origins of dagbon

7/25/2019 Origins of Dagbon

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A R T I C L E S

95.

T H E O R I G I N S O F T H E M Q S S I - D A G O M B A S T A T E S

b y A . A . I l l as u *

In a r e c e n t a r t i c l e , F a g e a s c r i b e d s o m e o f t h e m i s i n t e r -

p r e t a t i o n s o f t h e e a r l y h i s t o r y o f t h e M o s s I - D ag o m ba s t a t e s t o

w h a t h e t e r m e d t h e " M o s s I - c e n t r e d a p p r o a c h " b y w h i c h c o n -

c l u s i o n s f o r t h e w h o l e g r o u p o f s t a t e s a r e d r a w n e x c l u s i v e l y

o n t h e b a s i s o f e v i d e n c e f r o m t h e M o s s i s t a t e s a l o n e . ' T h u s

d i d M a r c

( 1 9 0 9 ) ,

D e l a f o s s e

( 1 9 1 2 ) ,

T a u x i e r ( 1 9 1 7 ,

1 9 2 4 ) ,

a n d

D i m D e l o b s o n ( 1 9 3 2 ) ,

2

- ' a t t e m p t t o d a t e t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e

W h o l e g r o u p o f s t a t e s a l t h o u g h t h e y w e r e u n a b l e t o t a k e a c c o u n t

o f e v i d e n c e f r o m M a m p r u s i a n d D a g o m b a , t r a d i t i o n a l l y r e g a r d e d a s

" s e n i o r " t o t h e M o s s i s t a t e s o f O u a g a d o u g o u , Y a t o n g a , a n d F a d a

N ' G r u m a h . F a g e , a s d i d W e s t e r m a n n ( 1 9 5 2 ) a n d P r os t

( 1 9 5 3 ) ,

t o o k

a c c o u n t o f t h e M a m p r u s i a n d D a g o m b a e v i d e n c e p u b l i s h e d b y T a m a k l o e

( 1 9 3 1 ) ,

B l a i r a n d J o h n s o n ( 1 9 3 2 ) a n d R a t t r a y ( 1 9 3 2 ) . 3 H e a l s o

c o n s u l t e d a n u n p u b l i s h e d w o r k b y D . V . M a c ka y, * * a n o f f i c i a l o f t h e

C o l o n i a l A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e G o l d C o a s t , w h i c h d e a l s e x c l u s i v e l y

w i t h M a m p r u s i . U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e M a m p r u s i t r a d i t i o n s c o l l e c t e d

b y R a t t r a y a n d M a c k a y o n w h i c h h e r e l i e d , a r e , a s h e h i m s e l f

r e c o g n i s e d , b o t h f r a g m e n t a r y a n d d e m o n s t r a b l y u n r e l t a b l e .

C o n s e q u e n t l y , h e m a k e s a n u m b e r o f m i s l e a d i n g c o n c l u s i o n s In

h i s e x t r e m e l y u s e f u l o u t l i n e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f , t h e e a r l y h i s t o r y

o f t h e M o s s i - D a g o m b a s t a t e s . T h e a i m o f t h i s p a p e r i s t o r e -

a p p r a i s e t h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n in t h e l i g h t o f a d d i t i o n s I h a v e

m a d e t o t h e f r a g m e n t a r y a c c o u n t s o f M a m p r u s i o r a l t r a d i t i o n s

c o l l e c t e d e a r l i e r b y R a t t r a y a n d M a c k a y . T h e p u b l i s h e d w o r k s

m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r a s w e l l a s s o m e a r c h i v a l m a t e r i a l h a v e a l s o

b e e n c o n s u l t e d .

T h e e t h n i c a l l y - r e l a t e d M o s s i - D a g o m b a s t a t e s w e r e

f o u n d e d b y " s m a l l b a n d s o f s t r a n g e r s ' ^ w h o m i g r a t e d f r o m t h e

e a s t o r n o r t h e a s t o f L a k e C h ad t o t h e l a n d s s o u t h o f t h e N i g e r

b e n d . T h e s t r a n g e r s w e r e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e i d e a o f c h i e f -

t a i n s h i p a s o p p o s e d t o t h e p o l i t i c o - r i t u a l o r g a n i s a t i o n o f t h e

a c e p h a l o u s p e o p l e s t h e y e n c o u n t e r e d . B e c a u s e o f t h e i r p o l i t i c a l

a n d m i l i t a r y s u p e r i o r i t y t h e y c o n s e q u e n t l y o v e r r a n t h o s e s c a t t e r e d

a n d i n d e p e n d e n t p e o p l e s a n d r e v o l u t i o n i z e d t h e i r p o l i t i c a l o r

t r i b a l p a t t e r n s b y w e l d i n g t h e m i n t o k i n g d o m s . T h e m o s t s a l i e n t

D r .

A . A

L e g o n .

I l ia s u I s a L e c t u r e r in t h e H i s t o r y D e p a r t m e n t ,


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feat ure of this spectacu lar change was the offic e of a terri-

torial and secular rule r, an unheard - of conc epti on , as

Rattr ay put It, whi ch replaced the Immemorial institution of

e ruler who wa s the high- pries t of a totemic clan and dealt only

in spiritual sanc tion s .6

T h e d e s c e n d a n t s o f t h o s e s t a t e - f o r m in g s t r a n g e r s w h o

still ru le over the Moss i-Oa gomb a s tates have almost the same

traditional ac coun ts about their ori gin s. Thus the lesser-known

Mampru si oral tradition tells much the same story as the more

acc ess ibl e and better known Dagomba oral traditi on. Both point

to a migr ati on from somewh ere east of Lake Chad; both recount

the adve ntur es of Toha zie (the red

h u n t e r ) ,

w h o s e s o n , K p o -

g o n u m b o , m a r r i e d S o h i y i n i , t h e d a u g h t e r o f A b du l R a h a m a n I , a

king of Gruma h; and both recognize Gb ewa , the most famous issue

o f t h i s m a r r i a g e , a s t h e g r e a t a n ce s t o r o f t h e M o s s l - D a g o m b a

p e o p l e s . T h e r e is h o w e v e r a s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e be t w e e n th e

starti ng points of Dagom ba and Mamprusi oral traditi ons. The

former vers ion nearl y always opens with the migratio n from the

east as well as the Saga of Tohazie and his relations with the

earlie r estab lishe d Man de and Gur-spe aking peoples south of the

Niger bend. Mamprusi oral tradition on the other hand Invariably

o m i t s t h i s p r e f a t o r y c h a p t e r e n d s t a r t s w i t h G b e w a ' s m i g r a t i o n

from Grumah territ ory to Pusiga from whe re he subdued the

neig hbour ing people s and, as would be argued late r, founded

M a m p r u s i , t he o l d e s t of t h e M o s s i - D a g o m b a s t a t e s . T h i s d i f f e r -

ence probably accou nts for the mislead ing conclusion sometimes

mad e that the great Gbewa is the fons et ori go In Mamprusi oral

t r a d i t i o n .

