The Magnificent Yidantɔɣim aka YƐlizolilan Laɣafu

Narrated by Malik Alshabazz

Whoever said Achilles was the greatest warrior has probably never heard of your grandfather, Naa Andani Jirilondi or Naa Ablai Naɣbiɛɣu. But, perhaps generally, these men are descendants of greater warriors and men of valour; The Lions of Dagbon. One of such men, was the magnificent Yɛlizolilan Laɣafu.

Malik Alshabazz

Before he ever sat on a chieftaincy skin, Yidantɔɣim ( Yɛlizolilan laɣafu)was a well known Malam in Yɛlzoli. Though a ” paɣabia”, he was one of the most powerful persons in that era. And feared for his knowledge of the secretes and mysticism of the Qur’an.

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His mother, Kpatu-Naa Ashetu ” Naawuni Dikijini ku zo saa” was the daughter of Naa Andani Jɛngbariga ” Pupɔrigi zaŋ dirigu bini, n- ŋmaligi sɔŋ dirigu dooni ” ” Yuɣinpini bili gɔhi n-tiligi ŋmɛri”Kpatu-Naa Ashetu is the direct elder sister of Naa Yakubu Nantoo” Nantoo che biɛm ka mɔha gari kɔbiga” “Balim balim kɔligu ku cheei yom “.

This makes Naa Yakuba a direct uncle of Yɛlzolilan Laɣafu. When Yani became vacant, the button of ascension fell at the door step of Kpatunaa-Ashetu, since she was the elders.

But because she was a woman, she was far from being considered, since a woman can not be a Yaa-Naa. Upon consultations, the king Makers finally settled on Naa Suman Zoli.

So, when the news broke out that Naa Sumani has been nominated successor of their father’s skin, Yidantɔɣim was astonished that the Yani skin remained in their family. On a clear sky on a Friday, Naa Sumani became ” Gbewaa Zuu, Gbuɣinli, Tihi ni Mɔrilana, Zuɣusaa Mini Tiŋlana, Andunia Lana”.

When the coronation of Yaa Naa Suman Zoli was over, Yɛlzolilan laɣafu, who graced the occasion of his uncle, alongside his following, made their way back to Yɛlzoli. On his way back, he decided to stop at his mother’s place to celebrate the success of their family’s victory.

When Yidantɔɣim entered his mother’s palace, he was met with a rather sad face. After the usual Mother and Son pleasantaries, there was a minute of silent, until Yidantɔɣim decided to break that silence with ” Ni ti zuɣusuŋ” ( an expression of victory). He then continued. .. “our family has won another victory.

My uncle, Naa Suman Zoli has Ascended the Yani skin”In a shocking reaction, his mother, Kpatu-Naa Ashetu (Chief of Kpatuya) spat on the ground. She then called a child from her compound, ” bring yesterday’s T.Z for Yidantɔɣim to eat and be on his way.

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I have given birth to a liability. I am ashamed!Oh mother, what crime have I committed to deserve such a ridicule? Asked the Noble Yidantɔɣim. His mother spat yet again and said ” if not a coward, which child celebrates the insult of his father? “ I have been disgraced! She continued. …

So you are celebrating because your uncle, Miɔŋlan Yakubu has been robbed off his rightful claim to the skin of Yani? I am ashamed! If not because I’m a woman, I should have been the Yaa-Naa and you would have been a ” Yaanabia” I refused all the royals of Dagbon and married your father, who was just an Islamic cleric, because a soothsayer had told me I will give birth to a great man if I marry him.

Today, I am shamed! I sacrificed for nothing.Your uncle, Yakuba may die without ascending the Yani skin and our line will be short-chained forever. Is this what you call victory ? I am ashamed of you! Where is the child I called?

Bring Yidantɔɣim yesterday’s tz, so that he can eat and be on his way. At this point, your grandfather, Yɛlizolilan Laɣafu’s smile had left him. He was torn between anger, sorrow and regret.

He realised how ignorant he had been. What a misfortune he celebrated. And in that anger, he uttered words which will bring in its wake, other long years of uncertainty in Dagbon history.” mother, I shall prove to you that I am not a liability.

I will make my uncle Yakuba Yaa-Naa, whether Dagbon likes it or not” These were the words of your grandfather, Yɛlizolilan-Laɣafu ka kpam.” Pakpaŋ dapal yɛlbierili, di ku bie ninyino”.He greeted his mother goodbye and then departed to Yɛlizoli.

