My Chieftaincy Journey Vol. 1
“Purpose is the reason for the journey.
Passion is the fire that lights the way.” -Unknown.
Traveling is something that has always been a part of my life. I’ve found myself led to so many different places and have been deeply blessed to experience them all. However, none have quite impacted my life the way my journey this past July. I was honored to travel to Tamale, Ghana, where I spent time surrounded by a beautiful place and people. The genesis of my visit was for the official chieftaincy title to be conferred upon me as the Zosimli Naa, which literally means “The Chief Who Multiplies Friendships”. Before I share about my journey and title, I want to discuss elements of the rich history and legacy of Tamale and its traditional chieftaincy system.
In recent years the Tamale Metropolitan Area has become the fastest growing city in West Africa. The official capital of the Northern Region of Ghana, it is home to The Kingdom of Dagbon, founded by the second largest ethnic group in Africa, the Dagomba people. Established in the 11th Century, this kingdom is one of the oldest to exist in Ghana. Tamale is a city full of not only longstanding history but also modern development.
Their dual-authority government structure allows for both aspects to coexist. One half is contemporary and state-centered, with the other being based in a traditional chieftaincy system. The constitution of Ghana recognizes the power of chiefs as pertaining to local affairs and the preservation of Ghanaian heritage. They are responsible for settling land disputes, governing marriages, and maintaining overall peace and cultural strength during the changing modern times.
The chieftaincy system is organized by hierarchy. At the head is the Yaa-Naa, the highest position and reigning King of the Dagbon people. The title Yaa-Naa means “King of Strength.” The current reigning Yaa-Naa, Abubakari Mahama (Naa Gariba II), was enskinned, the Dagomba people’s equivalent of enthroned, on January 26, 2019, a momentous occasion.
Underneath him exists a tiered system of rulers. These chiefs are typically decided based upon ancestral lineage. They are connected to cities/towns/villages, as the kingdom is separated into territorial chiefdoms. Overall, there are five different levels of chieftaincy. The first four are reserved for individuals that can trace their lineage to Naa Nyagsi, the son of the ruler who established the modern Dagbon state. The fifth tier is made up of court elders, each responsible for specific tasks.
As the Zosimli Naa, my chieftaincy role is to cultivate development and foster strong friendships between the people of our cities, Louisville, KY, and Tamale. Created by the Yaa-Naa over 30 years ago and first appointed to my predecessor, Dr. Susan Herlin of Louisville, KY, the title was created to strengthen the bond between Tamale and Louisville as Sister Cities.
The role remained vacant for 7 years after the demise of Dr. Herlin. Today, I carry on that work. I am honored to be chosen to lead this initiative, and I invite you to join me on this journey. Be sure to follow me on social media for more updates!
To learn more interesting facts about Tamale, Ghana, check out this link: https://buzzghana.com/tamale-ghana/. Also, leave a comment below if you learned something new about Tamale today!
Your friend,
Ife Bell
Chief Zosimli Naa
Sources:
https://www.worldkentucky.org/montpellier-1
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/History-of-the-Dagbon-State-718419
https://www.exploring-africa.com/en/ghana/dagomba/dagomba-history-dagbon-kingdom