The explana tion for wha t can be termed the abridged and

unabr idge d versio ns of their common oral tradition lies primarily

In the scale and quality of their res pectiv e machine ry for preser-

ving and recount ing their past . The Dagomba machin ery is elab orat e,

a c c e s s i b l e , a n d e f f i c i e n t . T h e s t a t e d r u m m e r s o r l u n s l , w h o

form the core of this mac hin ery , are a highly specialised segment

of Dagomba socie ty. They have a hierarchy of their own , at the

head of whic h Is the Namoo Na, wh o, like any other important chief

of the king dom, has his own titled offi cers. 7 They enjoy a fairly

high social sta tus partly becau se they are handsome ly rewafded

for their servi ces and partly becau se they claim direct descent

from a na bi a or princ e of royal blood, Bizun g, son of Na Nyag se,

the first Ya Na or Paramount chief of the Dagomba kingdom. As .

court his tori ans and drumm ers , they chant the genealogy and exploi ts


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A R T I C L E S

97.

of the privileged; as custodians of traditional beliefs and

constitutional practi ces, they mak e pronouncements of facts

during grave political disp utes . Theirs Is an arduous and

painst aking task whic h requires long hours of patient appl i-

cation and practice and for this reason, they have their own

time-honoured and efficient system of recruiting and training.

Given the nature of the Oagomba machinery, particularly Its

s i z e an d d i s t r i b u t i o n - f o r t h e re Is h a r d l y a O a g o mb a c h i e f ' s

village without Its drummer - It Is probably hot surprising

that there has been available for a long time now a fairly

detailed account of Dagomba oral traditions.

The Mamprusl kingdom on the other-hand has nothing

compar able e ither In grandeur or efficiency to the Dagomba

machi nery . There are, to be sure, some able drummers who

nr

as eagerly sought after as the Oagomba ones by connoisseurs

during the festivals of the Mamprusl and Dagomba peoples. But

these are the excep tion rather than the rule and In any case

they are either natives of Dagomba or have acquired their skills

at the feet of Oagomba drummers. Consequently the collector of

Mamprusi oral tradition has to rely largely upon the "Naylrt

K p a m b a y a " or state elders and counsel lors. And the danger from

this sou rce Is perhaps not so much as the likelihood of Its being

unrelia ble and Inaccurate, the elders being generally less we ll -

equip ped than the drumme rs to recollect past eve nts . It Is rather

that be cause of their estate within the kingdom, the elders seem

to think that the chie f func tion or ralson d'et re of the oral

tradition Is to explai n the existing political structure with

its differentia ted status between rulers and the ruled. They

therefore attach mor e Importance to the great political advance

which Gbewa made when after his migration to Puslga he changed

his career as a leader of mercenaries to that of a state-builder.

Only by this means which, In a sense, Is their charter, could

they account for the origins of chieftaincy as well as the

secular authority vested In their offi cers. Thus It was not

uncommon for the Mamprusl state elders, when asked of the origins

of their kingdom, to.start with Gbewa's exploits and the success

of his arms over the peoples he met around Puslga and absorbed

into his kingd om. 9 It Is possib le that both Rattray and Mack ay,

the pioneer collect ors of Mamprusl oral tradition, relied

exclusi vely upon the elders , hence their Incomplete and not

entirel y satisfac tory accounts of Mamprusl oral traditions.


4/19

A R T I C L E S 9 8 .

T h e m u c h - s h o r t e r M a m p r u s i v e r s i o n , h o w e v e r , h a s a t l e a s t

o n e a d v a n t a g e o v e r t h e u n a b r i d g e d D a g o m b a o n e , n a m e l y , i t

d w e l l s a t l e n g t h u p o n G b e w a s c o n q u e s t s a n d e v e n a t t e m p t s t o

d e l i m i t t h e g e o g r a p h i c a l e x t e n t o f t h e s e c o n q u e s t s . A c c o r d i n g

t o t h i s v e r s i o n , G b e w a l e f t G r u m a h l a nd a f t e r a d i s p u t e d

s u c c e s s i o n f o l l o w i n g t h e d e a t h o f h i s m a t e r n a l g r a n d f a t h e r ,

A b d u l R a h a m a n i . A l t h o u g h h i s f a c t i o n c a r r i e d t h e d a y , h e

m i g r a t e d w i t h a l a r g e f o l l o w i n g t o S a n a o r S a n g a , s o u t h o f F a d a

N G r u m a h . F r o m t h e r e h e b e g a n t h e g r a d u a l c o n q u e s t o f t h e

t e r r i t o r i e s o f t h e B u s a n s i a n d K u s a s i f u r t h e r s o u t h , a n d In d u e

c o u r s e h e o v e r r a n p a r t o f t h e i r t e r r i t o r i e s . H e t h e n m o v e d h i s

b a s e o f o p e r a t i o n s f r o m S a n g a t o P u s i g a f r o m w h e r e h e c a m e t o

e x e r t p o w e r o v e r , a n d l e v y t r i b u t e o n , t h e l e s s p o w e r f u l p e o p l e s

a r o u n d h i m . A s w a s t h e c a s e w i t h m o s t o t h e r k i n g d o m s s i m i l a r l y

f o u n d e d , h i s a u t h o r i t y w a s m o r e or l e s s c o n s t a n t l y e f f e c t i v e

o n l y o v e r a r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l a r e a a r o u n d P u s i g a . H o w e v e r M a m p r u s i

o r a l t r a d i t i o n c l a i m s t h a t t h i s a u t h o r i t y e x t e n d e d a s fa r n o r t h a s

S a n g a , a s f a r s o u t h a s p r e s e n t - d a y e a s t e r n D a g o m b a , t h e n l a r g e l y

p o p u l a t e d b y t h e K o n k o m b a , a s f a r e a s t a s M a m p r u g u w h e r e t h e

m o t h e r o f T o h u g u , o n e o f G b e w a s i l l u s t r i o u s s o n s , c a m e f r o m ,

a n d a s f a r w e s t a s Z a n g u a n d N a b a r e , b o t h e a s t o f t h e W a l e w a l e -

B o l g a t a n g a r o a d . It is p o s s i b l e t h a t e v e n t h e O a b o y a d i s t r i c t ,

a l a t e r a c c r e t i o n t o t h e s t a t e o f G o n j a , f o r m e d p a r t o f G b e w a s

k i n g d o m . It w a s t h u s a n e x t e n s i v e d o m a i n , s t r e t c h i n g t o t h e

B l a c k a s w e l l a s t h e W h i t e V o l t a .

G b e w a r u l e d o v e r t h i s d o m a i n u n t i l h i s d e a t h . H e r e a g a i n ,

b o t h M a m p r u s i a n d D a g o m b a t r a d i t i o n s g i v e t h e s a m e a c c o u n t s a b o u t

t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f h i s d e a t h . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e s e a c c o u n t s

G b e w a h a d n i n e c h i l d r e n , t h e e l d e s t o f w h o m w a s K a c h i o g u . B u t

K a c h i o g u b e i n g a w o m a n c o u l d n o t s u c c e e d h e r f a t h e r , s o Z i r i l i ,

t h e e l d e s t s o n , b e c a m e t h e h e i r a p p a r e n t . B u t Z i r l l l s i m pa -

t i e n c e a n d l o v e o f a d v e n t u r e m a d e h i m a n u n s u i t a b l e s u c c e s s o r

t o a n e w l y - f o u n d e d k i n g d o m w h i c h r e q u i r e d a p e r i o d o f p e a c e t o

c o n s o l i d a t e . G b e w a t h e r e f o r e p r e f e r r e d a y o u n g e r s o n , K u f o g u ,

a s h i s s u c c e s s o r a n d m a d e h i s p r e f e r e n c e k n o w n . W h e n t h i s w a s

r e v e a l e d t o Z i r i l i , h e p l o t t e d arid k i l l e d K u f o g u a n d s o o v e r -

w h e l m e d w a s G b e w a o h r e c e i v i n g n e w s o f t h i s t r a g i c e v e n t t h a t

h e k e p t o n m o v i n g r e s t l e s s l y u p o n t h e s k i n s o n w h i c h h e s a t

u n t i l t h e g r o u n d a r o u n d h i m o p e n e d a n d s w a l l o w e d h i m , w h e r e u p o n

Z i r i l i s u c c e e d e d h i m .

