PART  II  (301-551)

Kanjaga

2 (theft); 107: headmen, palaver, votes for paramount chief (1910?); 149, 193, 196f, 198, 201, 205f, 211, 216, 231-236, 318, 328; 360f; 375; 475: Boania: River to Wiesi; 477; 503; 504: 3-day trek to Kunbugu market for yams; 505, 506: Fulani; 507f,

chiefs: 5; 6f: Ankanaba elected (1912); 8-11: Adachuro; 32 Ampoba deposed (1926) and  elected; 34: Ayamkom destooled; 78: Babatu, Adachuro elected (1906);  82 list; 90 list; 148: Adachuro died on 27-6-14; had been deposed in April 1913; 176; 180; 183; 185; 187; 189; 224: Adachuro (1905), 225-227; 228: Ankanab should become chief and Adachuro to be deposed (1911); 229: Akanaba elected: 24-4-1913; 230?, 231: Ankanaba old (1922), dies 1922,  Anatiw elected (July 1922); 232f; 234: chief Anatiu died 21-1-1934; election; 235: Ampanta elected: 22-24 Feb 1934; 329; 348, 349: fined; 357, 359, 378, 495f, 508, 521;

544: 27 (?) July 1926: Ampoba removed from Chiefship for failing to assist the Government over Rinderpest + telling lies…  Whittall AgCNP

20th August 1926 Ayakom Kanjarga elected chief. He has a following over 200 compound owners and 350 men as against his rival Azambadi Kanjarga who had a following of 51 compound owners and 79 men (No boys and youth were counted. Ayamkom is a middle aged man and looks strong though a bit curly. Azambodi Kanjaga was a very old man in the doting stage. There were no other competitors.

Ayamkom Kanjarga in the presence of the Head Chief Awe of Navrongo was told that he was elected Chief on 3 years probation. Head chief Awe assured me that Ayamkom would be of great assistance to him.

history: 55: new market; 345;
sections and headmen: 107, 110; 184: 14 sections; 225, 227: headmen, 220, 228 (1913); 231-233; 234 + number of compounds; 235
recruiting: 168 Sgt. Soalla in Kanjaga; 227: discharged
t.n,+tanggbain.: 232

Uploads

 

 

December 9, 1930: Recruiting party in from Sandema with 15 recruits.

 

(20.12.1930) Cyprian is going to do west of the census

 

 

 

 

 

 

(July 22, 1932) To Sandema, where I was met by all the Builsa chiefs who had come to talk to me aboutN.A. + Native Treasuries. W had a long talk and then I tought it was a good opportunity to talk about their family history. Sandema, Wiaga, Kadema, Siniessi and Doninga had their …. there so I was able to get quite a lot of useful information. Unfortunately nobody knows the history before the Mamprusi came. The ancestors of these people certainly came from Gambaga or near there, but it was owing to a quarrel that their first ancestor left there and he swore an oath that if any of his descendants set foot in Mamprusi again they would die!  I (Olivier?) will write a full report on this, when I have all the facts I want. It is certain though, that the word Builsa is the … of Builga which is derived from the home of the home of the Tongu [?] … (Builo) spoken by the men who these Mamprusi found at Sandema when they first arrived there. I can find no confirmation in Captain Eyre-Smith’s statement that they are derived from a village called Builo near Gambaga.   

(August 1932) Chief… Sandema, but warned the Chief… that I could not support him unless  he backed me up by looking after his people properly. 

35. Got a good part of information about their History. 

36. To Kunkwa: Several complaints here again, for the most part against the chief. Inquired into them and referred them to Sandema. 

37. Talked about their history etc. and was just … down their relation with Passankwia when Pitadina, the … chief of Passankwia appeared in the scene, having come over for the Kunkwa market. 

38. His information proved very interesting and [he] told me a long story of theri ancnestors, mentioneing Na Atabia as the father of the men who came here from Mamprussi. This was the first time the name of a Na had been mentioned in my investigation. Some of his story was uindoubtedly true as it was backed up by stories I had heard before, but on the other hand there were certain things which I had proved in my own mind was false.   

39. However, I considered myself lucky to knock up against the very man who had made claim to nearly all Builsa Country in 1919, and who was destooled owing to Captain Armitage (then CCNT) finding that his claims were groundless.

41. I had intended to go to Wiasi and round by Fumbisi, Kanjaga + Gwedema but when I got to Uassi I had a telegram from the D.D. Mamprussi saying that the CCNT was coming to Zuarungu on the 20th + wanted to see me. I therefore changed my plans + stayed the night in Kadema.

(Septembeer 1937) 14h  … I want to do a forthnight’s treck round Bulsa country. I must wait….

16h …met Clark Gibbs and … He talked about the relation of the Builsa folk with Passankwia, and I am going as soon as possible round Builsa country to ask if any villages wish to follow Passinkwia. ..

