MAMPRUSI CULTURE.

MAMPRUSI CULTURE.



A young mamprusi chlid in a smock doing the damba dance.

Mamprusi people; one of Ghanaian unique and ancient people in the North and the eldest of the Mole-Dagbani ethnic group comprising of the Mossi,Nanumba,Dagomba and the Mamprusi.They are mostly found in the Northern and Upper East regions of Ghana in specific towns as Nalerigu and Gambaga and the Northern part of Togo.History has it that, this group of people are descendants of Na Gbewa.

Among the four groups, the Mamprusi people are the leaders and the final authority. In terms of the language, mampruli is one of the number of Mole Dagbani dialect spoken in Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo.Many languages of this people are spoken by contiguous population due to the frequent intermarriages.Focusing on the economy, agriculture and animal husbandary provide subsistence for most of them.

Based on their belief system, a majority of mamprusi people are traditionalists. The supreme god is referred to as 'Naa-wuni' which is used by Mamprusi  muslims and traditionalists. In traditional worship, the god is not worshipped or referred to except in exclamations. Ancestors are believed to intervene  through  various diviners who live in each village .Communication with ancestoral spirits is done via sacrifices and offerings.There is also a belief in witchcraft. In Africa this is usually common due to the little knowledge about science and effective ways of dealing with unpleasant situations. Ancestors and witches are seen as brains behind such situations.When a woman is accused of witchcraft, she is banished from the community and confined to a camp.eg Gambaga witchcamp.
                                                                                             



Tuo Zaafi

With respect to marriage,Mamprusi royal must marry commoners. In effect, they want to spread their matrilineal alliance. In view of this, members of one matrimonial alliance cannot marry but those of one patrilineal alliance can marry. However, polygamy is allowed among chiefs and important commoners while sororal polygny is frowned upon.Marriage is established with gifts of kola. Also, the Mamprusi people celebrate both the Damba and Bugum(fire) festivals.Some delicacies of this group of people include; 'Tuo Zaafi', rice balls with green leaves soup, cowpea with sheanut oil and pepper called 'tubaani', millet or corn porridge. Beverages includes 'zoom koom' or toasted millet flour in water, and 'fula' mashed in water, milk ginger and sugar.

Architectural and craft  aspects identifies mamprusi people with round huts with conical thatched roofs.Traditional textile in the North is the Fugu or smock at centers as Yendi, Tamale, Gushiegu and Daboya.Water pots and baskets are alsao produced. Indeed, the mamprusi people have also contributed to the rich Ghanaian heritage.

 

                                      A young boy in 'fugu'.