T h e r e i s a m a t e r i a l d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e D a g o m b a a n d

M a m p r u s i a c c o u n t s r e g a r d i n g Z i r i l i s r e i g n . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e


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f o r m e r a c c o u n t , Z i r i l l r e i g n e d p e a c e f u l l y u n t i l h i s d e a t h ; t h e

M a m p r u s l v e r s i o n , w h i c h s e e m s t h e m o r e p l a u s i b l e o n e , c l a i m s

t h a t Z l r t l I ' s r e i g n e n d e d a b r u p t l y a n d I n t r a g i c c i r c u m s t a n c e s .

A c c o r d i n g t o t h i s v e r s i o n , s o o n a f t e r h e h a d s u c c e e d e d G b e w a ,

a c h i e f o f a G r u m a h v i l l a g e d i e d a n d Z f r I I I , t h r o u g h S o h t y f n f ,

h i s g r a n d m o t h e r , c l a i m e d t h e r i g h t o f s u c c e s s i o n . P a r t l y

b e c a u s e o f t h e a c c e p t e d p r a c t i c e a t t h a t t i m e a n d t r u e t o h i s

o w n c h a r a c t e r , Z i r l l l t o o k u p a r m s t o e n f o r c e h i s c l a i m s . T h e

e x p e d i t i o n a r y f o r c e h e l e d i n t o G r u m a h t e r r i t o r y w a s h o w e v e r

d e c i s i v e l y r o u t e d a n d a n u m b e r o f p r i s o n e r s , I n c l u d i n g h i m s e l f ,

w e r e t a k e n . T h i s d i s a s t e r w a s a s i g n a l f o r t h e I r r e c o n c i l a b l e

B u s a n s I a n d K u s a s i t o r e b e l a g a i n s t t h e i r r u f e r s . F a c e d a t o n c e

w i t h e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l d i s a s t e r , a n d w i t h o u t a l e a d e r , t h e

e l d e r s c o u l d a f f o r d n e i t h e r t h e l u x u r y o f a f u n e r a l f o r Z i r l l l

n o r t h e t i m e - c o n s u m i n g b u t c u s t o m a r y p r o c e s s o f e l e c t i n g a

s u c c e s s o r . T h e y t h e r e f o r e d r a f t e d T o h u g u , t h e e l d e s t s u r v i v i n g

s o n o f G b e w a t o s u c c e e d Z i r l l l . ' O B u t T o h u g u ' s b r o t h e r s , I n s p i r e d

a n d l e d b y S I t o b u , c h a l l e n g e d t h e c o n s t I t u t t o n a l i t y o f t h e s e

p r e c e d i n g * a n d a f r a t r i c i d a l s t r u g g l e t h e r e f o r e e n s u e d . W i t h t h e

B u s a n s i a n d K u s a s i u p In a r m s a n d u n c e r t a i n o f s u p p o r t f r o m h i s

s u b j e c t s In t h e c a p i t a l , T o h u g u , u p o n t h e a d v i c e o f t h e e l d e r s ,

f l e d t o M a m p r u g u t o s o l i c i t t h e s u p p o r t o f h i s u n c l e s . In t h i s

h e s e t a p r e c e d e n t , f o r In l a t e r y e a r s , p r i n c e s w h o e i t h e r f o u n d

t h e m s e l v e s in s i t u a t i o n s s i m i l a r t o T o h u g u ' s o r w e r e p a r t i e s t o

d i s p u t e d s u c c e s s i o n s i n v a r i a b l y a p p e a l e d f o r a s s i s t a n c e f r o m t h e i r

m a t e r n a l u n c l e s . S o c o m m o n w a s t h i s p r a c t i c e t h a t it b e c a m e a

c o n v e n t i o n a m o n g s t t h e p r i n c e s o f r o y a l b l o o d a n d t h e d i v i s i o n a l

c h i e f s , m u c h t o t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e k i n g d o m a s a w h o l e . B u t f o r

t h i s c o n v e n t i o n , c i v i l w a r s w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n w h a t t h e y a c t u a l l y

w e r e in t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e M a m p r u s l k i n g d o m , n a m e l y , f r a t r i c i d a l

s t r u g g l e s i n v o l v i n g a h a n d f u l o f m e r c e n a r i e s ' ' a n d t h e v i l l a g e s

o f t h e p r i n c e s ' u n c l e s . A n d s i n c e ft w a s n o t u n c o m m o n t h a t m o s t

o f t h e s e v i l l a g e s w e r e o f n o c o n s e q u e n c e I n s i z e , t h e s e s t r u g g l e s

w e r e g e n e r a l l y c o n c l u d e d in a m a t t e r o f d a y s , s o t h a t t h e k i n g d o m

w a s s p a r e d a l l t h e u s u a l h o r r o r s o f c i v i l w a r s - r u i n e d v i l l a g e s ,

p l u n d e r e d h o m e s , d o w n t r o d d e n c r o p s a n d a t t e n d a n t f a m i n e .

T o h u g u ' s f l i g h t t o o k h i m f i r s t t o G a m b a g a In t h e s o u t h -

e a s t e r n p a r t o f t h e k i n g d o m a n d t h e n e a s t w a r d s t o M a m p r u g u .

S i t o b u a n d h i s f o l l o w e r s p u r s u e d h i m o n l y t o G a m b a g a a n d a f t e r

a b r i e f s t a y t h e r e , t h e y p r o c e e d e d w e s t w a r d s t o N a b a r e a n d t h e n

s o u t h w a r d s t o V e n d I D a b a r l . It w a s f r o m t h i s f o r m e r c a p i t a l o f

t h e D a g o m b a k i n g d o m t h a t N y a g s e , t h e e l d e s t s o n o f S l t o b u , s u b -

d u e d t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g " B l a c k " D a g o m b a a n d K o n k o m b a p e o p l e s t o

3,.


6/19

A R T I C L E S

1 0 0 .

