Why And How Yagbonwura Awusi Moved The Capital Of The Gonja Kingdom From Nyange To Damongo

Introduction:
The above article in the Social Media is an attempt to explain an important past Gonja political decision for the understanding of Ghanaians, and the people of Gonja (Gonjas) in particular. After reading the article I was motivated to undertake this further survey to strengthen and compliment the efforts of the writer for setting the pace for other scholars to contribute significantly on aspects of Gonja history.

The survey is based on two sources - primary (oral and archival) data and available relevant written sources. It is noticed that early anthropological studies concerning the tradition and customs of Gonja were carried out by the perceived imperatives of British colonialism. Indeed many of the anthropologists and cartographers, of whom Rattray, Captain B. Moutray-Read and George Ekem Ferguson are prominent examples, were in the employ of the British Colonial Government. This calls for the need to critically examine their works and understand the nature and motives for which they wrote in order to correctly educate the general public on the past.

This assertion is made for the simple reason that the colonial agents were mandated to study and clearly describe the local people in order for the British to rule them. Their works would surely follow the agenda of the colonialist. Thus, the survey sought to explain or clarify certain ambiguous or incorrect statements found in the article referred and to also fill gaps, if any, identified for the improvement of such work.

How Nyange became Gonja Capital Town:
Before 1943, the capital of the Kingdom of Gonja was based at Nyange, a town eight kilometres along the Sawla-Damongo road in the Northern Region of Ghana, and the seat of the Paramount Chief of Gonja who is called in official and public life as the Yagbon-wura. Nyange was not merely picked as the capital town. The founder of the Kingdom selected Nyange just like how some leaders of African states selected their capital towns. An example worth mentioning is how the Asantes got their capital to be Kumase.

Under the administration of Osei Tutu, who ruled from "1695 to 1717", a legend has persisted to this day claiming that to ascertain the best site for the capital of Ashanti "Okomfo Anokye planted three trees at different places. Two died, and the surviving tree being at Kumase", and that is the present location of the capital of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Thus, through a kind of spiritual means Okomfo Anokye, a highly revered spiritual leader, got the Asantes a capital at a place which came to be known as Kumase.

Similarly, Gonja got its capital based in a place which later came to be called Nyange, derived from the Guan language meaning "tomorrow (future) or wake up," a figurative expression explaining how the site on which Nyange is located will in future develop or grow into a big town. How Nyange came about is built around a spiritual leader called Fati (Fatigi) Morukpe.

Paraphrasing Emmanuel Forster Tamakloe, it is explained that when Ndewura Jakpa began his expeditions or conquest, he initially failed in any battle fought until he came into contact with Fatigi Morukpe, who agreed to assist Jakpa with 'spiritual' means. After performing the 'spiritual concoctions', Jakpa was successful in his next battles. Therefore, Jakpa pleaded with Fatigi Morukpe to accompany him and offer prayers in his next expeditions. During later expeditions it is said that the areas comprising the present Waala Kingdom and Western Gonja were conquered and these areas became the nucleus of the Kingdom of Gonja. When Ndewura Jakpa and Fatigi Morukpe got to the present site of Nyange, the 'spiritualist' observed that 'strange things' were happening in the area and, therefore, he halted Ndewura Jakpa and his troops.

After hours of consultation, Fatigi Morukpe's oracles signaled that Ndewura Jakpa should be based 'there', referring to the site which later came to be called Nyange. Thus, Nyange, from the earliest time up to 1943, became the main town or capital of all the conquered land named as Gbiripo-wura pe. This conquered area was already occupied, according to Adu Boahen, "by peoples such as the Vagala, the Sisala, the Dargarti, the Tampolensi and the Guan to the east of the Black Volta (River)." Later, the area was partitioned among Ndewura Jakpa's three sons whom he had made chiefs to administer these divisions which came to be known as Kong, Bole and Kandia.

Based at Nyange, Ndewura Jakpa turned against the Konkomba, the Koma, the Nafeba, the Gbimba and the Chamba", peoples already settled along the Eastern banks of the White Volta River. These conquered areas were also divided into Sub- Divisions and were placed under the jurisdiction of Ndewura Jakpa's sons as chiefs. For instance, all communities around Kasoriyiri were brought under the chief at Kasoriyiri, known as Wasipe-wura (the Chief of Wasipe). Later, Ndewura Jakpa ordered the Chief of Wasipe to move and station at Daboya in order to control the lucrative salt trade in the area.

