidst the king's elders are all the household heads of a settlement, special drummers together with officeholders responsible for his article of apparel together with regalia, successors to the titles of onetime executioners, together with eunuchs.
Old human being sitting nether a hut inward Nalerigu,Ghana. By Curly-Q
Courts allocate dry reason together with bargain amongst disputes arising from dry reason claims together with litigation arising from marriage, every bit good every bit other domestic together with civil disputes. Most disputes are dealt amongst commencement inward a chief's courtroom rather than inward authorities courts. Chiefly courts bargain amongst funerals together with succession to office, organize annual cylindrical celebrations, perform sacrifices on behalf of the community to world together with ancestor divinities, together with mediate betwixt the local communities together with national government. Special commoner-chiefs bargain amongst witchcraft accusations together with remove keep custody of convicted witches.
Commoner elders inward the king's courtroom play a crucial role inward the pick of each novel manlike someone monarch together with are involved inward the pick together with installation of royal chiefs. Succession to royal business office is competitive; numerous candidates nowadays themselves, and, through gifts together with persuasion, endeavour to influence the courtroom inward their favor. Office should circulate through the diverse gates of a royal lineage, together with a boy should non succeed his manlike someone parent inward office. The participation of commoners—as king/chief makers together with every bit followers of competition princes inward competitions for royal office—balances the hegemony of royals together with acts every bit a cheque on the abuse of ability past times 1 segment of the royal lineages. All offices are held for life; hence much of the courtroom endures beyond the reign of a item manlike someone monarch or chief.
Mamprusi chiefs of Walewale
Since 1957, numerous local institutions remove keep been laid upwards inward the Mamprusi districts past times the Ghanaian authorities to extend the processes of technological together with social transformation begun during the colonial period. Police together with basis forces units stand upwards for the cardinal government, every bit do schools together with local authorities offices. Roads, a postal system, telephone communication, together with omnibus carry connect the Mamprusi districts amongst the repose of the world. Increased merchandise amongst southern Republic of Ghana has resulted inward the expansion of markets together with increased distribution for commodities made elsewhere.
The due north of Republic of Ghana has been the scene of numerous small-scale conflicts since the belatedly 1960s, most of which remove keep non involved Mamprusi. One of the longest-standing conflicts involves people resident forthwith to the due north who claim Mamprui identity together with are descended from royal Mamprusi who emigrated to that expanse prior to the British conquest. They speak Hausa or Kusal rather than Mampruli, and, although they consider themselves Mamprusi, they should last considered separately from the ethnic grouping residing inward the Mamprusi districts.
Mamprusi kids exterior nigh corn mill.
Two-thirds of marriages are polygamous. Children are given both Mamprusi together with Muslim names, together with are circumcised. When a someone dies, Mamprusis dig a temporary grave nigh the compound. At the adjacent dry out flavor they grip a special funeral, amongst food, dancing, together with the decision of the crusade of death, to honour the person. At this fourth dimension the dead person’s spirit is in conclusion released.
Mamprusi human being performing traditional Damba trip the low-cal fantastic of the North
Marriage together with Family
Marriage. In theory Mamprusi royals must get hitched amongst commoners. In effect, they seek to spread their matrimonial alliances every bit widely every bit possible. Among royals together with commoners members of the same gate are forbidden to marry, together with wedlock to patrikin amongst whom precise genealogical connexion tin last traced is frowned upon. Matrilateral cross-cousin marriage—that is, wedlock to a cross cousin who is non the kid of a parent's ain sibling—is regarded every bit a practiced marriage, specially past times Mamprusi Muslims.
Mamprusi human being from Nalerigu
Men aspire to polygynous marriages. Chiefs together with of import commoners remove keep many wives. Mamprusi frown upon sororal polygyny, saying that wedlock amongst ii women from the same theatre leads to quarrels amidst the wives together with difficulties inward administration for the household head. Marriage is established past times gifts of kola. Two prestations of kola are sent past times the caput of the husband's gate to the caput of the wife's gate. Both are sent via the original or chiefs of the villages inward which the partners reside. The first, message kola, establishes that the adult woman has spent the nighttime amongst her futurity husband. If this kola is accepted, the pardon kola follows. The wedlock kola is distributed to members of the woman's gate, together with a share of both prestations is taken past times the original or chiefs together with distributed to elders.
Chiefs thus involved volition afterward mediate inward disputes arising inside or from the marriage. The substitution makes children legitimate members of the father's gate. H5N1 son-in-law acquires of import ongoing responsibilities amongst regard to his wife's kin. He must attend the funeral of senior members of her gate together with give her grain, a sheep, together with cash to contribute. He must heighten a grouping of dancers together with gun bearers to celebrate the deceased. H5N1 husband's failure to render the requisite funeral contribution is grounds for divorce. When, every bit often happens, Mamprusi men get hitched amongst women of neighboring ethnic groups, they follow the woman's group's customs for establishing the marriage.
