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Basic 3 · History · The People of Ghana

The Origin of the Mole-Dagbani

In this topic you will learn the traditions of origin of the Mole-Dagbani states.

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

  • Tell the tradition of Tohazie and Naa Gbewa
  • Name the states founded by Naa Gbewa's sons
  • Find these states on the map

What you already know

  • The origin of the Ewe

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
B3.2.1.1.1 – Discuss the origins of the major ethnic groups in Ghana

Introduction

Dagomba, Mamprusi and Nanumba people say they share a great ancestor, Naa Gbewa. Their kingdoms are like brothers.

1. The Tradition

  • Traditions say a hunter called Tohazie ("the red hunter") came from the east.
  • His descendant, Naa Gbewa, settled at Pusiga, in the present Upper East Region.
  • After Naa Gbewa's death, his sons founded kingdoms.

2. The Kingdoms

Kingdoms founded by Naa Gbewa's sons
SonKingdomCapital today
SitobuDagbon (Dagomba)Yendi
TohuguMamprugu (Mamprusi)Nalerigu
MantambuNanun (Nanumba)Bimbilla
Map of northern Ghana showing Pusiga, Yendi, Nalerigu and Bimbilla
Figure 1: Mole-Dagbani kingdoms Draw the map and mark the three capitals.Base map: NordNordWest, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Remember: The Mamprusi king is called the Nayiri. The Dagomba king is the Ya-Na.

New words

kingdom
A land ruled by a king.
descendant
A person born in a later generation of a family.
founder
The person who started something.
Naa
A title for a king in Mole-Dagbani languages.

Summary

  • Mole-Dagbani traditions say Tohazie came from the east.
  • Naa Gbewa settled at Pusiga.
  • His sons founded Dagbon, Mamprugu and Nanun.

Class activity: Family Tree of Kingdoms

  1. Draw Naa Gbewa at the top.
  2. Draw his three sons and their kingdoms below.
  3. Find the capitals on the map.

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. Where did Naa Gbewa settle?

    • A. Pusiga
    • B. Accra
    • C. Kumasi
    • D. Ho
    Show answer
    Answer: PusigaPusiga is in the Upper East.

  2. 2. Which kingdom did Sitobu found?

    • A. Dagbon
    • B. Mamprugu
    • C. Asante
    • D. Nanun
    Show answer
    Answer: DagbonSitobu founded Dagbon.

  3. 3. The Ya-Na is the king of Dagbon.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueHis palace is at Yendi.

  4. 4. Nalerigu is the capital of Dagbon.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseNalerigu is the Mamprusi capital.

  5. 5. A land ruled by a king is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: kingdomThat is a kingdom.

  6. 6. Name the three kingdoms founded by Naa Gbewa's sons.

    Show answer
    Answer: Dagbon, Mamprugu and Nanun.They are related kingdoms.

Homework

  1. Find Yendi, Nalerigu and Bimbilla on a map.