54. Rainfalls for month: 16.35 inches.    Signed  S.J. Olivier, D.C.

October (same handwriting): …men from Gwedema came in and complained that the Chief, who is quite the wrong man, has been abusing them for tellling me the truth about their history and their system of election chiefs. They told me when I was there in August that the Chiefs in the past had all come from the same branch of the family or that they formerly went to the Tong. This man who was … was  not of the proper Chief’s family, and did not go  to Tong when he was elected. He is now abusing the people 

1656-fk342    Olivier:
30. Went on a bicycle to mile 6 along the road to Tamale early.
56. Rainfall for month [September?]: 16.35 inches
October
… men from Gwedema came in and complained that the Chief who is quite the wrong man, has been abusing them for telling me the truth about their history and their system of election of Chiefs. They told me when I was there in August that the Chiefs in the past had all come from the same branch of the family and that they formerly went to the Tong fetish. This man who was elected was not of the proper Chiefs’ family, and did not go to Tong when he was elected. He is now abusing the people

 

(Novembeer 1932, handwriting Olivier)

3rd (November), no 8: The Chief of Kaanjaga came and complained about the behaviour of an ex-soldier living there. He stopped the market overseer collecting 1d frooom each market stall… I have sent for him.

9. A lorry arrived [where? in Navrongo?] in the evening having come through from Tamale today. It belonged to a Syrian …

 

 

(Handwriting Olivier?) No. 26:  Colonel Gibbs and I went to Kunkwa where we intended to meet the Chiefs of Kunkwa, Giadema … Jawah.. and Bugiyungs (?) to be there tomorrow. 

Yagaba… The work was done very credibly, by the people of Wiesssi, Kunkwa, Fumbisi, Kanjaga, Giadema, Gwedemblissi, Y… as far as the Yagaba …

26. … that the people ofGiadinia, Aba, Tamalie, Buguyinga + Katigri should follwo Passankwia as it is their wish to do so

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1924, trials) Atondem Kanjarga [of Wiaga]

 

(1925, trials by B…) 9-6-25: at Sandema, 16-6-25 at Siniessi, 

 

 

(1925, trials by B…) The Chief of Sandema… The Fumbisi man…

 

(1925, trials by B…) 21/11/25 at Sandema

( trials by B…) 21/11/25 at Kunkwa….

Note: Wiasi man is claiming the women back through the Chief of Sandema

NAG 424 new

(1925, trials by B…)… An appeal from the Chief of Sandema

NAG 425

Doninga and Sandema, complaint

 

 

(April 1925, trials):  11.4.25: Wiaga 

 

 

Informal Diary of Navrongo District… April 1939 (typescript)

Monday, 3rd April.  3. Builsa N.A.  estimates meeting at Sandema.  Most suggestions had to be turned down owing to lack of funds. This makes the Chiefs realise how necessary it is to obtain more money. The Chief of Sandema knows this alredy and is re a dy to put the tax up when the 5 years period is over. A useful meeting. This year I have sent the draft extimates to them by the clerks before I myself attend the meeting. This gives them the opportunity of discussing matters among themselves and have suggestions ready and so saves time. 

 

Informal Diary of Navrongo District for the months of May and June 1939.

Sunday, 28th May: 2. Spafford called on his way back from Sandema…

Monday, 29th May: 5. Sladen visited Sandema and inspected the children.

Thursday, 1st June: 6. Went to Sandema to-day to look iinto the matter of the school diets which Stafford thinks is not sufficient (he came away with the impression that the children were under-nourished). 7. I must say that I could not see much sign of under-nourishment amongst them but the diet sheet I compiled a few months ago was…

NAG 470 new

 

Monday, 17th July [1939]: 27.  … I heard that Mr. Dsane,  late Chief Clerk, had arrived and has gone down to Sandema where his son is now stationed relieving Schandorf who is on leave.

Thursday, 20th July, 30. To Kanjaga and what a journey. I had intended to go to Wiassi and had hired the K.N.N.A. lorry to take my kit down. I was to follow in my car. Just after the lorry had left I heard that the Boania River drift had  gone so went down there. It had but the lorry had got across. There was no prospect of my car getting over and I was faced with the prospect of staying in Navro with all my kit and my boy 46 miles away at Wiasi. However the Builsa lorry came in to Navro so I 

 

NA-Kanj-0341-fk476

We got with great difficulty as far as Kanjarga and a little farther…. Two miles S. of Kanjaga
Kanjaga we were faced with a flooded river so we started to walk to Wiassi at 9 p.m. We only got a mile when it became a case of swimming if we were to go on. We turned back to Kanjarga R.H. and I slept the night on a mat on the floor – no food except hard boiled eggs and a borrowed cover cloth for a change of clothing. I had sent a message for kit to be brought in from Wiassi the next morning.
Friday, 21st July [1939]: 31. My kit arrived from Wiassi at noon. The Chief of Sandema arrived about the same time. We have met here (or were to at Wiassi if all had gone well) to elect a new Chief of Wiassi. We shall now do it here and the Wiassis have been sent for.
Saturday, 22nd July [1939] 32. Election of a Chief of Wiassi. Nephew of the late chief obtained three more votes than the next candidate, the brother of a former Chief and so he was elected. This man, Abunturu, has been acting chief for the last 15 months.
33. There were seven candidates weeded down to three eventually.
34. All the Wiassis got together under the…

