A Drummer’s Testament
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Volume II

Old Talks

The history of Dagbaŋ, the political and religious institutions of Dagbamba society, and the role of drummers in holding and transmitting historical knowledge.

28 chapters

Part 1 · CHIEFTAINCY

  1. II-1The Forbidden Talks of DrummingScope of the historical chapters from origins through Samban' luŋa; different types of historical figures; taboos and sacrifices; the importance of the Samban' luŋa; fears of drummers regarding early history; Harold Blair (Yakubuʒee) and other previous researchers in Dagbon
  2. II-2How Drummers Search for Old TalksHow to acquire historical erudition; provenance of information and unreliable information; tactics of approach; greetings and sacrifices; sources for the work
  3. II-3The Origins of Dagbon before Naa GbewaaThe Dagbamba invasion of Ghana; the conquest of the indigenous peoples; Tɔhiʒee, Nimbu, Ʒipopora, Kumtili, Naa Gbewaa, Naa Ʒirli
  4. II-4Naa Shitɔbu and Naa Nyaɣsi: The Founding of DagbonNaa Shitɔbu and Naa Nyaɣsi; the usurpation of the tindanas: the establishment of chieftaincies in the towns; Dagbamba relationships to Mamprusi, Mossi, Nanumba, and other cultural groups in the region; listing the line of the Yaa-Naas
  5. II-5The Yaa-Naa and the Yendi EldersThe paramount chief: The Yaa-Naa of Yendi; how a Yaa-Naa dies and is buried; selection of a new Yaa-Naa; list of Yaa-Naas; types of elders; the work of elders; intermediaries for chiefs; Yendi area elders; origins of main elderships; castration of elders; ranking of elders; Kuɣa-Naa; Mba Duɣu; the elder chieftaincies: Gushe-Naa, Tolon-Naa, Gukpe-Naa, Kumbun-Naa; the Kambonsi; the women chiefs and the chief's wives
  6. II-6Chieftaincy in DagbonThe Yaa-Naa and the thirteen divisional chiefs; types of divisional chieftaincy; organization of the chieftaincy hierarchy; buying chieftaincy; how the hierarchy shifts; paths to the Yendi chieftaincy; the elders' chieftaincies; paths to the elders' chieftaincies; drumming protocols related to the chieftaincy hierarchy
  7. II-7How Princes Get ChieftaincyThe life of princes; relationship of the first-born son to the second-born son; how the hierarchy shifts to accommodate princes; conflict between princes and junior fathers; the chief's elders: Kamo-Naa, Wulana, Lun-Naa, Magaaʒia, etc.; how a new chief lives with his elders and townspeople; how the townspeople and elders greet the chief on Mondays and Fridays
  8. II-8How Chiefs Judge CasesThe chief's court in pre-colonial times; the naazoonima (chief's friends); the role of the elders in cases; types of crime and the punishments; selling a bad person; witches and witchcraft cases; modern types of crime; comparison of chief's courts and civil courts

Part 2 · HISTORY

  1. II-9Samban' luŋa: The Drum HistoryThe social context of the drum history performance at the chief's house; the performance format of the drum history; learning to sing it; the chief's responsibility for sacrifices; Baŋgumaŋa; the lessons of history and main themes of particular chiefs; Dagbamba historiography; objectivity and divergent pathways within the Samban' luŋa
  2. II-10The First Gonja War: Naa Dariʒɛɣu and Naa LuroExample of the Samban' luŋa: Gonja wars; the origins of the first war, the death of Naa Dariʒɛɣu; Naa Luro's abuse; Naa Luro at Gushie: the blacksmiths and the bridge; Naa Luro's victory over Kaluɣsi Dajia; Pakpɔŋ Kachaɣu and Lunlana Lunʒɛɣu: the origins and dancing of Baŋgumaŋa
  3. II-11The Chieftaincy of Naa Zanjina, the Light of DagbonThe contributions of Naa Zanjina to Dagbamba custom; Naa Zanjina's youth and conversion to Islam; Naa Zanjina as the “light” of Dagbon; Naa Zanjina's Samban' luŋa; how Naa Zanjina got chieftaincy
  4. II-12The Second Gonja War: Naa Zanjina and Naa SiɣliContinuation of the wars; Kumpatia and the conquest of western Dagbon; how Naa Siɣli gathered his army; the war against the Konkombas; the death of Naa Zanjina; how Naa Siɣli obtained chieftaincy; the Dagbamba campaign against the Gonjas; the defeat of Kumpatia and the aftermath of the war
  5. II-13The Cola and Slave Trades: Naa Garba and the AshantisDagbamba-Ashanti relations; the uses of cola; the cola and shea butter trade; Naa Garba and the Ashantis; the capture and ransoming of Naa Garba; slavery and the slave trade in Dagbon; organization of the Dagbamba army; origin of the Kambonsi (soldiers)
  6. II-14The Pre-colonial and Colonial PeriodsThe old princes and new princes war for Karaga; Naa Yakuba's madness; Naa Abilaai and the Bassari war; Naa Andani: the Zambarima wars, the Kumbungu war, the German conquest and victory at Adibo; Tugulana Iddi, Kari-Naa Abukari and civil war; Naa Alaasani; the coming of the British; reunification of Dagbon; colonial rule under the British
  7. II-15Modern History and the Chieftaincy CrisisIndependence and the role of educated Dagbamba in the crisis; government interference in chieftaincy; the usurpation of Naa Mahamadu and its effects; the origins and escalation of the dispute under Naa Mahamam Bila and Mionlana Andani; fallacy of the claim of rotation; soldiers' government; the difficulty of repair

