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I have made a case that the proposed region based on the geographical boundaries of Gonjaland should be called “GONJALAND REGION” without elaborating on my reasons.
Before I proceed, I wish to say I agree with Dr Abu Sakara Foster (former CPP Presidential candidate) who wrote;
“Good argument but this is not the time to stoke up fiery issues. the name is not necessary for the referendum. So strategy is downplay that. When we have the region from the results we can debate the name. Do everything now to charm the most ardent naysayers. You can only count the grass cutters in a bush when they are staked on your stick”.
Notwithstanding what Dr Abu Sakara said, I still need to explain myself to bring clarity to my argument.
The concern that if the proposed region based on the geographical boundaries of Gonjaland is named GONJALAND REGION, that could alienate other ethnic groups. But I think that is untenable. Why do we name our districts West Gonja, Central Gonja, East Gonja and North Gonja but cannot name the the proposed region GONJALAND REGION.
To me the word Gonja can be used to describe and identify all people from Gonjaland who have been part of the history of the Gonja State- that is the Ngbanya (who are majority on Gonjaland), the Vagla, Safalba, Mmara, Hanga, Tampulma, Nawuri and others.
This is because Gonja was derived from a Hausa word “GORON JAH” meaning “RED COLA NUT”.
During the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, a trade market was established in Salaga. Alongside this Slave Market, a big commercial market was also developed.
This attracted traders from the Northern Sub-Saharan African continent (Timbuktu, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna etc) to Salaga with all manner of wares.
The Asantes from Southern Ghana came with Cola Nut which were heavily patronised by the Hausa Traders from Northern Nigeria.
The Trade in Cola Nut grew and became so popular in the Salaga Area that people began to refer to Salaga as “KASSA GORON JAH” meaning “LAND OF RED COLA” in Hausa.
Eventually the entire land was referred to as GONJA.
One could therefore say that all the indigenous ethnic groups in Gonjaland can be called Gonjas.
No Gonja (of the lineage of Ndewura Jakpa and his followers) has ever called himself Gonja. They call themselves NGBANYA which also has its meaning.
It is narrated that when Gonjas were leaving Mande for their expedition those remaining at home wished them good luck and asked then “to be quick and return home quickly”. In the Segu (Jula/Wangara) language which the present Ngbanya have abandoned for a Guan langauge, they said; “Ar gbanya; tagjona, kana jona.”
But there is yet another meaning of the name Ngbanya. Some say Ngbanya simply means BRAVE MEN.
So the original name of Gonjas of the Ndewura Jakpa lineage is NGBANYA. To me the Ngbanya simply latched the name Gonja perhaps thinking they alone are from the land of the Red Cola.
Our situation is similar to the Asantes who call themselves Asantes but have Sekyere, Adansi, Agona, Kwabre, Ahafo and others.
Note:
1. One Gonja is called KAGBANYA.
2. More than one is NGBANYA
3. A Male Gonja is KAGBANYA- NYIN
4. A Female Gonja is called KAGBANYA-CHE
5. A Child is KAGBANYA- BIA
6. The Language or Dialect is called NGANYATO
By Mahama Haruna