Mamprusi woman,Memuna Sandow is an assemblywoman inward West Mamprusi District, Northern Ghana. She has a Mamprusi facial beautification marksA determined adult woman tin at nowadays exit a wedlock she dislikes. This is said to last the resultant of modern authorities intervention, but it seems probable that fifty-fifty formerly, it was non impossible for a adult woman to exit 1 hubby for another. It is to a greater extent than hard however, for her to render to her kin. Men also cannot easily dismiss a married adult woman of long standing. Although wedlock is unstable inward the commencement years, it becomes to a greater extent than stable after the nativity of children. After a hubby s death, his widow may pick out to get hitched amongst 1 of his brothers, but cannot last forced to do so against her will. Young widows may render identify together with bring gifts from suitors, which they volition utilization to trade. They are together with so supposed to pick out a hubby together with render the gifts to the rejected suitors. An elderly widow is household caput if she has a married boy amongst whom she lives inward her deceased husband's house. H5N1 widow without sons volition reluctantly render to her ain kin.
Mamprusi immature lady exterior of a corn manufacturing flora inward Nalerigu, Ghana.
Domestic Unit. The center of the household is the patrilineal family. Royal households commonly include a polygynous household head, perchance amongst his younger married sons together with unrelated dependents. Commoner households to a greater extent than often include older married brothers amongst children, together with often iii generations of agnates reside together. Older men are often polygynous; of import chiefs together with wealthy commoners remove keep many to a greater extent than than the maximum of 4 wives permitted Muslims. Marriage is invariably patri-virilocal. H5N1 adult woman retains membership inward her natal lineage. Although she commonly volition last buried inward her husband's house, a concluding funeral is performed for her inward her natal home.
Mamprusi women from Nalerigu showing her tattoo palms that she is married
Although women detect an etiquette of honor when dealing straight amongst their husbands, together with the male
household caput is treated amongst deference past times resident identify unit of measurement members, women command the domestic domain. Significantly, a manlike someone household caput is said to last subordinate to his father's sis if such a relative is inward residence. The internal hierarchy of the household is based on the ranking of women inward polygynous marriages. H5N1 senior married adult woman has authorization over junior wives, together with their children slumber inward her room. She supervises their collective surgical operation of the major domestic tasks together with may also organize trading enterprises. Mothers-in-law remove keep authorization over their husband's wives.
Beautiful Mamprusi immature lady from Nalerigu,Ghana
Mamprusi Drums/Dance
Mamprusi drummers
In the Mamprusi kingdom, drummers are custodians of history. Children inward drumming families are schooled inward the histories past times their elders. The histories are sung to the accompaniment of the "talking" drums on formal province occasions.
A "talking" drum allows communication inward drum language. The role musician squeezes the hour-glass shaped drum nether the arm to alter the pitch. According the Mamprusi drummers "the histories tell of creation together with of the reigns of previous kings which bridge to a greater extent than than 500 years. They province the norms together with values of gild through the utilization of proverbs together with metaphors."
Mamprusi drummer
The kings are ever praised together with their stories are presented inward a positive low-cal inward histories, which encourages their descendants to give coin to the drummers- the economical side of the occasion.
Mamprusi drummer boy
Damba Festival
The Damba festival is celebrated past times the Mamprusis. The main venue of the celebration is Bawku together with its environs. It is held betwixt the months of July together with August.
Mamprusi people doing their Damba dance
Source;http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458001527.html
Encyclopedia of World Cultures | 1996 |
FACES OF MAMPRUSI
Nayiiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, King of Mamprusi, Nalerigu, Ghana,By Alfred Weidinger
Mamprusi (Dagbamba)
c.1450 Mamprusi or Dagbamba province founded.