Part 3 · FESTIVALS IN COMMUNITY LIFE AND THE WORK OF DRUMMERS

  1. II-16The Fire FestivalThe traditional calendar; Buɣim (Fire) Festival; the origins of the Fire Festival; historiographic resolution of Muslim and non-Muslim aspects of the Fire Festival; appropriation of customs; the fire procession; the opening of the talisman; Dambabilaa
  2. II-17The Damba Festival
  3. II-18The Guinea Fowl, Ramadan, and Chimsi FestivalsThe origins and celebration of the Kpini (Guinea Fowl) Festival; Ramadan/Konyuri Chuɣu (Mouth-tying month); why Dagbamba fast; difficulties and techniques of fasting; the work of drummers during Ramadan: Asem and Bandamda at the chief's house; the 26th day of the fast; the Eid' (Praying) Festival, the Samban' luŋa in the Eid' Festival; the respect of drumming during the Ramadan; example: a trip to Akosombo and how the drummers were respected; Chimsi (Sacrificing) Festival

Part 4 · RELIGION AND MEDICINE

  1. II-19The Dagbamba Belief in GodWhy Dagbamba believe in God; arguments for the existence of God; God's greatness; how Dagbamba remember God in their daily living
  2. II-20The Muslim Religion in DagbonChristianity and Islam; types of Muslims; Naa Zanjina and the introduction of Islam; the benefits of Islam; obligations of faith; prayer; the role of maalams; types of Muslims; areas of Muslim concentration in Dagbon; Muslim elders
  3. II-21The Pilgrimage to MeccaDangers and benefits of the Hajj; preparations; Hajj agents; foreign exchange problems; arrival at Jidda; arrival at Mecca; Arafat; Mina; Mudzalifah; Medina; Alhaji Ibrahim's piety and his feelings of pity during the Hajj; return from Mecca; greetings
  4. II-22Soothsayers and DivinersThe inheritance of the soothsayers' bag; testing of soothsayers; the work of soothsaying; other types of diviners: the jinwarba; jinwarba divination
  5. II-23The Priests of the LandLocal gods and shrines; how tindanas inherit their chieftaincies; women tindanas; comparison of tindanas and chiefs; chiefs who are tindanas; the Dapkɛmas; tindanas and chiefs of Tamale; relations of tindanas and chiefs: drum history story of Mionlana Mahami and Tindaan' Ʒee
  6. II-24Gods and ShrinesHousehold shrines and the ancestors; the major shrines and gods and their work: Yabyili, Naawuni, Pong Tamale, Chema, Jaagbo, Lansah, etc.
  7. II-25MedicineHow medicine works; types of medicine: liliga, vua, kabrɛ, tahiŋga, etc.; witches and wizards (bukpahinima); maalams' medicines: walga, sabli
  8. II-26Drummers' MedicinesDrummers and medicine; the life of Alhaji Adam Mangulana; gandu, zambaŋa, teeli, etc.; jealousy among drummers; an example of the use of kabrɛ at a drum history performance
  9. II-27Diseases and MedicineDagbamba ideas about medicine and health problems; major health problems of Dagbon; major diseases and how they are treated; other problems: guinea worms and parasites
  10. II-28MadnessTypes of madness; how a family responds; treatment of madness by soothsayers, medicine men, and maalams; madness and craft-guilds