—————————————————————————–
Bawku Naa Bugri Mambora Lobzuri was the 10th Bawku Naaba. Bawku Naa Bugri was the 3rd among the children of Bawku Naa Manbora to ascend to the skins of Bawku.
It was during the era of Bawku Naa Bugri that the Bawku skins was elevated to as it were a Divisional status(now paramountcy) bringing 18 Canton Chiefs (Bawku inclusive) under the Bawku skins.
The elevation of the Bawku skins was done by the 25th King of Mamprugu, Naa Waafu Mahama Bariga 1915-1933. Prior to the elevation of the Bawku skins, Binduri, Worikambo, Pusiga, Gumyoko, Nayoko, Sinnebaga, Teshie, Garu, etc were directly enskined by the Nayiri at Nalerigu, traditional capital of the Mamprugu kingdom. Villages like Binaba, Shiisi, Kpatia, etc were under the authority of the Tamboo Po’a Naaba at Dindanni and were enskined by her.
When the Whites got to the Bawku area, they wanted a situation like Janga, Wungu, Kpasenkpe, Bongo, Zuarungu, etc where the Divisional Chiefs there enskins the sub Chiefs. Because of the British indirect rule system, they wanted the Bawku area to also be like that of the others for easy administration.
The British colonial officer J.K.G Syme carved out the Bawku area which had about 18 independent Canton Chiefs and proposed they elect a leader among themselves for the purpose of easy administration. The contest was between Bawku Naa Bugri and the Chief of Kusanaba, Kusa-Naaba Ayeebo father Asumda a late CPP Stalwart and Bawku Naa Bugri emerged victorious making him the first head of the Bawku traditional area. Kusa-Naaba Ayeebo had only 1 vote. With cognisance of the traditional norms of the Mamprugu kingdom, J. K. G Syme sought the blessings of the Nayiri, Naa Waafu Mahama Bariga and Bawku Naa Bugri who was the Chief of Bawku alone was now enskined as the Chief of Bawku traditional area now comprising the 18 Canton Chiefs.
After Bawku Naa Bugri was elevated to that status, a traditional amendment was made by the Nayiri and all the 18 Canton Chiefs whom hitherto were independent from the Bawku Naaba were now subjects of the Bawku Naaba. It should however be emphasized that some of the Mamprusi Chiefs resisted this amalgamation initially, notable among them was the Worikam-Daana Chief of Worikambo because by tradition, the Worikambo skins is senior to the Bawku skins before the Nayiri. Aside Worikambo, Binduri, Sinnebaga, etc were equally senior to the Bawku skins by custom and tradition but because the elevation was done by the Nayiri, all this Chiefs succumbed to the Nayiri’s authority.
All the Kusasi Canton Chiefs voted for Bawku Naa Bugri at their own will leaving Kusa-Naaba Ayeebo, Chief of Kusanaba. Even J.K.G Syme had wanted Kusa-Naaba Ayeebo to be elected but the Kusasi Canton refused sighting the fact that Chieftaincy is a novelty to they Kusasi and it is the Mamprusi that made them Chiefs so therefore they can not make one of their own the head over the Mamprusi. This was the highest level of loyalty and honesty expressed by the Kusasi without any form of duress whatsoever. So the current mantra by the self proclaimed Kusasi that they’re fighting for their independence is neither here nor there.
Bawku Naa Bugri Lobzuri reigned as the Chief of Bawku traditional area till his demise in 1935 and was succeeded by his brother Bawku Naa Kulga Yakubu Manbora, 4th among the children of Bawku Naa Manbora to ascend to the skins of Bawku. It should be noted that, Bawku Naa Kulga Yakubu Manbora is the direct grandfather of the reigning 15th Bawku Naaba Naa Sheriga Alhaji Seidu Abagre.
At the time all this traditional reorganisation of the Bawku traditional area was done, the Azoka family was no where close to Bawku. They were still at their base in Duutinga a Yaanga settlement in Burkina Faso. They later got to Pusiga and subsequently to Bawku around the 1940s during the reign of the 12th Bawku Naaba Naa Saa Bugri Wuni. Aninchema is a Yaanga by tribe and not a Kusasi, not even his grandfather was in Bawku at the time all the aforementioned historical antecedents happened so he has no idea how Mamprusi and Kusasi lived prior to 1957. His father, a traitor was a servant to Bawku Naa Salma Yirimea but later stabbed Bawku Naa Yirimea at the back. Abugrago Azoka father of Abugrago Aninchema only benefited from Kwame Nkrumah CPP political interference in Chieftaincy and his son Aninchema is still benefiting from same political interference.
The aforementioned historical facts, goes to deflate the long term propaganda churned out by the Kusasi that it was the Whites that brought the Mamprusi to rule over they Kusasi. Bawku was founded by the Mamprusi and ruled by them since 1721, long before the arrival of the Whites. What the White Colonial officer J. K.G Syme only did in the 1930s was to reorganize the Bawku traditional area for easy administration.
In the picture below is Bawku Naa Bugri Mambora Lobzuri and his Elders with J. K. G Syme and his Officers.
…SIGNED…
Mamprugu Kaya Ni Ta’ada -North East Region
Kindly read all the Latest News, Entertainment News and gossips here. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Telegram.