extend and cons olid ate the Dagomba kingdom founded by his

f at he r J 2

Mean whil e Tohugu ruled over the kingdom founded by

Gbewa, with Mamprugu as his capital. The name of this little

village wa s later given to the wh ole of that kingdom. Tohugu's

suc ces sor , Na 2ob.z.laj how eve r, remov ed th e capital to Gamba ga

from whe re, accordi ng to Mamprusi oral tradition, Yampoga a

prince ss of royal blood, one day rode a stallion no rthwa rds,

whe re she met and married a hunter and their son became the

founder of the Mossi dynas ty. Moss Ioral traditions give

cred ence to this portion of Mamprusi trad ition. According to

the most widesp read version of their orig in, their pre genetrlx

was not Yampoga but Nyen nenga , the daughter of Naba Nedega or

Nedega a "Dagomba" chief wh o lived at Gambaga. He valued his

daugh ter's warri ng skill so highly that he would not grant her

permission to mar ry. She therefo re fled from Gambaga and rode

northwards whe re she met a man called Rta tle, who according to

some traditions was the son of the king of Mall, and according

to others was a Busanga hunter. They had a son whom they named

Ouedraogo ("stallion") in honour of the hors e that had carried

Nyenn enga In her flight to the nort h. A few years later,

Nyennenga sent Ouedraogo to Gambaga to visit his uncles. On his

departur e from Gambaga to his parents, Ouedraogo wa s accompanied

by several "Dag omba" horsemen with whose help he drove the

Busamsi from Tenko dogo ( TInkurugu In Mamprusi) an d m a d e it his

capital, With the assistance of more "Dagomba " horsemen from

Gambaga, Ouedraogo subsequently subdued the Grunsl, NIntsi,

Foulse and Klrplsi populations around him. His dynasty event-

ually proliferated in all directions : one of his sons, Rawa,

established the kingdom of Zandona to the north of Tenkodogo;

it later bec ame the kingdom of Yatenga under Rawa' s classI -

ficatory brother, Yadega. In the east, Rawa's brother Diaba

Lompo founded Fada N'Grumah whi le a nephew Oubrl founded

Ouagadougou in the west .13

Dagomba tradition d oes not recall these events and it

has been sugge sted that this wa s partly because Mamprusi being

"the de jure father-state /*o f the Moss -Dagomba states_ 7 needed

to retain a ritual relat ionship with the Mos s states, whereas

Dagomba did not " and partly b ecause "geographically Mamprust

Intervenes betwee n Dagomb a and the Mossi lands".'

1

* I find this

explanation unconvinc ing. The failure of Dagomba tradition to


7/19

A R T I C L E S

1 0 1 .

r e c a l l t h e M o s s b r e a k a w a y c a n b e e x p l a i n e d q u f t e s i m p l y o n

t h e g r o u n d s ( i ) t h a t t h e M o s s i s t a t e s d e r i v e d n o t f r o m D a g o m b a

b u t t h e M a m p r u s i l i n e a n d ( I I ) t h a t s i n c e t h e D a g o m b a s p l i t

f r o m M a m p r u s i h a d p r e c e d e d t h e M o s s i o n e , h e r t r a d i t i o n s c o u l d

n o t p o s s i b l y r e c a l l e v e n t s w h i c h c o n c e r n e d o n l y t h e M a m p r u s i

a n d t h e M o s s i . In o t h e r w o r d s , D a g o m b a t r a d i t i o n I s s i l e n t

o v e r t h e M o s s i b r e a k a w a y p r e c i s e l y f o r t h e s a m e r e a s o n t h a t

M a m p r u s i t r a d i t i o n m a k e s n o m e n t i o n o f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,

r e t a i n e d in v i r t u a l l y i d e n t i c a l t e r m s In D a g o m b a a n d N a n u m b a

t r a d i t i o n s , t h a t l e d N m a n t a m b o , o n e o f S l t o b o ' s b r o t h e r s , t o

g o " a w a y f r o m h i m in a n g e r " a n d f o u n d t h e s t a t e o f N a n u m b a . 1 5

S e c o n d l y , N e d e g a o r N a b a N e d e g a i s r e f e r r e d t o I n M o s s i

t r a d i t i o n a s " a D a g o m b a c h i e f a t G a m b a g a " w h i l e t h e m e n w h o

a c c o m p a n i e d O u e d r a o g o a f t e r h i s v i s i t t o G a m b a g a a r e s a i d t o

h a v e b e e n " D a g o m b a h o r s e m e n " . It h a s b e e n s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h i s

a p p a r e n t c o n f u s i o n o f M a m p r u s i w i t h D a g o m b a a r i s e s f r o m t h e

f a c t t h a t D a g o m b a w a s t h e b e t t e r k n o w n k i n g d o m f o l l o w i n g " t h e

e a r l y w e a k n e s s o f M a m p r u s i v i s - a - v i s D a g o m b a " . ' 6 T h e r e I s a

l e s s i n t e r e s t i n g b u t m o r e a c c u r a t e e x p l a n a t i o n f o r t h i s

c o n f u s i o n . T h e M a m p r u s i c a l l t h e m s e l v e s D a g b a m b a , a n a m e

a n g l i c i z e d t o D a g o m b a ; " M a m p r u s i " , d e r i v e d n o d o u b t f r o m

M a m p r u g u t h e n a m e o f t h e i r k i n g d o m , i s t h e n a m e g i v e n t h e m

b y o u t s i d e r s . T h e y c a l l t h e i r n e i g h b o u r s t o t h e s o u t h , t h e

s o - c a l l e d D a g o m b a , t h e " Y o b a " f r o m t h e w o r d " Y o o b a " w h i c h m e a n s

f o r e s t p e o p l e . T h e n a m e D a g b a m b a w a s o n c e u s e d o f F a d a

N ' G r u m a h a l s o , a n d it i s s a i d t h a t it w a s o r i g i n a l l y t h e

G r u m a h n a m e f o r t h e p e o p l e s l i v i n g t o t h e s o u t h o f t h e i r

t e r r i t o r i e s w h i c h t h e a n c e s t o r s o f t h e M a m p r u s i a n d D a g o m b a

t o o k a f t e r t h e y h a d c o n q u e r e d t h e s e p e o p l e s . ' 7 T h i s p r o b a b l y

e x p l a i n s w h y t h e t w o p e o p l e s a r e s t i l l k n o w n b y o n e n a m e a m o n g

c e r t a i n t r i b e s ; t h u s in G o n j a ; the; t e r m " N w o n g " r e f e r s b o t h

t o t h e M a m p r u s i a n d t h e D a g o m b a a n d s i m i l a r l y , i n t h e H i s t o r y

o f W a Y e n d l , t h e c a p i t a l o f D a g o m b a a n d N a l e r i g u , t h e M a m p r u s i

c a p i t a l , a r e s p o k e n o f a s t h e c a p i t a l s o f t w o t r i b e s o f t h e

D a g o m b a . ' " ,

T h i r d l y a n d f i n a l l y , it s e e m s c o n c e i v a b l e t h a t N a

G b e w a ( D a g o m b a t r a d i t i o n ) is t h e s a m e a s N e d e g a o r N a b a

N e d e g a ( M o s s i t r a d i t i o n ^ a n d B a w a o r B w o n g w a ( M a m p r u s i t r a d i t i o n )

T h e M o s s i v a r i a n t s a r e p r o b a b l y d u e t o e u p h o n y a n d h a b i t s i n c e

N a G b e w a s o u n d s m u c h l i k e N e d e g a o r N a b a N e d e g a w h i l e t h e

M a m p r u s i o n e s a r e o b v i o u s l y t h e m i s - s p e l l i n g s o f t h e n a m e G b e w a

b y R a t t r a y a n d M a c k a y r e s p e c t i v e l y .


8/19

A R T I C L E S

1 0 2 .

It I s e v i d e n t f r o m t h e a b o v e c o m p a r i s o n o f o r a l t r a d i t i o n s

t h a t t h e e m e r g e n c e o f t h e M o s s l - D a g o m b a s t a t e s w a s b y n o m e a n s

c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s . T h e f i r s t o f t h e m t o e m e r g e w a s t h e M a m p r u s l

k i n g d o m : It w a s f o u n d e d b y G b e w a b u t It w a s n o t k n o w n b y t h a t

n a m e u n t i l T o h u g u m a d e M a m p r u g u I ts c a p i t a l . T h u s , u n l i k e S l t o b u

a n d p o s s i b l y N y a ' g s e , T o h u g u n e v e r f o u n d e d a k i n g d o m ; a l l t h a t h e

d i d o r , m o r e a c c u r a t e l y , w a s d j -I v e n t o d o , w a s t o r e m o v e t h e

c a p i t a l o f a n e s t a b l i s h e d k i n g d o m f r o m P u s l g a t o M a m p r u g u .