In other words, the Paramount Chief of the Daboya division, living in Daboya, has being titled or called Wasipe-wura. Further eastwards many more communities were conquered and thus where Kpembi, Sansane Mango, Basari and Kawsaw (Kusawgu) towns are found. The Kpembe, Kusawgu and Tuluwe Sub-Divisions were created from/among the areas conquered.

Towards the Southern direction Ndewura Jakpa fought a fierce battle against the Asante which brought disaster to Gonjas. During the battle against the Asante (date unknown), and paraphrasing Emmanuel Forster Tamakloe, Ndewura Jakpa was severely wounded and carried to Surumichu where he died. Before his death, Ndewura Jakpa had ordered his people to entomb his body at Mankoma. Mankoma is the first chieftees of Gonja which was administered by the sister of Ndewura Jakpa, Jafo Soni. This directive was obeyed but when the corpse was conveyed in a bier through Mpaha (town) to Gbipe (Buipe; town) it became putrid and was interred in Buipe. As Gonja customs demands a bit of the sand of his (Ndewura Jakpa's) grave at Buipe was sent and buried at Mankoma to mean that his (Ndewura Jakpa's) instruction had been carried out. Hence, Mankoma has being the burial place of Gonja Paramount Chiefs.

After the interment and performance of all funeral customary rites in respect of Ndewura Jakpa, his people were confronted with two delicate issues: who was to succeed and where to base their capital. According to J. A. Braimah, "some Gonjas tried to re-establish the Gonja capital at Gbipe (Buipe) but that proved impossible because of the constant wars fought with the Akan tribe during the period." This was not exactly so. It was not possible to make Buipe the capital of Gonja because Gonja leaders at the time had not followed the tradition laid down by Ndewura Jakpa and Fatigi Morukpe, who were evoked and directed by 'spirits' based the capital of Gonja at Nyange. Hence, as will be indicated later, a new leader followed the instruction or tradition laid down by Ndewura Jakpa and Fatigi Morukpe.

How Gonja got a Successor:
The second challenge confronting Gonjas was who was to lead or succeed Ndewura Jakpa. After weeks of critical deliberations and consultations, "it was decided that the leader or chief who had a large house hold and plenty of followers should be his (Jakpa's) successor. The Chief of Kungu (Kong) [identified as Buri Lanyo] was elected. This further affirmed that Ndewura Jakpa was succeeded by his son the Kong-wura followed by his brothers Limu and Senyo-wura Lanyo. Hence, the description 'big house-hold' was applied to Nyange, where the seat of the Chief of Gonja was, and which was also known as Yagbon till the present day.

However, not every Yagbon-wura wished to and settled at Nyange. It is known that Chiefs from "the Eastern Province looked to Kpembe as their capital and not Nyange, the seat of the paramountcy." Their reason was largely due to certain disadvantages which make the Chiefs reluctant to take up the burdens of kingship in a strange area. This will further be discussed later. Out of seven Sub-Divisional Chiefs in Gonja, the Eastern Gonja Sub-Divisional Chiefs are four and three Sub-Divisional Chiefs are from Western Gonja but two gates, Kong and Kandia, are suspended temporarily due to certain alleged pardonable offences. It is only by the 'good will' of a Yagbon-wura that, for example, the Sub- Division of Kong, which is still active, can be pardoned to enter the Kawul Putti (throne).The case about Kandia seems difficult to tackle or, in other words, impossible to solve because it has "lost all its territory to Wa."

The Size of Gonja and British Interference:
The Kingdom of Gonja at the time covered a "vast stretch of land in the Northern Territories spreading as it does from Kpandai in the Southeast to Bamboi in the Southwest. Its boundary in the North covered areas beyond Wa. In the South the boundary is formed by the Black Volta River and its tributaries". This vast land area was under the jurisdiction or the administration of every Paramount Chief of Gonja who came onto the throne until in 1897 when Gonjas came into contact with the British. The contact with the British led to a number of political changes. One political effect was the lost of substantial parts of Gonja in the north. Hence, from 1921the boundary of the Kingdom of Gonja in the north now came to be approximately 24 miles, or about 39 kilometres, from Wa.

