Vagla Performs Gindaabol Pii Pacification In A Grand Style In Gindaabol

Vagla tribe and their associates have once again performed a great traditional event in a grand style in the Vagla Community called GINDAABOL which is also spelt Jentilpe near Sawla the District Capital of the Sawla Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region of Ghana. Vagla is the aborigines of Western Gonja and the Custodians of the Land (Vagli Heri also classified as Gonjaland (Land of the Gonja Tribes). Vagla are the first tribe to have occupied the land and have remained on the land for several centuries. Vagla encountered several tribes while living in their communities. The first of such encounters were those from the South. The Vagla encountered the Black Dagombas for some centuries but remained in their land and communities. The Vagla fought wars with all these groups but remained on their land and continued to perform their traditional rites and customs as well as the spirits of their land. Vagla are typically fetish people.

A few centuries ago, the Vagla encountered the Madingo tribe who were led by their leader called Sumaila Jakpa. This group of people called themselves NGBANYA and that is their Tribe name. These people crossed from the Black Volta with their origin from Mande in Mali. The Ngbanya tribe used force of arms to enter the Vagla Land through Zaakpa which is also spelt Sakpa and got to an older Vagla community called Beel. The Vagla traditional Chief in Beel was called Koro Bamara. The use of force or fight was unsuccessful as the Ngbanya could not defeat the Vagla due to their spiritual prowess and the power of their several gods (Heu) and shrines. The battle place where the Ngbanya gave up the fight to forcefully enter Beel ended in what the Ngbanya called ELENFO EWUBEL which is currently called KILANPOBILE near Beel (Bole). It should be noted that the Ngbanya then chose the path of peace and tacit diplomacy and that ended in the Ngbanya living outside Beel (Bole) for many years, such an outskirt is called BANGZEN. Later some of the Ngbanya moved to other locations including Nyange near Gindaabol. Nyange later became the Traditional of the Ngbanya tribe.

At Nyange, the Ngbanya lived there for many years. Until an internal conflict or feud occurred between the Ngbanya of Beel (Bole) and their counterparts in Kong. This possibly was the beginning of troubles in Nyange which is closer to an older community called GINDAABOL. At the peak of the conflict between the Ngbanya tribe, some warriors were possibly hired or invited to attack the people in the area, This was strictly a Ngbanya conflict or matter but it later affected the Vagla people and several Vagla communities including Teinbol, Kalinbol among others who are now extinct. The strange warriors captured some of the Bole Ngbanya and were moving some of their war captives (Bole Ngbanya) away. This made the Vagla of Gindaabol intervene intending to help their sister Tribe members (Beel (Bole) Ngbanya). The Vagla were twice successful in defeating the Samori Warriors in the Gindaabol (Jentilpe). However, the Samori Warriors called for a truce to end the fight or the war in the Gindaabol-Nyange area. Both sides laid down their weapons in the name of Disarmament through the collective security of both sides. THE VAGLA WEAPONS WERE DESTROYED LIKEWISE THE SAMORI WARRIORS IN GINDAABOL AREA. Both sides knew the fight or war was over until the unthinkable occurred. After the destruction of both sides' arms and weapons, the Samori Warriors signalled some of their warriors in the bush and this resulted in mass killings of the people of GINDAABOL, NYANGE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES constituting the Gonja Tribes (Vagla-Ngbanya) and some other Samori warriors though fewer. This was the calamity that befell the Vagla communities including GINDAABOL. As such the Vagla as a matter of their customs and practices, occasionally perform some rituals or pacifications to appease the souls of the departed heroes of the Land. These dead persons include the Vagla and the Ngbanya particularly the Ngbanya from Beel (Bole). An invitation was made to Ngbanya Chiefs including Jara Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Saole I and Yiram Bolewura Sarfo Kutuge Feso I and their sub-chiefs. Thus, the gathering of the Vaglas and others at the VAGLA COMMUNITY GONDAABOL to mark or commiserate with the fallen heroes of the Land.

The 127^th GINDAABOL PII PACIFICATION was so unique and colorful. It depicts the rich culture of the Vagla and their associate tribes and signifies the diversity of the Gonja tribes namely the Vagla, the Ngbanya, the Safalba, Choruba, Nomees/Batigees among others in GINDAABOL. There were prayers involving the making of libation. The host traditional Chiefs/Leaders include the GINDAABOL KORO (Jara) and the GINDAABOL HEUHIN (Siayo) and several Chiefs across the Great Vagla Nation State from the CENTRAL (Sawla, Dagbigu, Kunlog, Nakwabi etc). Some Vagla from the NORTH including Tuna, Soma, Jang, Dabori, Yipala, Kpongri, Sanyari etc. The Vagla SOUTH people were also in Gindaabol from Beel, Chorbang, Mandari, Gbenful, Sonyo, Segezi (Seripe) among others.

The Honorable Regional Minister representation/Our Distinguished DCE for Sawla Hon Jacob Dumakawe delivered a powerful message to the people at the GINDABOL PII PACIFICATION RITE. We are very proud of the DCE and his position and we pray for his successful political career in the area. Also, the Savannah Regional Director of the National Commission on Culture (Chief Azumah Braimah). The Vagla people are most grateful for the Director who is always at Vagla Traditional events in the Savannah Region. There could not be any better theme than this at the 127^th Event marking the Vagla-Ngbanya Samori War (1895-1897). Hence the GINDAABOL PII PACIFICATION theme: History, Culture and Unity: Tools for Development.

The GINDAABOL HEUHIN (THE CHIEF PRIEST OF THE LAND OF GINDAABOL is grateful to all who joined them for the traditional rite. Also, the GINDAABOL KORO JARA BAWI-EELAA BAGLIZUM I equally grateful to all who visited the community to be part of the 2024 GINDAABOL PII PACIFICATION RITE. The Great Vagla Youth Association (VAYA) and the able National and branch executives and the teeming contributors near and far who all contributed massively in making the July 26-27 2024 GINDAABOL PII FEAST A SUCCESS. To the great women of Gindaabol for the preparation of the TRADITIONAL MEAL (mixed foods) in Vagli DINKOOZAA. The mixed foods signify the diversity of the Gonja Tribes and the fallen heroes.

MAY THE SPIRITS OF THE LAND PROTECT ALL AGAINST CALAMITIES

MAY THERE BE PEACE AND ETHNIC CO-EXISTENCE IN THE AREA

MAY THERE BE TOLERANCE AND A PEACEFUL 2024 ELECTIONS

THE VAGLA CHIEFS PRAY FOR THE PRESIDENT, MINSTERS AND DCEs

LONG LIVE SAVANNAH REGION LONG LIVE AND PEACE FOR MOTHER GHANA

CREDIT: KORO TINDANA COUNCIL, SAVANNAH REGION@GINDAANOL (JINTILPE)