T h i s w a s n o t a n u n c o m m o n p r a c t i c e a n d , i n d e e d , T d h u g u ' s i m m e d i a t e

s u c c e s s o r , N a . Z o b z i a , - r e m o v e d t h e c a p i t a l f r o m M a m p r u g u t o

G a m b a g a w h i l e N a A t a b i a t o o k I t f i n a l l y t o N a l e r i g u . 1 9 Y e t

n e i t h e r N a . Z o b z ia n o r N a A t a b i a h a s e v e r b e e n c r e d i t e d w i t h

f o u n d i n g a k i n g d o m . It is t h u s m i s l e a d i n g t o c o n c l u d e t h a t

N y a g s e ' s k i n g d o m w a s f o u n d e d a b o u t t h e s a m e t i m e a s t h a t o v e r

w h i c h T o h u g u r u l e d . 2 0 It is e v e n d o u b t f u l , c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t

T o h u g u w a s a g e n e r a t i o n r e m o v e d f r o m N y a g s e , w h e t h e r t h e y e v e n

r u l e d c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s l y .

T h e i m m e d i a t e o f f - s h o o t s o f t h e M a m p r u s l k i n g d o m W e r e

D a g o m b a a n d T e n k o d o g o ; t h e l a t t e r in t u r n g a v e r i s e t o Y a t e n g a ,

F a d a N ' G r u m a h a n d O u a g a d o u g o u . T h e f l s s i o n a r y s e q u e n c e is n o t

c l e a r b u t it s e e m s t h a t N y a g s e ' s w a r s o f e x p a n s i o n o c c u r r e d m o r e

o r l e s s a b o u t t h e s a m e t i m e t h a t O u e d r a o g o d r o v e t h e B u s a n s l

'''' ''

f r o m , a n d e s t a b l i s h e d h i s d y n a s t y a t , T e n k o d o g o , f r o m w h e r e ,

a s m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r , it p r o l i f e r a t e d In a ll d i r e c t i o n s . T h e

M o s s b a r d s r e l a t e t h a t w h i l e O u e d r a o g o s e n t o u t R e w a a n d 0 1 a b a

L o m p o t o c a r v e o u t k i n g d o m s f o r t h e m s e l v e s , h e d e t a i n e d t h e i r

y o u n g e r b r o t h e r , Z o u n g o u r a n a , a t T e n k o d o g o b e c a u s e H e d i d n o t

w i s h t h e y o u n g m a n t o l e a v e h i m . Z o u n g o u r a n a s u b s e q u e n t l y

m a r r i e d a N i m i s i w o m a n c a l l e d P o u g h t o e n g a a n d s h e g a v e b i r t h

t o O u b r f , w h o a l o n g w i t h O u e d r a o g o , b e c a m e k n o w n a s o n e o f t h e

t w o f o u n d e r s o f t h e O u a g a d o u g o u d y n a s t y . It s e e m s t h e n t h a t

w h i l e Y a t e n g a a n d F a d a N ' G r u m a h w e r e f o u n d e d a l m o s t c o n t e m p o r a -

n e o u s l y , t h e p a c i f i c a t i o n o f t h e k i n g d o m o f O u a g a d o u g o u t o o k a t

l e a s t a g e n e r a t i o n m o r e t o c o m p l e t e . T h i s , q u i t e a p a r t f r o m t h e

f a c t t h a t O u b r I w a s t h e n e p h e w o f b o t h R a w a a n d D i a b a L o m p d ,

e x p l a i n s w h y O u a g a d o u g o u h a s n e v e r b e e n a c c o r d e d t r a d i t i o n a l

p r i m a c y t h o u g h It c a m e t o e c l i p s e t h e o t h e r M o s s I s t a t e s , t h e

M a m p r u s l k i n g d o m o n t h e o t h e r h a n d n e v e r e s t a b l i s h e d I ts a s c e n -

d e n c y o v e r t h e o t h e r M o s s l - D a g o m b a s t a t e s ; o n t h e c o n t r a r y , it

a p p e a r s t h a t f r o m a b o u t t h e m i d d l e o f t h e 1 6 t h c e n t u r y o n w a r d s ,

It b e c a m e t h e l e a s t p o l i t i c a l f o r c e a m o n g s t t h e s e s t a t e s . Y e t

it h a s a l w a y s b e e n r e g a r d e d a s t h e " f a t h e r - s t a t e

1 1

b y b o t h t h e

D a g o m b a a n d M o s s

I

k i n g d o m s a n d i ts r o y a l t i n e a s t h e t e n I o r o f


9/19

A R T I C L E S

1 0 3 .

t h e M o s s i - D a g o m b a r o y a l l i n e s d e s c e n d i n g f r o m G b e w a . T h e

e x p l a n a t i o n f o r t h i s - a n d it i s a n e x p l a n a t i o n w h i c h i s

s u p p o r t e d b y oral t r a d i t i o n - i s t h a t t h e M a m p r u s i k i n g d o m

i s t h e o l d e s t a m o n g s t t h e M o s s i - D a g o m b a g r o u p of s t a t e s ,

h a v i n g b e e n f o u n d e d b y t h e g r e a t G b e w a h i m s e l f .

F i n a l l y , a w o r d a b o u t t h e t e n t a t i v e d a t e s f or G b e w a

a n d t h e e m e r g e n c e o f t h e M o s s i - D a g o m b a s t a t e s , t h e s e v a r y

w i d e l y , a s c a n b e j u d g e d e v e n f r o m t h e d a t e s f o r O u b r i a l o n e .

A c c o r d i n g t o M a r c , O u b r i a p p e a r s t o h a v e l i v e d a b o u t t h e m i d d l e

o f t h e 1 4 t h c e n t u r y . D e l a f o s s e p l a c e s h i m I n t h e 1 1 t h c e n t u r y .

T a u x l e r f i r s t o f a l l s u g g e s t s t h e 1 2 th c e n t u r y , b u t a f t e r

c o m p a r i n g t h e d a t e s o f s e v e r a l s c h o l a r s , h e r e v i s e d t h i s t o

t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e I 4tl> c e n t u r y . A n d f i n a l l y F a g e d a t e s h i m

t o c , 1 5 0 0 - o n h i s r e c k o n i n g t h at D a g o m b a e m e r g e d

c.1480.21

N e a r l y a l l t h e s e d a t e s - t h e p o s s i b l e e x c e p t i o n Is F a g e ' s -

a r e b a s e d l a r g e l y o n t h e s u m t o t a l o f t h e o r e t i c a l a v e r a g e r e l g n -

l e n g t h s a n d t h e n u m b e r o f r u l e r s o n t h e r e g n a l 1 I s t s o f t h e

v a r i o u s k i n g d o m s . T h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f t h i s t y p e o f a n a l y s i s a r e

a s w e i g h t y a s t h e y a r e o b v i o u s a n d o n e c a n n o t t h e r e f o r e s e l e c t

a m o n g t h e a l t e r n a t i v e d a t e s w i t h a n y d e g r e e o f c o n f i d e n c e . In

a n y c a s e , t h e e l e v e n t h o r f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y d a t e s f o r O u b r i

a r e ,

a s w i l l b e s h o w n l a t e r , u n s u b s t a n t i a t e d b y e v i d e n c e f r o m

M a m p r u s i a n d D a g o m b a . F a g e ' s d a t e s o n t h e o t h e r h a n d a r e q u i t e

s a t i s f a c t o r y * b u t a s w i l l b e s h o r t l y s h o w n , h i s m a i n e v i d e n c e

in a r r i v i n g a t t h e s e d a t e s is o p e n t o s e r i o u s o b j e c t i o n s . H e

p o s t u l a t e s a c l o s e l i n k b e t w e e n t h e e m e r g e n c e o f t h e M o s s i -

D a g o m b a s t a t e s a n d t h e r e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f i m pe r i a l p o w e r in

t h e N i g e r b e n d u n d e r t h e S o n g h a i k i n g s S o n n l A l l ( c . 1 4 6 5 - 9 2 )

a n d A s k I a M u h a m m a d

( c . 1 4 9 3 - 1 5 2 8 ) .

