body-container-line-1

The Ndewura Jakpa Royal Mausoleum—A New Tourism Haven In Northern Region

Feature Article The Ndewura Jakpa Royal Mausoleum—A New Tourism Haven In Northern Region
APR 30, 2015 LISTEN

The Ndewura Jakpa Mausoleum which is about 90% complete would be inaugurated by the Gonja Traditional Council when completed.

On Friday 3rd April, 2015, over a thousand people from Gonjaland visited the “Ndewura Jakpa Royal Mausoleum” at Old Buipe which is 14.5 kilometres West of Buipe in the Central Gonja District of Northern Region as part of the activities of the 39th Congress of the Gonjaland Youth Association

at Buipe .
An elder of the community said he was overwhelmed by the multitude of people that visited the tomb and was full of praise for the Gonjaland Youth Association. He said he has never witnessed such a large gathering of people in the history of the community. Indeed many of the visitors said they were part of the Congress because they wanted to be part of the visit to the tomb.

Pictures 1, 2, 3 & 4 here
Brief History Behind Ndewura Jakpa’s Tomb

In his book, "History and Traditions of the Gonja people", (University of Calgary Press- 1997), J. A. Braimah (later Yagbonwura Timu) stated inter alia: “After years of rest (after conquering the largest land in modern Ghana), Sumaila Ndewura Jakpa contemplated fighting the Asante but his men murmured owing to fatique of war.

He later defied them despite warnings against fighting the Asantes. He crossed the Volta River towards Yeji to Kabako and encountered the Asantes. A raging battle then took place in which Jakpa was shot in the ankle and mortally wounded. Before his death Jakpa instructed that his body be sent to Mankuma the sister’s place for burial.

On reaching Aburumase (meaning I am now weak and dying) he was very sick indeed. When they got to Trekpa (I have now reached my end) he died.

On reaching Gbipe now spelt Buipe (Gbi meaning heavy or weight load) the corpse was getting bad he was therefore interred there (Gbipe).

Since it was Jakpa’s express wish to take his final rest at the sister’s place of abode at Mankuma, it has become customary since then for all Yagbonwuras to be entombed at Mankuma, a village on the main Sawla-Bole road”.

Since the demise of Ndewura Jakpa, it has become an annual affair for the Buipewura, the Kagbapewura and his elders to always set a day for visiting to clean and offer some prayers at the Jakpa’s

tomb.
At the far eastern end of Jakpa’s grave is an area where Ndewura Jakpa’s companion and spiritual leader Mallam Mahama Labayiru also known as Fati-Morukpe spent the last days of his life following the death of Jakpa, and was also buried there subsequently. Old Buipe is thus the burial place of two prominent Gonja leaders that is, Sumaila Ndewura Jakpa and Mallam Mahama Labayiru also known as

Fati- Morukpe.
The Kagbape-wura, a traditionally important Chief in Buipe is the one who steps foot at the grave yard to perform or see to the performance of such rituals in the Islamic fashion (reading of Yasin) if it is to be done in the Isamic way to pray for Ndewura Jakpa and also to pacify the land (Gonja land). This is because historically the Kagbape-wura is the first son of Ndewura Jakpa.

This event takes place during the dry season before the yearly bush burning and on a Friday. The reason partly is that the grave is considered a Mosque by the indigenes of Buipe and in lieu of this sacred nature of the place sandals are not allowed close to the surrounding of the tomb.

During this occasion, residents of Buipe including outsiders who can make it to the place move to the place , which is 14.5 kilometers west of Buipe , and engage themselves in weeding, amidst morale with some popular traditional activities including drumming and singing, then the women also

prepare food.
The Buipewura with regard to tradition is expected to offer a cow to be used for prayers by the Sakpare (descendants of Fati Morukpe) in Buipe, and the occasion comes to an end until another dry

season.
Tourism Potential of Ndewura Jakpa’s Tomb

The potential of developing the Tomb of Ndewura Jakpa into an important tourist place is high considering the fact that he was one of the most valorous warriors of the sixteenth century in African history and was the founder of the Gonja Kingdom in modern Ghana, a Kingdom whose traditions and influence survive to this day.

Jakpa was not the first ruler of the Gonja people but perhaps Gonja attained its greatest glory during his reign.Many powerful myths surround Ndewura Jakpa’s life and he is celebrated for his military prowess and indeed serves as a potent symbol of Gonjaland unity and pride.