Rulers (title Nayiiri, also styled Mampurugu Naa)
1688 - 1742 Atabia Zontuua
1742 - 17.. Yamusa Jeringa
17.. - 17.. Mahaman Kurugu
17.. - 17.. Sulimani Apisi
17.. - 17.. Haruna Bono
17.. - 17.. Andani Yahaya
17.. - 1790 Mahama Kuluguba
1790 - 1830 Salifu Saatankugri
1830 - 1833 Abdurahamani Dambono (Dahmani Gyambongo)
1833 - 1850 Dawura Nyongo
1850 - 1864 Azabu Pagri
1864 - 1901 Yamusa Barga
1902 - 1905 Sulimanu Sigri
1906 - 1909 Ziniya Zore Abduru
1909 - 1915 Mahama Wubuga
1915 - 1933 Mahama Waafu
1934 - 1943 Badimsuguru Zulim
1943 Salifu Salemu
1943 - 1947 Abudu Soro Kobulga
1947 - 1966 Abdulai Sheriga
1967 - 1985 Adam Badimsuguru Bongu
1986 - 1987 Sulemana Salifu Saa
1987 - 2003 Gamni Mohamadu Abdulai
4. Jan 2004 Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga
1688 - 1742 Atabia Zontuua
1742 - 17.. Yamusa Jeringa
17.. - 17.. Mahaman Kurugu
17.. - 17.. Sulimani Apisi
17.. - 17.. Haruna Bono
17.. - 17.. Andani Yahaya
17.. - 1790 Mahama Kuluguba
1790 - 1830 Salifu Saatankugri
1830 - 1833 Abdurahamani Dambono (Dahmani Gyambongo)
1833 - 1850 Dawura Nyongo
1850 - 1864 Azabu Pagri
1864 - 1901 Yamusa Barga
1902 - 1905 Sulimanu Sigri
1906 - 1909 Ziniya Zore Abduru
1909 - 1915 Mahama Wubuga
1915 - 1933 Mahama Waafu
1934 - 1943 Badimsuguru Zulim
1943 Salifu Salemu
1943 - 1947 Abudu Soro Kobulga
1947 - 1966 Abdulai Sheriga
1967 - 1985 Adam Badimsuguru Bongu
1986 - 1987 Sulemana Salifu Saa
1987 - 2003 Gamni Mohamadu Abdulai
4. Jan 2004 Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga
Damba dancer
Mamprusi people at a funeral. By haunsinafrica
Beautiful Mamprusi girl. By haunsinafrica
Mamprusi elders
Mamprusi adult woman carrying charge at Nalerigu. By haunsinafrica
Mamprusi people of Gambaga inward grouping transport
Mamprusi man, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia
Mamprusi human being performing damba dance
Mamprusi adult woman together with child. By haunsinafrica
Damba dancer
Boy amongst Damber armpit drum
Nayiiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, King of Mamprusi, Nalerigu, Ghana
Women at Gambaga witches army camp amongst their kids
Mamprusi human being together with pol Dr Mahamadu Bawmia wearing traditional Batakari dress
Mamprus woman
Portrait of a Mamprusi boy
Photographs by:http://www.baptistmedicalcenter.org
The witches of Gambaga
Gambaga witches army camp inward Republic of Ghana has housed 'convicted' witches for to a greater extent than than 200 years
Courtesy:http://www.geographical.co.uk/Magazine/Witches_of_Ghana
Sacrificial rites
Belief inward witchcraft is widespread across Africa, thriving inward regions inhabited past times peoples amongst picayune knowledge of modern scientific discipline together with who remove keep few effective methods for dealing amongst everyday crises such every bit sickness. Such suffering becomes the resultant of an ancestor’s spirit or the hatred of a witch – every bit solid a laid of causal theories every bit those we’re given when nosotros see a doctor. When an accusation of witchcraft is made, the defendant is totally ostracised from her community together with often has to flee for her life. Once cast out, she must seek out an world priest who, through the enactment of a sacrificial rite, volition discovery whether or non she is a witch.
If ‘convicted’, she has her ability neutralised amongst a farther ritual that only remains effective unopen to the shrine where it was performed. Hence the witch is effectively confined to the local expanse together with is forced to alive communally inward a camp. Gambaga, a little marketplace seat town inward Ghana’s eastern Mamprusi district, has played host to such a army camp for to a greater extent than than 200 years. Arriving ruby amongst dust from a long together with arduous journey, I could run into picayune to confirm that this was in 1 trial the working capital missive of the alphabet of the ancient Mamprusi kingdom. Instead, Gambaga, amongst its mixture of thatched together with tin-roofed dwellings about the in 1 trial of import market, struck me every bit merely a modest, sleepy town.
Accompanied past times my local contact, Simon Ngota, who has worked for several years amongst the Presbyterian Church of Ghana’s GO-HOME projection trying to repatriate the witches, I visited the town’s chief, Yahaya Wuni, essential protocol every bit the army camp is on his land.
I found him sitting on a raised dais inward his compound. Initially severe together with unsmiling, he interrogated me closely, fearing bad publicity. I managed to reassure him, together with Simon together with I left the chemical compound together with walked about the dorsum to the camp, a grouping of extended mud-built homesteads roofing about 150 foursquare metres. We were greeted past times the kindly original of the camp, or Magazia, ‘Ma’ Asana Mahama, who gave her approving for me to speak to the inmates.
Yahaya Wuni, original of Gambaga. An world priest, he performs the ritual that decides if women are witches. The army camp is inward his land, together with the women piece of work inward his fields together with render him amongst firewood.
