Ndan Ya Naa Abukari II {L} and Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I
Correspondence from Northern Region
The King and Overlord of Dagbon, Ndan Ya Naa Abukari II on Sunday, February 16, 2025, visited the King of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo, the capital of the Savannah Region.
The historic royal visit of the Dagbon ruler was part of efforts towards solidifying the relationship between Dagbon and Gonjaland who have for centuries lived as neighbours.
This is the first time in recent history that a reigning Dagbon King has paid an official visit to the seat of the Gonja ruler and the visit follows an earlier royal visit by the Yagbonwura to the Gbewaa Palace last June.
Ndan Ya Naa was accompanied by his royal household, over 100 Paramount, Divisional and sub-divisional Chiefs including Naa Bakpem Kari Naa, Naa Yab Nyankpalana, Naa Yab Lang Lana among other prominent chiefs and over 100 warriors with hundreds of celebrants from Dagbon.
Ya Naa’s journey started on Saturday when he left Yendi for Tamale, where he was joined by his entourage for Sunday morning’s journey.
The Dagbon King made a grand entry into the capital of Gonja, riding majestically on his royal horse, at least 40 other Dagomba chiefs also rode on horsebacks. He and his chiefs disembarked from their vehicles which they used for the 125 Km journey from Tamale to Damongo at the entrance of the town.
The Ya Naa’s entourage was welcomed by hundreds of residents of Damongo and a special delegation of the Gonja overlord, amidst drumming and dancing.
At the Jakpa Palace, the Gonja Overlord had organized a grand durbar, waiting for the arrival of the Dagbon Overlord. It was a center of pomp and pageantry, with a display of the rich culture and traditions of the two ancient kingdoms.
“I travelled all the way from Yendi to witness this great day. It is once in a lifetime event and I could not have missed it” Iddrisu, a young man who traveled nearly 200km for the event told GhanaWeb.
Iddrisu is not the only one who made the journey to experience the historic journey, Mohammed Adam, a resident of Tamale joined the hundreds of people who voluntarily made the trip from Dagbon.
He told GhanaWeb as a young person, “We were only taught about the wars between the two Kingdoms, they only invaded each other’s kingdoms to capture lands. It is so exciting that today, the Yagbonwura and Ya Naa are visiting each other, not to fight but to make merry and talk about development.”
Residents of Damongo were excited to see the Dagbon Overlord ride on a horseback, in their own backyard. Iddisah, a resident, said he had always wished to see such a day at least once in his lifetime.
“I always prayed for this day. A day when our neighbouring kingdom will be here, sharing great moments such as this with us” he said.
At the durbar, the Yagbonwura who spoke through Kpembewura Banbange IV emphasized the need for peace and unity among the two neighbouring kingdoms, saying that they are “essential to our progress”.
“The future of our two great kingdoms rests in the hands of our youth” the Yagbonwura added.
On his part, Ndan Ya-Naa Abukari II who spoke through Zangbalung lana Dr Jacob Mahama said this was a new era “to do things ourselves.”
He urged the youth to work together for the forward match of the two kingdoms.
The Gonja King since his enskinment last year has adopted diplomatic policies to foster unity between him and his neighbours. He paid royal visits to Dagbon and Mamprugu, two of his most powerful neighbours in 2024.
As neighbours, Dagombas and Gonjas have assimilated over the years, through marriages and permanent resettlement by both ethnic groups, burying the ancient tensions that existed between them for centuries.
Although there is an ongoing boundary dispute between Gonjaland and Dagbon, the two leaders have chosen the path of diplomacy, with many residents of Dagbon hoping that discussions would include finding a solution to the dispute to pave way for the approval of the Revised Dagbon Constitution, pending before the National House of Chiefs (NHC).
The Gonjas raised objections over Dagbon’s boundary demarcations in their revised constitution, when the document was laid before the NHC for adoption. This has since stalled its implementation.
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