Kusasi people
Encyclopedia
The Kusasi people are an ethnic group
in northern Ghana
and southern Burkina Faso
. They speak the Kusaal language
, a Gur language.
of northern Ghana, a region inhabited by a mixture of peoples, including the Mamprusi
who came over from across the White Volta
in Mamprugu in the era preceding the colonization of the area and other minority groups like the Bisa or Busasi, Moshie, Fulani
and Bimoba communities. The relations between Kusasi and other ethnic groups have been troubled in recent times. Control of Bawku
and the paramountcy
located there has caused sour relations and the ethnic distrust. Previously, the various ethnic groups maintained good relations, and ethnic intermarriages mediated by a substantial bride wealth
settlement have been characteristic of the area.
The Kusasiland is divided culturally into two divisions – the western or Atoende division that lies to the west of the Red Volta
and the Agolle division to the east. Though Kusasi constitute a fairly homogenous cultural and linguistic group, there are perceptible cultural and linguistic differences between Agolle Kusasi and Atoende Kusasi. The Atoende have been culturally influenced by their neighbours to the west, the Nabdem.
The multi-ethnic town of Bawku is the largest commercial town in the Upper East. Its growth has been in response to its commercial role and its attraction of traders and merchandise from Burkina Faso
, Togo
and beyond. Its specialties include kola nuts
from Southern Ghana destined for Burkina Faso, livestock
, onions and other local produce.
The Kusasis had no chiefs but rather Tindaanas. The Tindaana is a religious figure who serves as the intermediary between the gods of the land and the people of Bawku. As a result, when the British arrived and needed chiefs for purposes of indirect rule, the five Mamprusi chiefs were useful as aides and had their authority extended, thus strengthening the power of Mamprusi under the British empowerment. In Kusasi localities, some Tindaanas were made de-facto chiefs by adding secular functions to their religious powers.
Control has changed several times between Mamprusi and Kusasi since the time of Independence. Bawku is now ruled by Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka 11, a Kusasi, who is also the former president of the Upper East Regional House Of Chiefs.
Disputes over leadership and territory date from at least 1929, when, according to Naba Azoka, the British colonial government in 1929, specified the administrative districts in the then Northern Territories of the Gold Coast according to colonial boundaries. At that conference, he said, the Mamprusi District was clearly separated from the Kusasi District, and the Bawku area which the Mamprusis claim was the Kusasis’ original base.
and Christianity
are also practiced.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
in northern Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
and southern Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
. They speak the Kusaal language
Kusaal language
Kusaal is a Gur language spoken primarily in northern Ghana. It is spoken by roughly 400,000 people and takes its name from the Kusasi people, who form the majority of the population of the area in the far northeast of Ghana, between the Gambaga escarpment, the Red Volta, and the national borders...
, a Gur language.
Geography
Around 400,000 Kusasi are found in the Bawku DistrictsBawku Municipal District
The Bawku Municipal District is one of the eight districts in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The district borders Burkina Faso and Togo.Kusasi, Mamprussi, Bissa and Mossi are the main ethnic groups living in Bawku District, with the Kusasi forming the majority of the population, followed by Bissa....
of northern Ghana, a region inhabited by a mixture of peoples, including the Mamprusi
Mamprusi people
The Mamprusi or Mamprussi are an ethnic group of northern Ghana and Togo. There are some 450,000 living in Ghana, and approximately 11,000 in Togo...
who came over from across the White Volta
White Volta
The White Volta, also known as the Nakambe River, is the headstream of the Volta River in West Africa. It originates in Burkina Faso and it flows into Lake Volta in Ghana. Its main tributaries are the Black Volta and the Red Volta....
in Mamprugu in the era preceding the colonization of the area and other minority groups like the Bisa or Busasi, Moshie, Fulani
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
and Bimoba communities. The relations between Kusasi and other ethnic groups have been troubled in recent times. Control of Bawku
Bawku
Bawku is a town in Ghana. It is the capital of the Bawku Municipal District. As of 2005, the town's population is estimated at 71,982 making it the fifteenth largest city in Ghana.-References:...
and the paramountcy
Paramountcy
The doctrine of paramountcy is the legal principle that reconciles contradicting or conflicting laws in a federalist state. Where both the central government and the provincial or state governments have the power to create laws in relation to the same matters, the laws of one government will be...
located there has caused sour relations and the ethnic distrust. Previously, the various ethnic groups maintained good relations, and ethnic intermarriages mediated by a substantial bride wealth
Bride price
Bride price, also known as bride wealth, is an amount of money or property or wealth paid by the groom or his family to the parents of a woman upon the marriage of their daughter to the groom...
settlement have been characteristic of the area.
The Kusasiland is divided culturally into two divisions – the western or Atoende division that lies to the west of the Red Volta
Red Volta
The Red Volta or Nazinon is a river in Burkina Faso. The river originates near Ouagadougou and flows about 320 km to join the White Volta....
and the Agolle division to the east. Though Kusasi constitute a fairly homogenous cultural and linguistic group, there are perceptible cultural and linguistic differences between Agolle Kusasi and Atoende Kusasi. The Atoende have been culturally influenced by their neighbours to the west, the Nabdem.
The multi-ethnic town of Bawku is the largest commercial town in the Upper East. Its growth has been in response to its commercial role and its attraction of traders and merchandise from Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
, Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
and beyond. Its specialties include kola nuts
Kola nut
Kola Nut is the nut of the kola tree, a genus of trees native to the tropical rainforests of Africa, classified in the family Malvaceae, subfamily Sterculioideae . It is related to the South American genus Theobroma, or cocoa...
from Southern Ghana destined for Burkina Faso, livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
, onions and other local produce.
Traditional authority
Traditionally, the paramount chief of Mamprugu (the nayiri) installed five chiefs directly from Mamprugu to the Kusasiland. The main function of these chiefs was to keep open the trade route between Nalerigu, the Mamprusi capital and Tenkudougou in Burkina Faso, and to provide escort for traders and slaves from the north.The Kusasis had no chiefs but rather Tindaanas. The Tindaana is a religious figure who serves as the intermediary between the gods of the land and the people of Bawku. As a result, when the British arrived and needed chiefs for purposes of indirect rule, the five Mamprusi chiefs were useful as aides and had their authority extended, thus strengthening the power of Mamprusi under the British empowerment. In Kusasi localities, some Tindaanas were made de-facto chiefs by adding secular functions to their religious powers.
Control has changed several times between Mamprusi and Kusasi since the time of Independence. Bawku is now ruled by Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka 11, a Kusasi, who is also the former president of the Upper East Regional House Of Chiefs.
Disputes over leadership and territory date from at least 1929, when, according to Naba Azoka, the British colonial government in 1929, specified the administrative districts in the then Northern Territories of the Gold Coast according to colonial boundaries. At that conference, he said, the Mamprusi District was clearly separated from the Kusasi District, and the Bawku area which the Mamprusis claim was the Kusasis’ original base.
Religion
The cult of the earth and the role of earth priests go further back in time. Kusasi traditional religion, like that of other neighbouring peoples, recognizes the role of the ancestors and local divinities represented by material objects like rivers, hills and forest groves in the lives of the people. Household heads have an obligation to make periodic sacrifices to the ancestors and the local gods for the prosperity of their dependents. They have traditionally celebrated the Samapiid festival in commemoration of their ancestors and for expression of gratitude to the gods for a successful year and the harvest. Today IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
are also practiced.