As a result of British penetration into the Northern Territories a form of protectorate was proclaimed in 1897. By 1901, by virtue of an Ordinance-in-Council, the Governor of the Gold Coast was granted authority to exercise jurisdiction and administration over areas that had come under the protection of His Majesty; that is the British monarchy, and such areas were henceforth described as the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast. Under the terms of the Northern Territories Administration Ordinance which came into force in 1902, the Northern Territories were divided into two: the Northern and Southern Provinces. Our concern is on the Southern Province which was also divided into Eastern Dagomba, Western Dagomba, Eastern Gonja, Western Gonja and the Krachi District. Each district was supervised by a British District Commissioner.

After demarcating the Northern Territories and the districts, the next issue tackled was naming and re-locating district capitals. Salaga was confirmed as the capital town of Eastern Gonja and that of Western Gonja was at Bole. A number of factors were responsible for the sitting of capitals at certain towns. In 1907, Wa was selected as the headquarters of the Black Volta District because "Wa was the largest town at the time in the area and the seat of a Paramount Chief, the Wa Naa." But, in the case of Gonja, Nyange, the seat of the Paramount Chief was not considered rather Bole was made the district capital. As R. B. Benning puts it, "the policy adapted by the British Colonial Government was to locate capitals only at places through which trade caravans passed." Thus, due to commercial or strategic reasons Wa, Salaga and Bole were early recognised as capital towns. The later town (Bole), so close to Nyange, also overshadowed the seat of the Paramountcy from being selected as a capital.

In the 1920s, further British policies indicated that: Government was "not to interfere with chieftaincy affairs" but rather "to conduct the administration of the Native Authorities" through the Chiefs. This policy prompted the British to understand that "the best way was training the Chiefs and people of the Gold Coast so as to make them capable of governing themselves." However the British believed that, "chieftaincy which was common with other human institutions could not remain static but that it must in large measure adapt itself to the changing requirements of the present time."

These statements seem to suggest or reveal the plans the British harboured against African institutions in order to effectively colonise Africans. In fact, African society before its contact with European civilisation was collectivistic and Africans cooperated in political, social and economic activities. But, with the influence of Europeans Africans tends to be individualists and that situation made it possible for the Europeans to rule them. Consequently, African societies were divided into manageable parts. The Kingdom of Gonja, for instance, "by parthenogenetic process was broken into sectors: Bole, Daboya, Salaga, etc".

Further instructions were also given to District Commissioners to submit proposals on the boundaries and the sitting of headquarters of the sub-divisions for the attention of Government. This directive initiating led to frictions or conflicts between people in some regions. In the Northwestern Province, now the Upper West Region, for instance, a proposal was made to replace Wa, then the Provincial capital, with Hain as the Provincial Headquarters of the Northwestern Province. Hain was chosen because it was: situated on a fairly high plateau; the centre of the most populated portion of the Province; the junction of four roads running North, South, East and West; food, fresh milk, butter and wood were plentiful; but [warned that] the supply of water should be critically examined.

When the Wa Naa and his people got wind about the proposal to replace Wa as the capital they reacted strongly saying that: ��Wa is the largest village in the area; is an old station full of tradition; and also the seat of a Paramount Chief and has a system of hereditary chiefs; was the headquarters of the old Black Volta District or Northwestern Province and has an excellent water system, postal agency, telegraph buildings, hospital and a big central market. There is no loneliness in Wa as compared to Hain.

It is a common knowledge among the Waala, the people of Wa, that any time a British Commissioner was visiting Wa people came out in large numbers to demonstrate how populous Wa was and as a sign of their disagreement to British political designs. Such actions warned the British Government to adapt new strategies in dealing with issues about changing capitals to different locations (towns).

Similarly therefore, British officers were discussing with Sub - Divisional Chiefs in Gonjaland covertly about the possibility of changing the seat of the Paramount Chief of Gonja, and thus, the Yagbon-wura, stationed at Nyange to a new location or town. Some Sub -divisional capitals were also to be affected. As earlier mentioned, Ndewura Jakpa had already taken such a step by "ordering the Wasipe-wura to settle at Daboya. The reason for this order was to control the salt trade in the area and also due to the remoteness and loneliness of Kasoriyiri. This example came to be the trend pursued by the British Colonial Administration but cautiously playing on the Chiefs and their people in order not to stir trouble.

The British and the Gonjas from the 1920s:
The British officers continued to 'educate' the Chiefs and their peoples on the policy of their Government being "to maintain any Paramount Chief that exists and gradually absorb under it any small villages or communities scattered about so that someday the Dagomba, Gonja and Mamprusi should become strong native states and each will have its own little Public Works Department and carry on its own business with the Political Officer as a Resident Adviser. These excellent proposals would be considered by any King who loves development to his territory. But, the proposals from every indication were basically made to throw dust into the eyes of the local people in order to win their support and by that the British Colonial Government would be able to implement their colonial political schemes.