Malik Alshabazz

One early morning, a message was delivered at the palace of Zohi-Naa. The message was too heavy for one man to bear, so Zohi-Naa personally walked out of his palace to inform Mba-Duɣu. “Yidantɔɣim says he wants Naa Sumani out of the Gbewaa palace and his uncle, Miɔŋlan Yakuba installed as Yaa-Naa. He says if we fail to grant his wish, he will attack his uncle and wipe his name from the history books “

What can Yidantɔɣim do? Says some elders at the Gbewaa palace. Let him come and face us! But Zohi-Naa was a thoughtful one. ” those of you saying what can he do? You are either ignorant of the personality you are talking about or you don’t know what you’re saying. when a blind man says he’ll throw stones at you, he’s probably already stepping on one.

Everyone in Dagbɔŋ knows that Yidantɔɣim is a powerful man. Let us find out why he wants to fight his own uncle so that we can negotiate a truce “.Only a lion dares another lion. We all know his lineage. This is the best cause of action. But that truce never saw the light of day. For Yidantɔɣim’s words were sacred ”

Make my uncle, Naa Yakuba Yaa-Naa or you’ll have a funeral to perform”Indeed, nothing can push a man further than the words of a mother. Your grandfather, Yidantɔɣim was very emphatic on his wish. ” I do not wish to fight anyone in Dagbon, I don’t want bloodshed, I only want Naa Sumani out of the palace, and my uncle, Naa Yakuba installed as Yaa-Naa. Unless this is done, I’ll strike!

And on a certain Friday, as early as the cock crowed, the inhabitants of Sankara yili woke up to a shocking sight. Monkeys invaded the entire town. The scary part was that even the Dogs took to their heels at the mere sight of these monkeys. Something is amidst, said the older men.

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We have never witnessed such a strange occurrence. By the time the sun emerged, words had reached the Gbewaa palace that Yidantɔɣim was approaching Yendi. The Gbewaa palace won’t be soiled by blood, so Naa Sumani and his warriors, including the Namɔɣilinsi took a stance at the road leading to Bimbila.

And that is where the infamous battle between YɛlzolilanLaɣafu and Naa Suman Zoli started.Yɛlzollan Laɣafu’s attack was swift and devastating. Naa Suman Zoli’s army had no option than to retreat. Yɛlzolilana pushed Naa Sumani’s army across the Kulkpuni and towards Tamale. And by dusk, Naa Sumani and his army had retreated all the way to Miɔŋ, where the battle was halted for the night’s rest.

This is where the Wɔrizohi of Dagbon arrived in the defense of their king, Naa Suman Zoli. They included the Tolon-Naa in front. The Gushe-Naa at the right and the Kumbun-Naa on the left. Indeed, the battle will definitely take a different trend.

So when the army of Yɛlzolilan Laɣafu initiated the next attack, ” Wunyuɣiri Naa”, ” Lɔɣubuya Naa” and ” Mal ti ma ka deei duŋ Naa” formed a ring around Naa-Sumani and the hunter became the hunted.

At this stage, the army of Yɛlzolilan Laɣafu took the defense. They were pushed back, all the way towards where the war began. Then a few meters into Yendi, something strange happened. Till this day, no one can explain what happened. Surrounded by the great warriors of Dagbon, the wall that was built around, Naa -Sumani was impenetrable. But indeed, only the lions know the secrets of the jungle.

And when two lions fight, the rest of the animals can not serve as spectators and the story of that battle can only be narrated at the beginning and the end. What happened in between,…. well. Then all of a sudden, the winds stopped. And the trees were still and the birds stopped singing.

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Then a voice uttered in a loud tone ” Your king is dead. You can stop the war now”. These words came from no other person but, Yɛlzolilan Laɣafu…… I only came here for Sumani and my mission has been accomplished. Whether you kill me now or not, you will still have to get a new Yaa-Naa.

But I tell you, None of you can kill me! So stop the war, for no son of Dagbon need to bleed again. I am leaving…..But if anyone is installed as Yaa-Naa and that person isn’t my uncle Miɔŋlan Yakuba, you will see me again!

These were the words of no mean person but Yɛlizollan Laɣafu ” pakpaŋ dapal Yɛlbierili, di ku bie ninyino”. Son of Kpatu-Naa Ashetu ” Naawuni dikijin ku zo saa”- Daughter of Naa Andani Jɛngbariga ” Naawuni cheli dikpuni din viɛla, ka ninkura ʒini tabili, ka bihi paɣi wuni”

So, where and how did Yɛlizoli lan Laɣafu raise his army? The whispers that passed from ear to ear has it that, the monkeys that invaded the town of Yendi were the army of Yɛlizolilan Laɣafu. He had changed monkeys into a human-army to fight his uncle. But our elders say, ” Kpaɣu kuri o lana, ka kuni Yani?” The funeral of a person is done by the person’s family. Like the proverbial kasuli-lan Yahaya, ” ŋuni n naam kuli”. But the ways of the lions of Dagbon are not ordinary. Who are we to pass judgment. But indeed, history thus repeats itself…

After uttering these words, Yidantɔɣim left with his warriors. Before he reached Yendi, the whole town was in a curfew. Apparently, the rumor about the fall of Naa Sumani was rife.