 

 

 

Na-Bachonsa-0291-fk480

Tuesday 6th August [1939]
12. To Vare with horse and carriers. The new road built last year is still quite good, but the grass is very high on it. I will take a good deal of cleaning this year. They always do the first year or two I think.
Wednesday, 9th August [1939]
13. To Bechaunsi – walked through the bush and shot a hartebeeste on the way. Meeting with Chief and Sc. Hdmen. Everything seems to be going quite well here. The Chief who is blind seems very frail now and is not, I think, long for the world. He is quite young but his blindness knocked all the spirit out of him.
14. They tried 2 wells here last dry weather at sites I h ad selected but came across rock in both. Selected another site for them.
15. Rest House excellent. A very pleasant site, well shaded with dawa-dawas.
Thursday, 10th August.
16. At Bechaunsi. Spoke to the people re Labour Dept. in Kumasi and the forest reserve along the banks of the Sissili. The Chief who is plaintive sort of bird appeared worried as to whether the Issalas would claim the land on this land of the river

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NA-Sand.0224, fk 512
6. Afternoon, I set out to Sandema.
Saturday, 3rd February
7. At Sandema. In court I discussed with chief and councillors various matters like Estim… visit to the mines, work on roads and dams etc. Again I was amazed at the chief’s knowledge of the

Monday, 12th February [1940]
28. At Chuchuliga. Early morning I went around the village and inspected wells- there are many but some need repair for the woodwork. As might be inspected because of the hills there is abundant water beneath the surface; the wells are all quite full. We discussed the site off a dam for construction in April or later on; a dam is much needed for the cattle since apparently there is a lot of bush and cattle going for water are frequently caught be wild beasts. The chief I think is a very strong go-ahead type, he has well earned his medalion. He is building a magnificent two-story house like that of the Chianapio. This one also designed gy the ubiquitous Adda, the walls are tow feet thick and there are window frames and shutters with doors throughout, also like that of the Chianapio it is very clean, the cattle have a special department off the main house.
29. After having had lunch with Amherst (en route for Lawra from Tamale) I set out to Wiaga taking Leander Allon as interpreter since I want to discuss estimates with him before I attend the estimates I also picked up Oscar the Waterworks Overseer at Sandema – my car will have to carry six persons with my loads and their loads till I return to Sandema. At Wiaga I went to inspect the dam which is now well under way, it is about 3 miles from the chief’s house but the section in which it…

 

NA-Wiasi-0231- fk 519 (continued)
36. Wiassi, there is no water problem here, because of the River, the chief wants not even a well. But, as at Fambissi, the guinea fowl have all been killed by a disease, I presume a sort of fowl cholera. I will tell Orr immediately on my return and I have warned the chief that next time all outbreaks must be reported immediately, I have definitely convinced him this time, I think, since he realises the value of injections for cattle.
Thursday, February 15th
37. During the morning I returned to Navrongo feeling the ill-effects of the cold which Mr Power very kindly handed over to me. I intended staying at Seniessi but the acting chief forgave me when I explained.

 

 

 

NA-Sand-216-fk526
16. From Chiana to Sandema arriving about 1.30 p.m. At Sandema a long 50-foot-span bush stick bridge has broken, a permanent bridge will cost a lot of money but the Builsas are

 

NA-206-fk 529

INFROMAL DIARY OF NAVRONGO DISTRICT FOR THE MONTH OF MAY1940

no Bulsa mentioned

 

Not clear in the original

 

1580-fk538
handwritten, difficult to read
middle: Via Fambissa – Uassi
By a very bad bush-track to Kadema. The road passed through a subsection of Wiaga, remarkable is that the compounds are in thick bush with a farm round them.
In Kolugu…

 

(F.K. Ed.) 541: August 16, 1912: raids of Babatu: Wia, Sandema, Senissi, Kalarsi; present chiefs are descendants of the grandsons of Wurume, the present chief appointed chiefs of Kanjaga villages. His authority seems to be gone.

August 16, 1912: raids of Babatu: Wia, Sandema, Senissi, Kalarsi;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Sandema Archive
• National Archives Accra (NAG) – Part I – Under Construction
• National Archives of Accra (NAG) – Part II – under construcion
• Index (still incomplete)
• Regional Archive Tamale
• National Archives (of the U.K.) in Kew
• Rhodes House Library Oxford
• Old Bodleian Library Oxford