The Lions of Dagbon

Abstract

The political conflict that has taken the most violent form and proved costliest in human lives in Ghana in the last half century has been a chieftaincy dispute in the northern kingdom of Dagomba, known as the Yendi skin dispute. The major loss of life took puce in 1969 but the dispute has continued to trouble Ghanaian politics and has affected the careers of national leaders under both civilian and military regimes. It is one of the most complex, explosive and intractable disputes in a country noted for conflicts over chieftaincy. Mr Staniland examines the political history of Dagomba, one of the most important pre-colonial states in what is now Ghana, from its partition between the British and the Germans in 1899. He analyses the attitudes and policies of successive governments towards chieftaincy and `traditionalism', and the effects which outside control has had on dynastic politics.

Digging Deeper: Inside Africa’s Agricultural, Food and Nutrition Dynamics

“…While the accuracy of these reports is questionable, they are the most reliable sources available. The 1907 figure of 1435 is taken from Staniland (1977) and is based on archival records that are, to my knowledge, no longer available.…”

The Blacksmiths of Tamale: The Dynamics of Space and Time in a Ghanaian Industry

“…In about 1700 Zanjina, an ambitious man who had become wealthy as a trader and who had Hausa allies, bought his way to the throne (the ‘skin’ of Yendi). He reorganized the royal court, became a Muslim, and is said by the drummers to have introduced clothing to the Dagomba (Staniland 1975: 20).…”

Ideology, Regionalism, Self-Interest and Tradition: An Investigation into Contemporary Politics in Northern Ghana

“…The initial dispute was resolved by the enskinment of the elder brother (Abudulai) who was then succeeded by the younger brother (Andani), but it was never resolved to the satisfaction of all parties that this process of rotation between the two groups of claimants should be continued. From Andani's death until 1967 there were five Ya Nas, of whom only one (Mahama II 1938-48) was a member of the Andani gate, and his succession was only obtained through British intervention (Staniland 1975). This pattern of conflict continues to occur whenever the incumbent chief dies or a change of regime in Accra takes place.…”