Origin of Gonja

The initial research aim of the project was to investigate a site which might throw light on the origin of the Gonja state. Shinnie had for a long time been interested in the late Iron Age of northern Ghana and his earlier work at Yendi Dabari suggested that work on an early Gonja site might provide information that would help in understanding some of the historical and archaeological problems of the beginning of one of the highly organised polities of northern Ghana.

Although the original aim of the research was to throw light on matters concerning the early HISTORY of Gonja, it was realised that earlier material might be expected but it was not anticipated that the very long period of occupation which the excavation revealed would occur on a single site.

Little previous archaeological research had been carried out in northern Ghana. Davies (1970) travelled widely in the 1950s and 1960 and made surface collections and excavated the site of Ntereso where Neolithic ‘Kintampo’ culture materials and early Iron Age occupation were found (Davies 1973). In 1961 Shinnie excavated the historically attested site of Yendi Dabari, a capital of the Dagomba in the sixteenth and seventh centuries A.D., in an attempt to identify material which could approximately dated by association with historical events remembered in local tradition (Shinnie and Ozanne 1962). During the archaeological rescue campaign necessitated by the flooding to follow the building of the Volta Dam in the 1960s, survey and excavation, much of it not yet fully published, was carried out by members of the Volta Basin Research Project (York, Calvocoressi, Mathewson and Flight (1967). Of the sites investigated at the time, mostly of the Iron Age, only New Gbipe (York 1973) has been adequately published.⁽¹⁾

When plans were first being discussed, and Ivor Wilks of Northwestern University was exceptionally helpful in this, attention was drawn to the problem of the origin of the Gonja state and to consideration of the part that archaeology could play in elucidation the way in which Gonja rule was spread over a large tract of land lying north of the Black Volta.

Gonja, although today having a number of cultural traits in common with the other states of northern Ghana, also has a number of marked differences, particularly with regard to its tradition of origin. The rulers of other states all speak closely related Gur languages and have a common origin from the north, sharing this with the Mossi Kingdom of Yatenga in the present day Bourkina Fasso (formerly Upper Volta). These traditions have been to some extent collected and studied and may be conveniently referred to in Ajayi and Crowder (1971) where Wilks is particularly relevant.

The origins and development of Gonja contrasts markedly with that of the other northern Ghanaian states and  the Gbanyito language of the Ngbanya, who created the Gonja state is also quite different. It is part of the group of Guang languages, other branches of which are found throughout Ghana, but are concentrated to the south of the Black Volta reaching as far as the coast. The story which has become the accepted version of Ngbanya origins claims that they were descended from a group of horsemen sent south from Mali in the sixteenth century to investigate, or punish, those responsible for a diminution in the flow of gold to the north from the goldfields in the region of Begho, south of the Black Volta. From here, under the leadership of King Naba or naboga, they crossed back to the north side of the Black Volta River and began military operations, probably on a small scale, against the indigenous villagers of a variety of ethnic groups. The main expansion of Gonja came some 100 years later when from c.1622-1672 Jakpa Lanta, usually considered the founder of the Gonja state, took the frontier of Gonja as far as the White Volta where he established the framework of the state in the form of a number of divisions under the control of his sons. Goody (1966b; 1967) has described these units and the way in which succession to the positions of Yagbongwura (the paramount chief) is arranged. Jakpa is said to have died in 1672 at Brumasi from  wounds received in battle with the Brongs (an Akan speaking people living south of the Black Volta), and to be buried at Gbipe where local informants identify his grave but reluctant to show it to strangers.

The original Yagbong, from which the title is taken cannot at present be identified. Shinnie (1981) has stated a critical view of the Gonja origin myth and it need not be repeated. Whatever the truth, the existing written sources firmly state that the received version is of a Mande origin. A critical edition of the indigenous written sources has recently been published (Wilks, Levtzion and Haight 1987).