A c c o r d i n g t o t h i s t h e s i s ,

t h e i n v a d e r s , w h o s e d e s c e n d a n t s l a t e r f o u n d e d t h i s c o m p l e x o f

s t a t e s , e n t e r e d t h e l a n d s s o u t h o f t h e N i g e r b e n d a b o u t t h e

1 3 t h c e n t u r y ; t h at f o r t h e m o s t p a r t t h e y e i t h e r t o o k s e r v i c e

In t h e a r m i e s o f t h e M a l i e m p i r e o r o r g a n i z e d r a i d s a g a i n s t

e s t a b l i s h e d t o w n s o f t h e N i g e r v a l l e y ; a n d t h a t t h e s e r a i d s

c a m e t o a n e n d w h e n t h e y p r o v o k e d s e r i o u s r e t a l i a t i o n , s u c h a s

t h o s e o f c . 1 4 9 8 , 1 5 4 9 - 5 0 , 1 5 6 1 - 2 a n d c . 1 5 7 5 . I t s e e m s l i k e l y ,

o b s e r v e d F a g e , t h a t t h i s c h a n g e In t h e b a l a n c e o f p o w e r In t h e

N i g e r v a l l e y m a y h a v e p u s h e d t h e e a r l y M o s s i - D a g o m b a s o u t h w a r d s

a n d h a v e i n c l i n e d t h e m t o s e e k p r o f i t f r o m t h e l e v y i n g o f t r i b u t e

o n t h e k i n g s h i p g r o u p s o f t h e U p p e r V o i t a b a s i n r a t h e r t h a n f r o m

r a i d i n g n o r t h w a r d s . O n t h i s r e c k o n i n g , F a g e b a s e d t h e

e f f e c t i v e f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e D a g o m b a s t a t e In i ts p r e s e n t a r e a

t o C . 1 4 8 0 . T h i s c o n c l u s i o n a p p e a r s t o b e c o n f i r m e d b y T a m a k l o e ' s


10/19

RTI LES

\ 0 k

r e g n a l c h r o n o l o g y , a s r e v i s e d b y F a g e , In w h i c h N a N y a g s e , t h e

f i r s t Y a N a o f t h e D a g o m b a s t a t e p r o b a b l y r u l e d , n o t In l * t l 6- 3 2

a s T a m a k l o e s u g g e s t e d , b u t f r o m c . 1 ^ 7 6 - 1 ^ 9 2 . 2 3

If o n e a c c e p t s t h e r e v i s e d d a t e s o f c . 1 ^ 7 6 - 9 2 f or N y a g s e

a s w e l l a s F a g e ' s s u g g e s t i o n t h a t t h e a n c e s t o r s o f t h e M o s s i -

D a g o m b a p e o p l e s f i r s t e n t e r e d t h e l a n d s s o u t h o f t h e N i g e r b e n d

s o m e t i m e d u r i n g t h e 1 3 t h c e n t u r y , t h e n o n e I s l e f t w i t h t h e

s t r a n g e s p e c t a c l e o f a g r o u p o f s t a t e - f o r m i n g p e o p l e s , w h o f o r

a l m o s t t w o c e n t u r i e s w e r e u n a b l e t o e s t a b l i s h t h e i r h e g e m o n y

o v e r t h e k i n s h i p g r o u p s o f t h e U p p e r V o l t a b a s i n , a f e a t t h e y

a c c o m p l i s h e d w i t h i n o n l y t h r e e y e a r s a f t e r p r e s s u r e f r o m t h e

n o r t h . T h u s u n l e s s t h e a l m o s t t w o c e n t u r i e s o f a p p a r e n t

I n a c t i v i t y , t h a t I s , v i s - a - v i s t h e f o r m a t i o n o f s t a t e s , Is

a c c o u n t e d f o r , It s e e m s t h a t t h e m o r e p r o b a b l e c o n s e q u e n c e o f

t h e r e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f I m p e r i a l p o w e r In t h e N i g e r v a l l e y w a s

n o t t h e e m e r g e n c e o f a n y n e w s t a t e s a s F a g e b e l i e v e s , b u t r a t h e r

c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f e x i s t i n g o n e s w i t h i n m o r e d e f e n s i b l e b o u n d a r i e s .

T h i s I n t e r p r e t a t i o n I s b o r n e b u t b y e v e n t h e m o s t c u r s o r y a c c o u n t

o f t h e M o s s l c o n f r o n t a t i o n s w i t h t h e S u d a n e s e e m p i r e s o f M a l l

a n d S o n g h a y . T h e M o s s l w e r e , t o b e g i n w i t h , " p r o p e l l e d b y a

p o w e r f u l d r i v e o f e x p a n d i n g c o n q u e s t " 2 * + n o r t h w a r d s . H o w f a r

n o r t h t h e y g o t I s a n o p e n q u e s t i o n b u t t h e c l a i m i n . t h e 1 7 t h

c e n t u r y T i m b u k t u T a r i k h s t h a t t h e y r e a c h e d T i m b u k t u a n d I t s

n e i g h b o u r i n g r e g i o n s In C . 1 3 3 3 A Is p r o b a b l y an e x a g g e r a t i o n . 2 5

T h i s f i r s t p h a s e o f e x p a n s i o n c a m e t o a n e n d w h e n t h e i n v a d e r s

w e r e d r i v e n s o u t h w a r d s w h e r e t h e y c o n s o l i d a t e d t h e i r p o s i t i o n s

In G r u m a h a n d Y a n g e t o t h e e a s t o f O u a g a d o u g o u a n d a m o n g t h e n o n -

M o s s i p o p u l a t i o n s o f O u a h i g o u y a . B u t a f t e r a w h i l e , t h e y f e l t

s u f f i c i e n t l y s t r o n g t o r e l n v a d e t h e N i g e r v a l l e y a n d It w a s

d u r i n g t h i s s e c o n d p e r i o d o f i n v a s i o n t h a t t h e y r e a c h e d e a s t e r n

M a s s i n a a n d L a k e D e b o I n c . l U O O , B e n k a in c . 1 ^ 3 3 a n d W a l a t a In

1 ^ 7 7 - 8 3 . T h i s s e c o n d p e r i o d o f s u c c e s s a l s o c a m e t o a n e n d w i t h

t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f I m p e r i a l p o w e r t o w a r d s t h e c l o s e o f t h e 1 5 t h

c e n t u r y . A g a i n t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r t h e M o s s l a m b i t i o n s o f

t e r r i t o r i a l e x p a n s i o n w e r e t h e s a m e : t h e y w e r e c o m p e l l e d t o

a b a n d o n p a r t o f t h e i r c o n q u e s t s , t h i s t i m e a ll t e r r i t o r y n o r t h

o f O u a h i g o u y a , a n d w i t h d r a w I n t o t h e i r p r e s e n t b o u n d a r i e s . 2 6

In s h o r t t h e e v i d e n c e s e e m s t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e

o f t h e r e - e s t a b l I s h m e n t o f I m p e r i a l p o w e r In t h e N i g e r b e n d w a s

t h a t It m e r e l y d e t e r m i n e d t h e n o r t h e r n l i m i t s o f t h e M o s s d o m a i n s ,

a n d n o t t h e i r e m e r g e n c e .