Accusations together with repatriations
During the adjacent week, I spoke amongst together with photographed many of the lxx women living every bit outcasts inward Gambaga. Among the to a greater extent than outspoken was Samatu Sumani, who’d been inward the army camp for virtually a year. Her anger at her handling was soundless palpable. “A vecino got sick together with defendant me of bewitching her,” she told me. “I was rattling frightened together with pleaded amongst her that it was non true. My immature lady also appealed on my behalf, together with fifty-fifty donated blood for a transfusion to brand her good again, but soundless she didn’t relent.” The adult woman died of her affliction together with Samatu was convicted of witchcraft.
Repatriation of outcasts is hard but non impossible. I spoke to 1 of the GO-HOME project’s success stories, Salmata Achiri. Simon together with I went to see Salmata inward a nearby hamlet to listen her story. We sat inward the shade amongst her boy together with daughter-in-law, surrounded past times a throng of children. “A stepson from my husband’s side became ill. His relatives came to his bedside, together with every bit he got worse, they began to blame me,” she told me. “I don’t know why, every bit the man child himself never defendant me. I felt rattling sorry for him together with angry amongst them but what could I do? He didn’t die, but I was soundless sent to Gambaga, where I stayed for 8 years. It isn’t a bad place, but I was ever hungry together with I missed my family. One of my sons managed to acquire his ain identify together with invited me to bring together him, so hither I am, I’m so happy to last free.”
Witches Camp,Gambaga
Some of the women inward the army camp haven’t themselves been accused, but remove keep chosen to last at that topographic point to aspect after relatives. “A immature adult woman defendant my woman parent of causing her affliction but she had zip to do amongst it,” said Ayishetu Isshaku, a large, friendly adult woman who has been inward the army camp amongst her partially sighted woman parent for 5 years. “When she was sent hither I decided to accompany her every bit she needed me together with I would remove keep been defendant adjacent anyway; the adult woman recovered together with at nowadays has iii children.”
The only matter preventing most of the women from leaving the refuge is the lack of anywhere else to go. The bulk of the defendant are late-middle-aged women who became vulnerable after losing their husbands. Often they’ve had to displace dorsum to their father’s compound, where they may last seen every bit a drain on resources. While children are often sympathetic, it may last years earlier they tin flora their ain household together with suit an outcast relative.
Challenging beliefs
There’s no escaping the fact that the segregation of women inward Gambaga together with other witch camps is a shape of imprisonment. The outcasts are forced to exit their homes together with families, together with although they tin piece of work together with trade, they are typically poor, demeaned together with stigmatised past times their situation. Education is key to tackling the situation, both inward challenging people’s belief inward witchcraft together with inward changing their attitudes towards traditional gender roles.
Mamprusi gild is rigidly patriarchal, together with women deemed to last subverting the established gender roles tin acquire a target for witchcraft accusations past times men seeking to re-establish control. It’s believed that women who attain success without the aid of a human being must remove keep done so past times resorting to witchcraft. In the camp, I spoke amongst Asara Azindu, a confident together with cheerful adult woman inward her 50s. She had been a successful, independent businesswoman earlier she was defendant next an outbreak of meningitis. Her conspicuously plump figure (compared to others inward the camp) attested to her previous affluence. However, her assured agency evaporated when she told me her story. “I was living away from my husband, inward Gushiegu, together with was defendant along amongst ii other women of causing a sickness,” she said. “I had to come upwards to Gambaga for my ain safety, but lost my house, possessions together with business.”
Ghana: Witches of Gambaga / guardian.co.uk
Despite the patriarchal nature of Mamprusi society, women remove keep ever been responsible for their ain finances, together with at nowadays at that topographic point is ever to a greater extent than demand for cash to pay for schoolhouse fees, article of apparel together with medicine. Women are supposed to last submissive together with subservient to men, yet their autonomy is increasing every bit they are forced to farm, go together with merchandise to a greater extent than inward monastic enjoin to render for their families. This expansion of women’s roles began every bit a reply to the famine crisis of the mid-1980s; indeed, the authorities actively encouraged it. Traditionally, Mamprusi men were primarily engaged inward the raising together with trading of livestock. But the famine devastated their herds, together with the province has since faced stiffer competition inward livestock together with other trading markets.
The hunting of animals for sale every bit bush-meat, some other manlike someone preserve, has also acquire less reliable due to a decrease inward the abundance of game. Women eventually began to outstrip men inward the productivity together with income stakes, together with the social monastic enjoin was unacceptably subverted. The increasing frequency together with virulence of witchcraft accusations inward recent years tin last seen every bit an endeavour to command women together with re-establish normality inward Mamprusi gender relations.
Meanwhile, the Gambaga women caught inward the middle endure amongst cheerful, humbling stoicism. Ma Asana is philosophical: “We brand the best of it hither together with are grateful to remove keep somewhere condom to last nether the circumstances, but aspect frontward to the twenty-four sixty minutes menses when nosotros tin go home.”
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