My Chieftaincy Journey Vol.2

“She believed she could, so she did.” ― Unknown

July 5, 2021, marks the date I was officially appointed as the role of the Tamale Zosimli Naa by the Chief of Tamale on the recommendation of the Sister Cities of Tamale, Northern Regional Minister, the seven Tamale Paramount Chiefs, Louisville Sister Cities committee leaders, and various community stakeholders. This title translates to the “Chief who Multiplies Friendships.”

Sister Cities was a concept birthed in 1956 by President Eisenhower, who “reasoned that people from different cultures could understand, appreciate, and celebrate their differences while building partnerships that would lessen the chance of new conflicts”(sistercities.org).

Louisville, Kentucky, and Tamale, Ghana have had a longstanding, beautiful friendship since the 1979 Sister Cities International Conference. Initially started by a group of African Americans, they aimed to establish a formal connection with Ghana to celebrate African culture and raise awareness while providing mutual aid and collaboration. The seeds of their efforts have blossomed over the years, and I could not be more honored to be leading this effort today.

Becoming a chief in Tamale is an extensive, intricate process. Upon my arrival at Tamale airport, I was received by a delegation made up of Sister Cities of Tamale, Administration of Tamale Islamic Senior High School (TISSEC), and members of Trull Network of Tamale. The first step was a formal meeting at my palace. I had my first opportunity to officially meet with the Tamale Sister Cities’ executive team and committee members. We discussed the legacy of my predecessor, the late Zosimli Naa Dr. Susan J. Herlin, and the vision they have for the future of the partnership.

The following day, July 5th, I traveled along with a delegation of Sister City members and staff from the Northern Regional Ministers office to Chief of Tamale, the Gukpenaa’s Palace. It was there that the members officially made their recommendation to Chief Gukpenaa to confer the title of the Tamale Zosimli Naa II. During this process, I received my Kola accepting my role as “the Chief who Multiplies Friendship.” The Gukpenaa Alhaji Abdulai then gave the Chieftaincy (Nam) to me, officially installing me as the new Tamale Zosimli Naa II. He received me with such kindness and encouraged me to build upon the late Zosimli Naa’s foundation. The ceremony included traditional drumming and dancing, which carried over to my palace where I sat “in state” alongside my Chief Linguists (Wulana) of my chieftaincy, Chief Drummer (LuNaa), and palace elders; for the first time as the newest members of Tamale royalty. There I took time to greet visitors from the community and countless well wishers on my chieftaincy.

After this, I completed the customary rites along with the Tamale Committee, which would officially permit me to begin my role as the Tamale Zosimli Naa II. Together, we made a courtesy call to the Northern Regional Minister, who so kindly pledged his administration’s support and offered advice and guidance. We also visited the Tamale Islamic Senior High School (TISSEC), which has a long standing partnership with Kentucky Country Day. There, I was able to fellowship with staff and students. This moment, in particular, has a special place in my heart, as education is such an essential part of my life’s work. I was able to offer words of encouragement, and in turn, be inspired by the bright youth of Tamale, which was a treasured addition to my international speaking experience.

We completed the customary rites by making various courtesy calls to chiefs Choggu Naa, Sagnarigu Naa, Nanton Naa, the Northern Regional Minister Hon within the Northern Region, Tamale, and Sagnarigu Metropolis. Finally, the day concluded with dinner held in my honor, graciously organized by the Tamale Sisters Committee.

I am so grateful for the kindness and hospitality shown to me during my time there, with special thanks to the beautiful people of Tamale and the Tamale Sisters Committee members for being such hospitable hosts and now friends. It is such an honor to serve in this role to foster friendships and partnerships that will strengthen diplomacy, culture, education, and economic development between the two cities. The world now revolves around strong partnerships, and I believe that this is the expansion of such relationships.

I look forward to my upcoming enskinment (the equivalency of enthronement) coronation ceremony.

Interested in learning more, be sure to follow me on social media! Also, make sure to check out all the breathtaking attractions Tamale has to offer: https://bit.ly/3rbJNMn! Truly one of the most beautiful places I have traveled to. I can not wait to deepen my friendships with the city.

Your friend,

Ife Bell

Chief Zosimli Naa

Sources: https://sistercities.org/about-us/

(Previously posted on Ife Bell Blog)