F a g e ' s I n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e o r i g i n s o f t h e s e s t a t e s a l s o

r e q u i r e s s o m e c o m m e n t . A c c o r d i n g t o h i m t h e y e m e r g e d p r i m a r i l y


11/19

A R T I C L E S

1 0 5 .

b e c a u s e t h e M o s s f - D a g o m b a p e o p l e s h a d b e e n c o m p e l l e d t o s e e k

p r o f i t f u r t h e r s o u t h , a f t e r t h e s o - c a l l e d r a i d s , h i t h e r t o

t h e i r m a i n s o u r c e o f p r o f i t , h a d e n d e d w i t h t h e r e s t o r a t i o n

o f i m p e r i a l p o w e r I n t h e N i g e r v a l l e y . 2 7 T h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n

i g n o r e s t h e m o s t I m p r e s s i v e a n d s i g n i f i c a n t p o i n t a b o u t t h e

t r a d i t i o n s o f m i g r a t i o n s r e c o u n t e r e d e a r l i e r in t h i s p a p e r .

T h i s i s t h e e v o l u t i o n o f s t a t e s f o l l o w i n g t h e m o v e m e n t o f

p o p u l a t i o n s e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r d i s p u t e d s u c c e s s i o n s . T h u s d T d

G b e w a m i g r a t e f r o m G r u m a h t e r r i t o r y t o P u s l g a , T o h u g u a n d

S l t o b u f r o m P u s l g a t o M a m p r u g u a n d Y e n d l D a b a r i r e s p e c t i v e l y ,

a n d N m a n t a m b o f r o m B a g a l e t o B l m b l l a . E a c h o f t h e s e m o v e m e n t s

r e s u l t e d in t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f n e w s t a t e s . S o a l s o d i d t h e

m u c h l a t e r m i g r a t i o n s o f p e o p l e s In t h e M a m p r u s l a n d M o s s

s t a t e s * : t h e M a m p r u s f p r i n c i p a l I t i e s o f J a n g a a n d T o n g o , f o r

I n s t a n c e , w e r e f o u n d e d e a r l y in t h e 1 8 t h c e n t u r y b y t h e

s u p p o r t e r s o f u n s u c c e s s f u l c a n d i d a t e s t o t h e p a r a m o u n t c y . * "

S i m i l a r l y t h e M o s s I p r i n c i p a l i t I e s o f B o u l s a , B o u s s o u m a ,

C o n q u l z f t e n g a , a n d Y a k o e m e r g e d a s a r e s u l t o f m i g r a t i o n s

f o l l o w i n g d i s p u t e d s u c c e s s i o n s .

2

9 It w o u l d $ e m t h e n , t h a t

w h a t F o r t e s t e r m e d " t h e d y n a m i c s o f c o n s t a n t m o v e m e n t " 3 0

w a s

b u i l t I n t o M o s s i - D a g o m b a s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e a n d t h a t I ts r a i s o n

d ' e t r e a t t h e p o l i t i c a l l e v e l w a s t o d r i v e a w a y f r o m t h e s e a t

o f g o v e r n m e n t c e r t a i n s e c t i o n s o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n , e . g . s u p p o r t e r s

o f p o s s i b l e c o m p e t i t o r s , o r r e j e c t e d c a n d i d a t e s , . f o r c h J e f s h l p .

T h e i m m e d i a t e r e s u l t o f t h e s e e x p u l s i o n s w a s t h e r e d u c t i o n o f

t e n s i o n a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f p o l i t i c a l s t a b i l i t y

in t h e s t a t e . U l t i m a t e l y , h o w e v e r , t h e y l e d t o t h e f o r m a t i o n

o f n e w s t a t e s o r p r i n c i p a l i t i e s . It I s , p e r h a p s , t o t h i s

b u i l t - i n m e c h a m f s m o f t h e M o s s i - D a g o m b a s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e ,

r a t h e r t h a n t h e d e s i r e t o s e e k p r o f i t t h a t o n e m u s t l o o k f o r

t h e m i g r a t i o n s o f t h e M o s s i - D a g o m b a p e o p l e s a n d t h e e v o l u t i o n

o f t h e i r s t a t e s . T h e r e Is n o s u g g e s t i o n h e r e t h a t e i t h e r t h e

m e c h a n i s m o r I ts c o n s e q u e n t p r o c e s s o f s t a t e - f o r m a t I o n I s

p e c u l i a r t o t h e M o s s i - D a g o m b a s t a t e s a l t h o u g h It m i g h t b e

p o i n t e d o u t t h a t In t h e c a s e o f t h e s e s t a t e s , t h e s p l i n t e r

g r o u p s m a i n t a i n e d l i n k s w i t h , a n d v o l u n t a r i l y r e c o g n i z e d t h e

p r i m a c y o f , t h e p a r e n t - s t a t e . T h e s u g g e s t i o n i s t h a t I n t h e

c a s e o f t h e M o s s f - D a g o m b a p e o p l e s , ft p r o b a b l y o f f e r s a m o r e

f r u i t f u l e x p l a n a t i o n f o r t h e i r m i g r a t i o n s t h a n d o e s a n y o t h e r

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n .

It i s , h o w e v e r , t o a n e c o n o m i c I n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h a t o n e

m i g h t t u r n f o r t h e e v o l u t i o n o f t h e s e s t a t e s in t h a t p a r t o f

t h e V o l t a b a s i n . It is n o t c e r t a i n w h e n t h e k o l a n u t t r a d e


12/19

A R T I C L E S 1 0 6 .

b e t w e e n t h e n o r t h e r n a r e a s o f G h a n a a n d S e n e g a l , M a l l a n d t h e

H a u s a s t a t e s b e g a n . 3 1 A c c o r d i n g t o D e l a f o s s e t h e D y u l a h a d

b e e n t r a d i n g In k o l a w i t h n o r t h e r n G h a n a l o ng b e f o r e t h e 1 1t h

c e n t u r y , a n d it w a s In t h e c o u r s e o f t h a t t r a d e t h at I sl a m w a s

f i r s t I m p l an t e d t h e r e at t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e U t h c e n t u r y .