Old Buipe poses as a great site to develop into a Tourisn hub with Hotel accommodation and tourism facilities, such as restaurants, conference rooms, internet and communication facilities

etc.
With its proximity to Buipe Township, cultural tours can also be developed with the Old Buipe community organising local dance, drumming, Aguro music, funeral dirges etc where they will perform for visiting tourists and visitors alike especially on the day of the Annual visit by the Buipe community to clean and offer some prayers at the Jakpa’s tomb.

How the Idea Behind the Construction of Ndewura Jakpa’s Tomb evolved Mr Salisu Be-Awuribe a former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Central Gonja is one of the brains behind the Ndewura Jakpa Royal Mausoleum Construction. I contacted him and he responded by giving an account of the project.

He said his first visit to this important historical site was in 1998 when he was a student leader of Gonjaland Students Association (GOSA) in Northern Region after he and others organised an excursion to Old Buipe. He said GOSA was principally an association of Second Cycle Institutions, Polytechnics and Colleges in Northern Region and that Tamale, the Regional capital was the most active place of their activities.

He said upon their arrival in Old Buipe, the Chief Imam who is the caretaker of the tomb on behalf of the Buipewura at Old Buipe gave a vivid account of the history of Old Buipe and the reasons for moving to to the present new Buipe, the Road construction and above all some history of Ndewura Jakpa and Mante, the original Buipe proper settlement. He said the most important lessons they learnt were the etiquettes of visiting the Tomb which crystallized into rituals.

He said some of them included:
(i)A woman in her menses does not get to the tomb proper. There is a terminal point for which such a woman can stand and observe proceedings.

(ii) . There is no excessive noise and cemetery silence is required of a visitor.

(iii) That one should take off the footwear upon climbing to the tomb.

(iv). No blood is spilled on the tomb and even if there is any sacrifice of any animal; a designated place is made for such a sacrifice away from the tomb.

(vi). A part of the luxuriant green forest is dedicated as a Royal Cemetery for Buipe.

(vii). That any person who requires prayers can always come for those prayers to be said to him. What first struck them most according to the former DCE was the fact that rituals at the tomb site are conducted in accordance with strict Islamic practice required for a visit to any grave site and it has not been adulterated with traditional rituals.

According to the former DCE, the luxuriant green vegetative cover forested by a naturally grown 'Nkali' (rosewood) tree species is an envy to any environmentally conscious individual under strict

taboos not to cut down any tree in the groove, a sharp contrast to a deforested neighbourhood of Old Buipe. What again shocked them was that there was no mark at all to a would be stranger of the tomb of this great man of history except two conically build spiral courses of landcrete blocks on the bare earth indicating his true burial place. “There was absolutely nothing to prick the mind of any stranger in Old Buipe, to begin asking questions or to tell the historical significance of old Buipe”, he stated.

He said when they probed further, they were told that the courses of block they saw was an attempt by the Late Yagbonwura Kurabaso to build a befitting tomb for the founder and that they were seeing the relics of his uncompleted attempt. “Little did I know that 11 years later providence would shun on me to be in charge of the district in May 2009”; he said.

According to him in January 2010, he delivered the idea which he conceived since 2008 to build a lasting monument in honour of the Founder of Gonjaland and the Gonja State to another son of Gonjaland called Daniel Telly, a renowned Architect and a school mate of his at the University.

He said together, they begun a deep soul searching and intensive research which made them uncover a lot of valuable historical information that aided them in coming up with the design concept.

According to him the concept was of many phases:
a.Phase one involve the construction of the tomb proper using indigenous material from Gonjaland blended with the requisite concrete works in the nature of ancient Sudanese architecture with inspirations from Asia. The tomb will have 7 major Gate representing the 7 Royals gates of Yagbon with Kong and Kandia gates symbolically locked permanently and all the keys to the gates would be in the custody of the Buipewura as the custodial of the Royal Mausoleum.