In 1930 at the Gonja Conference at Yapei, Yapei was suggested to be "the home of the Yagbumwura." This meant the capital or seat of the Kingdom of Gonja was to move from Nyange to Yapei. This idea was unanimously endorsed by all the Sub - Divisional Chiefs and the Yagbon-wura Mahama, a man of Bole. Shortly after the meeting at Yapei, Yagbon-wura Mahama wrote to the Chief Commissioner stationed in Tamale disapproving Yapei as Gonja capital. In his letter, Yagbon-wura pointed out that Yapei was not suitable because: there were more other attractive towns for consideration; that, the capital was suitable for a place between Damongo and Larabanga; that, moving to Yapei meant a new Sub-Division and a Subordinate Native Authority were to be created to replace the Nyange Sub-Division. He suggested further that, Damongo area had good land, drinking water and cattle do well there and that, through Damongo mails could get to Wa, Lawra and Bole faster and safely.

Indeed, Yagon-wura Mahama echoed on the fact that the Eastern Sub-Divisional Chiefs, who number four, were in favour of Yapei being the seat of the Yagbon-wura. That, the Eastern Sub-Divisional Chiefs never liked staying in Nyange, due to circumstances known by themselves, when they succeed onto the Kawul Putti (throne). The complaint of the Eastern Sub-Divisional Chiefs seemed reasonable because they had to be accompanied by their kinsfolk on whose labour and services they only depend.

It is observed that no former or past Yagbumwura's family remains settled to give life to Nyange. This is what even pertains at Damongo presently. In fact, Nyange had no other Chief who kept the Yagbon-wura in company as it is now in Damongo, where lives the Damongo-wura. But, as the deliberation on sitting the capital remained not resolved, the Yagbon-wura suggested Busunu to be as the site of the headquarters and advised the British Government to drop Yapei, which was earlier suggested. Following this, another suggestion made was that instead of looking for a permanent place rather, "the Headquarters for the Administration of the Division should radiate". This meant moving it from one Sub-District to another just like how Chiefs enter the Kawul Putti. On this note, the issue about getting a suitable place for the capital was becoming complex and, therefore, discussions were suspended until a later date.

Under the reigns of Yagbum-wura Iddi (1937- 1942; from Tuluwe) and Yagbum-wura Soali (March, 1942 - January, 1943; from Kusawgu), the issue of getting a new capital town did not come up during Gonja Council meetings. Perhaps, the British Officers, who were very instrumental about removing the capital from Nyange, were on the ground educating and lobbying with Sub-Divisional Chiefs on the need to replace Nyange. Unfortunately, Yagbon-wura Soali was pronounced dead in January, 1943 and, fortunately, on 25th February, 1943, Ewutoma Ewurbunyanso Awusi succeeded as Yagbon-wura, and ruled from 1943 to1975.

From various correspondences between British Colonial Officers and Yagbon-wura, Ewutoma Ewurbunyanso Awusi, examined suggests that he was in their 'good books'. This is revealed in letters from the Yagbon-wura to the District Commissioner and vice versa. On 13th March, 1943, for instance, the Yagbon-wura (Ewutoma Ewurbunyanso Awusi) wrote the District Commissioner (J. K. G. Syme) saying that:

I shall not like to stay in Nyange and shall very much like the Government to suggest where I shall stay. I do not want to put this matter before the Council myself because I will meet with opposition by the Bole people and they will try to refer me to taboos."

In his reply to the Yagbon-wura (Ewutoma E. Awusi), J. K. G. Syme, noted that:

I was particularly pleased to receive your letter that the Headquarters of Yagbumwura should be moved from Nyange. This is a matter which I have been thinking about for some time past and it was my intention to discuss it with you as soon as we meet.

Further and paraphrasing J. K. G. Syme, the disadvantages of Nyange were enumerated as:

It is not central enough and Eastern Gonja, the most populated area is cut off; there is the tse-tse fly which do not allow horses to survive there; shortage of water and food and, therefore, Nyange is dwindling in size; and even when living in Bole instead of Salaga the District Commissioner is still too far away from Nyange for him to be able to keep close touch with the Yagbumwura; etc.