A p a r t f r o m t h e v i e w of D e l a f o s s e , t h e r e Is a l s o t h a t o f t h e

K a n o c h r o n i c l e r : a c c o r d i n g t o t h i s a u t h o r i t y t h e n u t s w e r e

f i r s t b r o u g h t t o H a u s a i a n d d u r i n g t h e r e i g n o f D a u d a , t h e 15 t h

c e n t u r y k i n g o f K a n o , w h o r u l e d f r o m 1 ^ 2 1 - 1 ^ 3 8 . P e r h a p s , a s

in t h e c a s e o f t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n o f c o w r i e s I n to H a u s a i a n d , t h e

c h r o n i c l e r o f K a n o Is m o s t p r o b a b l y w r o n g o v e r t h e d a t e o f t h e

e n t r y o f k o l a . It s e e m s t h e n t ha t t h e t r a d e b e g a n b e f o r e t he

1 5 t h c e n t u r y , p o s s i b l y t h e 1 3 t h or 1 4 t h c e n t u r i e s , a s s u g g e s t e d

b y o n e a u t h o r i t y . 3 2 C o u l d t h e d e s i r e t o c o n t r o l t h i s t r a d e n o t

h a v e i n f l u e n c e d t h e e v o l u t i o n o f t h e M o s s l - D a g o m b a s t a t e s o n t h e

U p p e r V o l t a b a s i n ?

In c o n c l u s i o n , It Is n e c e s s a r y t o p l a c e t h e e x p e d i t i o n s

I n t o t h e N i g e r v a l l e y In t h e i r t r u e r p e r s p e c t i v e . S t r i c t l y

s p e a k i n g , t h e s e e x p e d i t i o n s w e r e u n d e r t a k e n n o t by t h e e n t i r e

M o s s I b u t b y t h o s e o f Y a t e n g a , t h e n o r t h e r n - m o s t o f t h e M o s s I

s t a t e s .

T h e s e n o r t h e r n M o s s l h a d e a r l i e r u n d e r Y a d e g a c l a i m e d

c o m p l e t e I n d e p e n d e n c e f r o m O u a g a d o u g o u a nd a f t e r a b s o r b i n g a l l

t h e l a n d s o f t h e k i n g d o m o f Z a n d o n a , t h e y b e g a n t o e x t e n d t h e ir

t e r r i t o r y n o r t h w a r d s . It w a s In t h e c o u r s e o f t h e s e w a r s o f

e x p a n s i o n t h at t h e Y a t e n g a r u l e r s B o n g a a n d N a s a r e c a r r i e d t h e

n o r t h e r n M o s s l t o M a s s l n a in c . H t O O a n d W a l a t a in

1^77 83

r e s p e c t i v e l y . T h e e v i d e n c e , In s h o r t , d o e s n o t s u p p o r t t h e

v i e w t h a t b e s i d e s t h e n o r t h e r n M o s s i in Y a t e n g a , t h o s e o f

O u a g a d o u g o u a n d F a d a N ' G r u m a h in t h e s o u t h , m u c h l e s s t h e

M a m p r u s i a n d D a g o m b a , t o o k p a r t in t h e N i g e r e x p e d i t i o n s .

T h e s e s o u t h e r n M o s s l a s w e l l a s t h e M a m p r u s i a n d D a g o m b a h a v e

n o t r a d i t i o n s o f a n y l o s s o f t h e i r t e r r i t o r y f o l l o w i n g t h e

r e s t o r a t i o n o f i m pe r i al p o w e r in t h e N i g e r b e n d . T h e D a g o m b a ,

f o r I n s t a n c e , l o s t t e r r i t o r y t o t h e G o n j a a l o n g t h e i r w e s t e r n

f r o n t i e r , t h e O u a g a d o u g o u M o s s l a n d t h e M a m p r u s i h a r d l y at a l l ,

t h e l a t t e r , t h a n k s t o t h e i r g e o g r a p h i c a l p o s i t i o n a nd t he

C h a k o s i m e r c e n a r i e s . It w a s o n l y t h e l a n d s o f t he Y a t e n g a M o s s i

t h a t w e r e r e d u c e d a s a r e s u l t o f t h e c h a n g e In t he b a l a n c e o f

p o w e r In t h e N i g e r v a l l e y t o w a r d s t h e c l o s e o f t h e 1 5 th c e n t u r y .

It w o u l d t h e r e f o r e s e e m t h a t a n y a t t e m p t t o d a t e t h e e m e r g e n c e

o f t h e e n t i r e M o s s l - D a g o m b a s t a t e s f r o m an e v e n t w h i c h u n d o u b t e d l y

h a s r e l e v a n c e f o r t h e h i s t o r y o f o n l y o n e o f t h e m , Is y e t a n o t h e r

e x a m p l e o f t h e M o s s l - c e n t r e d a p p r o a c h w h i c h I n s p ir e d F a g e ' s


13/19

A R T I C L E S

1 0 7 -

p a p e r a n d w h i c h , a s m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r , i s p a r t l y r e s p o n s i b l e

f o r t h e m i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e e a r l y h i s t o r y o f t h o s e s t a t e s .

It w a s e a r l i e r m e n t i o n e d t h a t F a g e ' s d a t e o f

1^79-92

f o r N y a g s e i s m o r e a c c u r a t e t h a n T a m a k l o e ' s 1 4 1 6 - 3 2 . It n o w

r e m a i n s t o b e s e e n h o w r e l e v a n t

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o f t h e M o s s i - D a g o m b a s t a t e s . S t r i c t l y s p e a k i n g , N y a g s e

c o n s o l ( d a t e d r a t h e r t h a n f o u n d e d t h e k i n g d o m o f D a g o m b a ;

i ts t r u e f o u n d e r w a s S i t o b u , t h e f a t h e r o f N y a g s e , T h e D a g o m b a

k i n g d o m t h e r e f o r e e m e r g e d s o o n a f t e r t h e i n i t i a l d i a s p o r a

f r o m P u s i g a . T h u s a f o u n d a t i o n d a t e in t h e f i r s t h a l f o f t h e

1 5 t h c e n t u r y o r a t t h e l a t e s t

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p u t o f p l a c e . B u t N y a g s e , l i k e O u e d r a o g o , I s t r a d i t i o n a l l y t w o

g e n e r a t i o n s r e m o v e d f r o m G b e w a , w h o s e r e i g n Is s a i d t o h a v e

b e e n a p a r t i c u l a r l y l o n g o n e . O n t h i s n o t e n t i r e l y s a t i s f a c t o r y

r e c k o n i n g , I t w o u l d s e e m t h a t t h e k i n g d o m o f M a m p r u g u e m e r g e d

e a r l y in t h e 1 4 t h c e n t u r y ; t h e d a t e c a n n o t b e l a t e r t h a n c . 1 3 5 0 ,

b u t m a y b e a l i t t l e e a r l i e r . O n t h e s a m e r e c k o n i n g , It i s

p f o b a b l e t h a t b y c . 1 4 8 0 a t t h e l a t e s t , t h e M o s s I s t a t e s o f F a d a

N ' G r u m a h a n d Y a t e n g a h a d t a k e n s h a p e a s d e t e r m i n a t e p o l i t i c a l

e n t i t i e s w h i l e t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f O u a g a d o u g o u h a d b e e n l a i d b y

O u e d r a o g o .

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s o u n d c h r o n o l o g y h a s b e e n w o r k e d o u t f o r M a m p r u s i a n d O a g o m b a

f o r t h e p e r i o d c . 1 7 0 0 - c . 1 9 0 0 . 3 3 In t h o s e t w o h u n d r e d y e a r s

b o t h s t a t e s h a d t h e s a m e n u m b e r o f g e n e r a t i o n s ( f i v e ) a n d t h e

s a m e n u m b e r o f r u l e r s ; ( t h i rt e e n )

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d e m o n s t r a b l y d e f e c t i v e . N o t o n l y d o e s ft h a v e e i g h t ru l e r s

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