THE GREAT NA-GBEWA RULER OF THE GREATER DAGBON

THE GREAT NA-GBEWA RULER OF THE GREATER DAGBON

Na-Gbewa, the ground son of Kpogunumbo. After he had become the king of Gruma migrated from BIUN in Gruma country with a large following to PUSIGA in the upper East Region of Ghana, near the Ghana — Togo Border. Na-Gbewa is regarded by the Mamprusi, Dagomba and Nanumber as their first King, the first King of greater Dagbon. Na- Gbewa ruled greater Dagbon for many years. Upon hearing the assassination of his second son Kufogo, na Gbewa is said to have mysteriously entered the ground where he was sitting, the site regarded as his grave is known to this day.

The ancient King was Survived by fifteen sons and four daughters.

1. Zirili 2. Kufogu 3. Tohogu 4. Sitobu 5. Mantambo 6. Biemoni 7. Buguyeligu

8. Sibie 9. Kachiogu 10. Kayili Kpera 11. Yirigitira 12. Zanggobili 13. Zangzaa

14. Nyankpana 15. Zibie 16. Sibie Bila 17. Bisogiriyela 18. Lariwaaya 19. Yentaure. Who's son Widraugo founded the Mosi Kingdom.

It is these sons of Na Gbewa who became makers of Mamprusi, Dagbon, Nanumba and Mosi history.

Na-Zirili succeeded his father, it was upon Na-Zinli's death that the makers of Northern Ghana history, laid the foundation of the Kingdoms of Mamprugu, Dagbon and Nanung.

THE GOVERNMENT OF YAA-NAA

The Dagomba had a machinery of government before the advent of Europeans in Ghana. Since the coming of the white man, however the effectiveness of the machinery of the government has been reduced but the administrative machinery is still in place. The Yaa-Naa is the Chief executive of the administration. He is assisted by a judicial council of elders and a state council composed of Paramount chiefs, Divisional chiefs and elders of state.

The government of the king of Dagbon is decentralized.the state is divided into four provinces, each province having a right to manage its own affairs as long as that is not inconflict with the central administration. The provinces are Yendi province, Karaga province, Savelugu province  and Mion province. Except the Yendi province which is directly under the Yaa-Naa, each province is headed by a paramount chief who belongs to the Nabihi class. As head of the province he has a supervisory role over all the Paramount, divisional and sub-divisional chiefs in the province. His Supervisory role is largely nominal with regard to other paramount chiefs who regard him as a primus inter pares.

In additional to these supervisory duties, the head of a province administers his division. Apart from Mion province, which has only one paramount chief, each province has more than one paramount chief. There are also in every province a number of divisional and sub divisional chiefs who are direct appointees of the Yaa-Naa. They also appoint and control a large number of village headmen and elders who assist them in the administration of their division and subdivisions.

SOCIAL CLASSES AND POLITICAL POWER OF DAGBON KINGDOM

The Organisation and administration of Dagbon are base on Social Classes and the institution of chieftaincy, which is an elaborate interlocking net work of patronage from the Ya-na to that of village head man. The Ya-Na , Divisional and sub-divisional chiefs, and head men, all possess a great deal of patronage in their hands. They all have the right to appoint subordinate chiefs. Dagbon had an elaborate and well defined system of chieftaincy at the advent of Europeans.

The institution of Chieftaincy in Dagbon has the appearance of a triangle with an apex, sides and a base. Chiefs are arranged in a hierarchical and triangular form with the YaNa at the top. The largest number of chiefs are at the base of the triangle and the smallest but the most powerful chiefs are along the sides rising to apex where the YaNa is the king. The Dagomba society it self is divided into identifiable social classes. These classes are Nebihi (Persons with the royal blood) Kpamba (the nobility), worizohanima, (the Equestrian order), the elders who ere formally enouchs Namogola, Afanima, (the Moslims) Kambonsi or Sapashinnima (the warrior class), Baansi (evlogists and drummers), Wonzama (the Barbers), Tindamba (the Fetish Priests), Tarimba or Dagban dabba (the Commoners) Nakohenima (the butchers), Machelnima (the black smiths).

Each of these identifiable estates has a social ladder for climbing to "the top ". And once a person rises to certain position in his social ladder, he is given not only honour for his Social status but he may in some of the classes, have power to appoint sub chiefs and certain "title holders" The estates, which possess power to appoint subchiefs and important title holders, are the Nabihi, Kpmba and Worizohanima classes.