In his report to the Chief Commissioner, J. K. G. Syme remarked that:

With the appointment of a new Yagbumwura, I think the question of his future residence should be discussed. Nyange is an unsuitable place. It is far away from the Chiefs in the Eastern part of the Division for them to be in such close touch as they should and it is so near Bole that it over shadows the Sub-Division."

Then, the Chief Commissioner also wrote Yagbon-wura Ewutoma Ewurbunyanso Awusi that, "I am more certain that more progress and greater prosperity throughout the whole state would result if Yagbumwura is more centrally situated and is in close touch with Native Authorities of Eastern Gonja."

Consequently, the matter of the capital came up and three towns - Yapei, Damongo and Bole - were suggested for the Yagbon-wura to picked one. But from the discussion so far, it should be understood that there were several interest groups - Bole Chiefs, the Chiefs of Eastern Gonja and the British Commissioners - each deliberating to change or not the capital of the Kingdom of Gonja from Nyange and to where? In fact, the three towns (Yapei, Damongo and Bole) suggested for the status of capital were qualified for consideration. But, further consulting the Chiefs and Elders, he was alerted to perform certain traditional rituals. Then after, Yagbon-wura Ewutoma Ewurbunyanso Awusi, chose Damongo as the seat (Yagbon) of Gonjas. Following, on 27th July, 1943, Yagbon-wura Ewutoma Ewurbunyanso Awusi moved from "Nyange to Damongo."

However, referring to Mahama Haruna's article, he suggests other factors which disqualified Nyange from being the capital of the kingdom, and those factors seem not too convincing. In my opinion, there is the need to further explain the portions or aspects of Gonja history identified as not quite or accurately dealt with so that people who "inundated" the writer will enjoy what they read and this, if considered good enough, will also be a document for generations.

First, Mahama Haruna , indicates that "the Paramountcy was not only a ritual and juridical office but it was also located in a distant and small village." The founder of Gonja, Ndewura Jakpa, and his Mallam (Spiritual Leader), Fatigi Morukpe, were aware of the nature and size of Nyange but had to set up the capital there for the reasons earlier enumerated above. What many researchers might have failed to understand was the logic behind choosing Nyange as the capital of Gonja. Ndewura Jakpa, according to informants, saw Nyange to be the centre of the kingdom and which in future would develop into a big town. Oral tradition indicates that, the Kingdom created was from Sansane Mango in the east and across the Black Volta River in the west to Mande (in modern Mali). If so, considering the length of the territory of Gonja Nyange was appropriate.

Another remark made was that a Chief "had to uproot himself from his natal home in order to go and live at Nyange." It is understood that Ndewura Jakpa was just conquering places but did not start any settlement pattern at Nyange. Paramount Chiefs, as already pointed out, had to only be accompanied by their kinsfolk on whose labour and services he depended. Therefore, Gonja Paramount Chiefs acted like Modern State Presidents, who leave their homes and live in the national capital, when elected into office. The difference is that the Modern State Presidents build a home in the national capital but Gonja Paramount Chiefs failed to set up permanent living places for their families if they passed on. Hence, their families has to re-locate in their 'natal homes' when the Chief dies. If ex-Paramount Chiefs acted like Modern Presidents the question of loneliness, no life, no food and remoteness would not be mentioned and may not be factors to disadvantaged or disqualified Nyange as Gonja capital. Even

Further, Mahama Haruna alleges about "some mysterious happenings ..." which the "Yagbon-wura and his family use to see some things in the night" were causing him not to want to live in Nyange. This suggests that witchcraft was prevalent and disturbed Yagbon-wura Ewutoma Ewurbunyanso Awusi and his family. This is not the reason because no Paramount Chief before Ewutoma Ewurbunyanso Awusi ever complained about 'witchcraft' in Nyange. The simple reason was, perhaps, his fear for opposition from the Bole-wura and his people as found in his letter to the British Commissioners dated 13th March, 1943. There was one instance that threw great fears onto the Yagbon-wura making him wish to be relocated elsewhere.