The historical problems suggested that an archaeological investigation of Western Gonja, with an emphasis on sites known from the historical tradition, would be desirable and would enable one site to be selected for a major excavation. To do this, one season was spent on survey and is described in Appendix A. A short preliminary account was given in Shinnie (1981). This season began on 17th July 1977 and continued until 22nd September. The group consisted of

P.L. and Ama Shinnie, F.J. Kense, Ann Brower (now Mrs. Stahl), D. Buitron, and E. Dozie. As a result of the investigation of this season, Daboya was chosen as the site for the major excavation and work was carried out there for four seasons.

Several reasons were responsible for the choice of Daboya as the site of the major excavation of the campaign. During the survey of 1977 it became apparent from surface inspection that there was a good likelihood of archaeological remains at this location and the configuration of the ground suggested that there was a greater accumulation of material from early occupation than at any of the other sites examined. Preliminary investigation of Bole also suggested, from the appearance of many mounds to the south of the town, that it might be a profitable place for more extensive archaeological work. However, information from B.M. Haight, who had made a detailed examination of the history of Bole (Haight 1981) made it clear that the present town was of comparatively recent origin and that the mounds were probably recent middens. The situation at Daboya gave a quite different impression. The town was located on elevated ground which had the appearance of being composed of the debris of former habitation and similar, though less elevated areas to the southeast of the present town strongly suggested that there had been earlier habitation there. In addition to this, the cutting through the river bank made by the modern cement track down to the ferry exposed a quantity of potsherds which did not resemble any of the rather rare modern ceramics.

Daboya also had a well known history which showed it to have been of importance for a long time. Standing at a river crossing and with an important salt manufacture based on processing of the river sands it had been of commercial significance until quite recent times. The first European mention of Daboya describes it as "three journies from Boopee (Gbipe) is Daboia, the second town of Inta.", on one of the "nine great paths" leading from Kumasi (Bowdich 1819:171). Its importance at the beginning of the nineteenth century is therefore made clear. Daboya’s past , however, is much more extensive. Archaeological investigation has revealed a long period of occupation which supports the belief that the town existed before the coming of the Gonja. Oral tradition and some written documents have been skilfully used by Case (1979) to provide a history of Daboya from the early years of the Gonja occupation. According to Case, the Gonja first came into the area at the time of Jakpa, probably under his direct leadership, and fought against the indigenous people, the Tampluma, who under Dagomba rule attempted to stem the invasion. The Gonja were victorious in a battle near Daboya.

Tradition has it that Jakpa placed his daughter in charge of the salt working at the site of Daboya, then known as Brugu, from which she took the title Bruguwuche. She found herself unable to resist attacks by the Dagomba so Jakpa sent his son (or in some versions grandson), Denyawuri, to take command of the Gonja forces and c. 1680 Wasipewura Denyawuri finally drove the Dagomba out. the title of Wasipewura, which henceforth was used by all Chiefs of Daboya, arose because Denyawuri, prior to being in command of the Gonja advance guard in the east, had resided far to the west at the village of Wasipe which lies south of Bole on the road to Bamboi and the south. Although Wasipe has now lost all importance and has no present day Gonja residents (see Chapter 8), the title is borne with pride by the Chief of Daboya and in the traditional arrangements of the Gonja state, Daboya remains a place of considerable political power in the structure of the state and is one of the ‘gates’ which gives a right to succeed to the Paramountcy. This richness of historical information (Case 1979) together with the strategic and commercial location and the observations of surface indications led to the choice of Daboya with the results that are reported here.

NOTES

 1. Gbipe is the spelling of the place usually known as Buipe authorised by the Yagbongwura. York’s publication (York 1973) will continue to be known as "Excavations at New Buipe".

 2. Saaka and other say the move was made by the British for reasons of administrative convenience. The Wasipewura claims that the move was made by Yagbongwura Ewuntoma (formerly Wasipewura) because the early death of his predecessor made the site of Nyanga one of ill omen.