The gates were to be named and the locks and keys to the gates were to be made by traditional blacksmiths under the guidance of professionals. Every Month of the year, Royals and indigenes from these Royal Gates led by their paramount chief will come and offer special prayers to the founder and their traditional area and for the Yagbon Royal gates; a symbolic opening of their gate would be made by the Buipewura for them and locked after the function. This would generate huge interest, increase local tourism and develop a lot of consciousness of the place.

b. Phase two involves the re-enaction of Ndewura Jakpa’s route of conquest as a Special pathways leading to the tomb and various miniature or replica relics and important monuments placed on the pathway to his terminal point and the carriage of his mortal remains to the current burial site. This requires extensive skill and professionalism and good craftsmanship. Every legacy and natural remnant left would be miniatures in this historical park. The major streams and rivers that he crossed, the Boats he entered and calvary used as well as the supporters and ethnic groups and battles that were fought. By the close of the day the Gonjaland map would have been drawn on the ground and every traditional area represented, every historical building, town or artifact represented albeit miniature.

Pictures 5 & 6
Drawings, Funding and Construction of Ndewura Jakpa’s Tomb

Mr Salisu Be-Awuribe said the concepts were drawn after wide stakeholder consultations. He

said the 3D drawings were shown to the Late Yagbonwura Bawa Doshi and with his approval gotten they consulted Buipewura Jinapor II and with his consent granted they went ahead to brief the then Vice President now President John Dramani Mahama on the project. A 3-D (three dimensions or three-dimensional) describes an image that provides the perception of depth.

He explained that the Central Gonja District Assembly approved a budget from the common fund to begin the process on two different occasions but could not start because of the challenges of the common fund inflows and the insecurity of Buipe as this was the period the unfortunate Chieftaincy problem of Buipe reached a crescendo leading to the existence of Two Rival Chiefs and rendering the District Assembly impotent to go into a major project of this sort with a huge customary and cultural significance.

According to him they did not abandon the idea and luck shone on them once again when the Buipe -Tamale road was awarded on Contract. He said a team of Engineers were dispatched from the Ghana Highways head office in Accra and part of their mandate was to identify historical and customary places on the highway which would be affected by the construction works.

He said this team was led by oneAbdul Rahaman, a school mate of his at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and it gave him a perfect opportunity to sell the idea to them to take it up as part of the projects intervention in the district.

The 3D drawings were sent to them and on the bases of it the cost estimates were made. It was realised that the project cost was beyond their budget but he impressed on them to take up phase one of the project which they did and an amount of GH¢ 200,000 was earmarked for the phase one of the project. He said the phase one was supposed to begin in February 2014.

According to him precious and attractive rockstone and sand would be drawn from all parts of Gonjaland for the project and called on all and sundry in Gonjaland to start looking for a way of funding phase two of the project since phase one is now off our heads and would not cost anything to any Assembly or individual in Gonjaland.

He said the digital histories of many languages can be encoded on the pathway detailing the important events which took place on the way and a bar code reader implanted such that when a person visit the park, he will buy a scratch card in a language he require and when he get to any historical nodal point, even without a tour guide he can place the scratch card to be read electronically detailing the major historical event of the place.

A Summary of the conceptuals and Design Principles of the Ndewura Jakpa Royal Mausoleum

The following is a summary of the conceptuals and Design Principles of the Ndewura Jakpa Royal Mausoleum as compiled by Mr Daniel Telly, an Architect. This is to help us understand the thoughts and ideas that went into its design and how the form evolved.

Pictures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17

1. NDEWURA JAKPA MAUSOLEUM AT CURRENT STATE11. NDEWURA JAKPA MAUSOLEUM AT CURRENT STATE1

2. NDEWURA JAKPAS MAUSOLEUM AT CURRENT STATE22. NDEWURA JAKPAS MAUSOLEUM AT CURRENT STATE2

3. OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE VISITED AT THE 39TH CONGRESS3. OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE VISITED AT THE 39TH CONGRESS

4. GONJALANDERS DANCING AT THE MAUSOLEUM4. GONJALANDERS DANCING AT THE MAUSOLEUM

5. NDEWURA JAKPA'S TOMB BEFORE RECONSTRUCTION5. NDEWURA JAKPA'S TOMB BEFORE RECONSTRUCTION

6. NDEWURA JAKPA'S TOMB BEFORE RECONSTRUCTION26. NDEWURA JAKPA'S TOMB BEFORE RECONSTRUCTION2

717[1]

kpg6jvu32d818[1]

919[1]

cgw3bnm08t10110[1]

lpg6jvu32d11111[1]

nri7lyx33f12112[1]

aeu2xljwwr13113[1]

fka4eqp10w14114[1]

sxna6ed55315115[1]

wbr1vih77o16116[1]

17117[1]

body-container-line