This was the "exile of Yagbum -wura Kpirk" who hailed from Kusawgu from Nyange, an ordeal the Overlord faced, and which is still fresh in the minds of many chiefs and persists even today. Consequently, four Chiefs from Bole - Kurubang, Pontonpurong, Lanyon (1907- 1910), and Mahama Dangbonga (1912- 1937) were advantaged by the exiling of Yagbon -wura Kpirk and, they enrobed as Yagbon-wuras consecutively, ignoring the tradition and customs of Gonja. It is however known that Yagbon-wura Lanyon, who ruled from1907 to 1910, before ascending to the throne as Yagbon-wura was the Suripe (Seripe)- wura, a skin reserved for the uncles of Bole, and was a son of Kong-wura Abdulai, and was, therefore, from Kong. Because of the background of Yagbon-wura Lanyon and the hatred some Bole Chiefs have for Kong, Mandari-wura Yahaya instigated forty-five chiefs and elders who signed a petition to the British Government leading to the deskinment of Yagbon-wura Lanyon in 1910. The new Yagbon-wura, Ewutoma Awusi knowing well about the above petition against Yagbon-wura Lanyon, and believing that the Bole Chiefs and people could demonstrate against him heeded to the saying that 'prevention is better than cure' and, immediately, relocated to Damongo.

Conclusion:
From the discussion, it should be realised that the reasons for the removal of the capital of Gonja from Nyange to Damongo were multi-faceted. However, the attitude of the Bole Chiefs towards other Gonja Chiefs, particularly to Eastern Gonja Chiefs, the majority, appears to be outstanding. The influence of the British Colonial Government cannot be disregarded as a strong factor against changing Nyange as capital. However, issues of 'witchcraft' suggested in the article referred as a reason should be considered as mere speculation and untenable.

What you read is my small contribution on an aspect of the history earlier placed in the Social Media. This effort does not mean a conclusion but will progress in the shortest time into a standard work about Gonja. I hope to enjoy the support of learned individuals. However, I wish to suggest that writers or researchers using archival materials should be very careful with them because not every clan was fortunate to narrate the side of the stories we interpret as found in archival files. Let us do proper investigation and draw realistic conclusions on issues in respect of some parts of Gonja I refer to as the 'side-lined peoples'. The reason for this being that, the Colonial Agents failed to contact the Chiefs and peoples of the supposed 'side-lined areas' to hear and understand their view(s) and perspectives regarding various accusations leveled wrongly against them before writing down such information now found in our National Archival Depositories.

Mahama. Iddrisu (PhD)
Wa
September 10, 2017
References:
Primary Sources
PRAAD, Accra, ADM 56/1/334, Wala Native Affairs, 1922-1932

PRAAD, Accra, ADM 56/1/370, Proposed Headquarters at Hain and the Scrapping of Wa and Lawra, 1924.

PRAAD, Accra, ADM 56/1/200, Wa District Native Affairs, , Letter by Provincial Commissioner, 10th August,1920

PRAAD, Tamale, NRG 8/2/68, Native Authorities - Subordinate Areas, Gonja

PRAAD, Tamale, NRG 8/1/5,Native Administration, Northern Territories

PRAAD, Tamale, NRG 8/2/123, Letter by Secretary of State to the Governor, G. H. Gibbs,1936

PRAAD, Tamale, NRG 8/2/5, District Boundaries Northern Territories , Report by Louis Jaskellain, Acting Chief Commissioner, Northern Territories, 1906

PRAAD, Tamale, NRG 8/2/55,Wa District Native Affairs

PRAAD, Tamale, NRG 8/2/78, Native Administration, Gonja Division

Oral Interview(s):
Mahama Iddrisu in conversation with Cudjoe Amantana, aged110, Chief of Kunfal (Kunfal-wura), Kong, 25th May, 2014.

Books:
Boahen. Adu, Topics in West African History, School's Edition,( London, Longman, 1966)

Benning. R. B., "The Evolution of Administrative Boundaries in Northern Ghana, 1898-1965", (PhD Thesis, London, 1971)

Buah. F. K., A History of Ghana, (London, Macmillan Press Ltd.,1980)

Levtzion. Nehemia, Muslims and Chiefs in West Africa, (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1968)

Madeline Manoukian, Tribes of the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast, (London, 1951)

Tamakloe. E. F., A Brief History of the Dagbamba People, (Accra, Government Printing Office, 1931)

Tampuri. Solomon Salifu, Gonja: The Mandingoes of Ghana, (London, Lighting Source UK, 2016)

Articles:
A. A. Illiasu, Lecturer, University of Ghana, "The Gonja Revolution: The Trial of Yagbonwura Mahama and Six Others". (Undated)

J. A. Braimah, 'Timu in the History and Social Organisation of the People of Gonja", (Unpublished, 1983)

Mahama Haruna, "Why and How Yab-gbumwura Awusi moved the Capital of the Gonja Kingdom from Nyange to Damongo," (2017)

Mahama Haruna, "The Bole and Kong Schism - All You Need To Know," (2017)

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