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Basic 2 · History · The People of Ghana

The Mole-Dagbani People

In this topic you will learn about the Mole-Dagbani people of northern Ghana.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Name where the Mole-Dagbani live
  • Name their foods, cloth and festivals
  • Respect the cultures of northern Ghana

What you already know

  • The Ewe and Ga-Adangbe people

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
My Country Ghana
Sub-strand
The People of Ghana
Indicator
B2.2.1.1.1 – Identify the ethnic groups in each region of Ghana

Introduction

In Tamale, people wear colourful smocks and eat tuo zaafi. They celebrate the Damba and Fire festivals. These are part of Mole-Dagbani culture.

1. Where They Live

The Mole-Dagbani live mainly in the Northern, North East, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

Groups include the Dagomba, Mamprusi, Nanumba, Dagaaba and Frafra.

2. Mole-Dagbani Culture

Mole-Dagbani culture
Part of cultureExamples
languagesDagbani, Mampruli, Dagaare, Gurune
foodtuo zaafi (TZ), koko, groundnut soup
clothsmock (fugu)
festivalsDamba, Bugum (Fire festival)
musicthe gonje (fiddle) and talking drums
A man in a smock, a bowl of tuo zaafi and the Damba festival
Figure 1: Mole-Dagbani culture Draw a smock.Photos: Salifu Wumpini Hussein, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Kwameghana, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Bash222, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Remember: The Ya-Na is the king of Dagbon. His palace is in Yendi.

New words

Mole-Dagbani
An ethnic group in northern Ghana.
smock
A loose, striped woven garment.
tuo zaafi
A northern meal of maize or millet, often called TZ.
Bugum
The Fire festival.

Summary

  • The Mole-Dagbani live mainly in northern Ghana.
  • Smock, TZ and the Damba festival are part of their culture.
  • The Ya-Na is the king of Dagbon.

Class activity: Smock Design

  1. Look at the smock fabric sample.
  2. Draw and colour your own smock design.
  3. Tell the class which region smocks come from.

You need: Ghana map, Printed photographs of Ghanaian ethnic groups, Kente, Smock fabric samples

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which garment is worn in northern Ghana?

    • A. Smock
    • B. Kente only
    • C. Suit
    • D. Raincoat
    Show answer
    Answer: SmockSmocks are northern garments.

  2. 2. Where is the Ya-Na's palace?

    • A. Yendi
    • B. Kumasi
    • C. Accra
    • D. Ho
    Show answer
    Answer: YendiThe Ya-Na lives in Yendi.

  3. 3. Tuo zaafi is a northern meal.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt is often called TZ.

  4. 4. Bugum is a Ga festival.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseBugum is the Fire festival of the north.

  5. 5. The Damba is a festival of the ______ people.

    Show answer
    Answer: Mole-DagbaniDagomba celebrate Damba.

  6. 6. Name two groups that are Mole-Dagbani.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: Dagomba, Mamprusi, Nanumba, Dagaaba, Frafra.These belong to the group.

Homework

  1. Find out one more northern Ghanaian food.