Draft:Tamale Dakpema

BACKGROUND Who is N’Yab Tamale Dakpema

The originator of Tamale was N’Yab Dahamani-Bila (Daabila). He was the occupant and Tindaan Gban-Yara of Tamale before Naa Nyagsi conquest of Dagbon and the expiration of fetish priest around 1416. His conquest ended at Yong Duuni. There are two types of the Tindaanba i) Tindaan Gban-Yara ii) Tindaan Kpiegu. The Tindaan Gban-Yara is a landed chief with his subjects’ whiles the Tindaan Kpiegu is a Tindana under the supervision of another chief.

Who Named Tamale “Tamale”?

The original name of Tamale was Gunbiliya-yili, but the Tamale Dakpema in his wisdom as the Tindana of the Traditional area shared portions of the land among his brothers namely; Kpambiegu, Changli, Zobogu, Tinzam, Silimboma & Kukuo. Calling on them to support him in the management of the land affairs – There came the name Tamale meaning “Tab’mali” Who accepted whites to settle in Tamale and Gukpegu Naa coming to Tamale?

N-Yab Tamale Dakpema Nsung-Naa in 1907 accepted the whites (British) to settle in Tamale. In 1908, he instituted a local court where he was the chairperson and his elders the court officials for fourteen (14) years. After his demise, N-Yab Tamale Dakpema Busagri took over the court affairs for seven (7) years and when he passed on, N-Yab Tamale Dakpema Lagimbu (Binbarigu) chaired the court around 1930 with the following court elders: Wulana, Kpanalana, Gundana, Gushiena, Yimahana, Zobogu-Naa, Chang Wulana, Kpihigna, Tinzam-Naa, Wuri-she Naa

cannot appoint someone to act in that capacity because the customs doesn’t support it. In consultation with the family, the British met Yaa Naa Abudu Satan Kugli seeking from him someone to sit-in for the Dakpema in the court. The Yaa Naa delegated Gukpenaa Alidu as the sit-in chairperson of the court as requested by the British in 1932, that was the first coming of Gukpenaa in Tamale. It is important to note that, the court officials were still elders from the Dakpema Palace.

The first Gukpe-Naa who took over the duties of the Tamale Tribunal Court in Tamale from Dakpem Binbarigu (Lagimbu) was Gukpe-Naa Alidu who died at Yendi after only one session in 1932.

In 1934, Gukpe-Naa Imoro came to Tamale to take up the duties of the Tribunal Court and resided at Zagyuri. The composition of that court was: Gukpe-Naa Imoro, Chang-Naa Napari, Kpambe-Naa Mahama, Tinzam-Naa Alhassan, Zobogu-Naa Teinga, Silimboma-Naa Lansah, Kukoo-Naa Yirifa, Tamale Dakpema Wulana Nabilla Nyana and Wurishei-Naa Bugli

Gukpe-Naa Imoro was very mindful of the “Taboo” of Dagbon that he would not hold the Tribunal at the Tamale Dakpema’s Palace; instead he shared a school classroom as a Tribunals Court. He was also mindful that his visits to Tamale should be limited to not more than three (3) visits in a year.

The Yaa-Naa advised him to be mindful of only not to attend the Naa Gbewaa’s Shrine whilst in Tamale. Gukpe-Naa Yiri was next after Gukpe-Naa Imoro. Lateness to court was his (Gukpe-Naa Imoro) weakness and the Tamale Dakpema had to request Tamale Wulana Nibila-Nyana to have Gukpe-Naa Yiri as the Guest of Tamale Dakpema in the Wulana’s house. That arrangement remained until now even after the Tribunal Court was taken over by Magistrate Courts. This brief history clearly indicates that, Tamale belongs to Tamale Dakpema who is Tindaan Gban-Yara and not Tindaan Kpiegu. This fact is known to the overlord of Dagbon N’dan Yaa Naa and N’yab Kug-Naa as well.

What is the meaning of Tindana?

Tindana simply means the owner of the land. As said earlier we have two types of Tindaanba.

(i)Tindaan Gban-Y ara (ii)Tindaan Kpiegu

The Tindaan Gban-Yara is a landed chief with his subjects’ whiles the Tindaan Kpiegu is a Tindana under the supervision of another chief. Tamale Dakpema IS NOT a Tindaan Kpiegu but rather Tindaan Gban-Yara, and therefore does not fall under any chief within the Tamale Traditional Area.