This sent uncertainty across the length and breadth of Dagbon. And the only thing that was visible was emptiness and silence. And there, where the Yendi Airport lies today, is the final resting place of Naa Suman Zoli. For that is where he fell. That was the final ground of the war between two lions.

For they had tried to move him to no avail. All means to physically and spiritually move Naa Suman Zoli from where he laid failed. Having spent a whole day trying to carry him, the elders finally said ” He doesn’t want to be buried in the Katini. This is where he prefers to lie”.

So he was buried there, and a house was built in honor of a befitting Yaa-Naa. And as time passed, the lion skin lay vacant for a while. No son of a lion dared show interest in occupying his father’s skin. Only one man came forward.

And that is Naa Yakubu Nantoo.” Ninyino ku bahi mɔni. O yɛn bahi mɔni ka ŋun di di li?”” Ninyino ku pa tantani. O yɛn pa ka ŋun vaai ?.” Fulalan moona, ka Yakubu ŋun nyaɣsi o nyee” So in no time, he became the mighty lion of Dagbon. Gbewaa zuuZaachiGbuɣinliBan mali laambi baBan ka laambi ba.

When Naa Yakubu Nantoo came out from the Katini, he gave his name to the drummers. He called himself ” Nabihi Nantoo”.Ni ŋun Yakubu pala piɛri NantooO mi pala buhi NantooNi o mi pala binkɔbiri NantooNi ŋun Yakuba nyɛla Nabihi Nantoo.Ni nabia ŋun niŋ parapi, ka ŋun Yakuba to n-gbaai .

This was a clear warning to the other lions to be wary of him. He, Naa Yakuba was venom to the lions. Whichever of them comes near him will perish. Our elders have a saying that ” When you see a toad on top of a tree, it has several helpers”. With a strong Nephew like Yɛlzolilan Laɣafu, who would dare make a move on Naa Yakuba. Indeed, his reign was said to be a long period of peace and harmony in Dagbon.

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Few months into Naa Yakuba’s reign, the chief of Nakpachee died and Nakpachee became vacant. Yidantɔɣim went to his mother and told her ” people just call me Afa Yidantɔɣim. I want Nakpachee, so that I can be addressed properly. I am a descendant of the lions”.

Go and tell your uncle that I said he should give Nakpachee to you. Says his mom. When Yidantɔɣim went to his uncle, Naa Yakuba was reluctant. Naa Yakuba: You know Nakpachee is under the chief of Gbungbaliga. He may have promised it to someone already. Yidantɔɣim: If it were Ablai or Andani who came to you, seeking to occupy that title, would you have denied them?

Remember it is my mother’s seat you occupy. If not because she’s a lady, would you have occupied that seat? Naa Yakuba: OK, you can have Nakpachee. So Yidantɔɣim became chief of Nakpachee. In no time, Taɣanamo became vacant and Yɛlzolilan Laɣafu annexes Taɣamo in addition to Nakpachee. And Gbungbaliga became vacant, and your grandfather, Yidantɔɣim added Gbungbaliga to Nakpachee and Taɣanamo.

This was followed by Demong, Kɔrili, Zabzuɣu, and then finally, Yɛlzoli. And just when Yidantɔɣim thought he would rest for a while, one of his wives abused him, saying ” But for a weakling like you, who goes about annexing chieftaincy titles from his mothers side”

So Yidantɔɣim, ” Pakpaŋ dapali yɛlbieri ku bie ninyino ” went back to his uncle and took over Yidan Chim yili; were his patrilineal grandfather was once a chief. In totality, Yɛlzolilan Laɣafu alone occupied 8 towns at the same time.

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This he did, under the glaring view of the Yaa-Nabihi. And in the nick of time, late into the over 38years rule of Naa Yakuba, an unfortunate event occurred. This incident is what will lead to what is known in history today as ” Nabikura mini Nabi pala” zabili.

This is the rise of the little princes against the continuous annexing of chieftaincy titles by Yidantɔɣim. For it was feared that Yidantɔɣim would take over Yani after Naa Yakuba dies. This war will further give rise to the Yani gates-which is known today as Abudu and Andani yili. And this famous war took place at Vittin, now in (Tamale).