Guan tribe: History, language, food, dance, festivals, facts

The Guan tribe, also known as Ghanjawiyyu, Gonja, Guang, or Ngbanya, is the largest ethnic group in Ghana. Descendants of the Gonja people were traders and the first residents of Ghana. Read below the history and cultural practices of the Guan tribe and interesting facts about this community.

Guan people are one of the 26 or more Gonja ethnic groups. Gonja people mainly inhabit the northern region of Ghana, above the Black and White Volta rivers' confluence. Their original name was Ngbanye, which means Brave Men. The name Gonja was derived from the Hausa phrase Kada Goro-Jaa, meaning Land of Red Cola.

Guan tribe's history

Although they were the first settlers in Ghana, some Guans were assimilated into the cultures of other major ethnic groups that later settled in various parts of Ghana.

As a result, the Guans are very tolerant and live as commoners in various regions of Ghana. Below is a brief history of these people:

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Where did the Guan ethnic group migrate from?

Guan people are believed to have migrated to Ghana around A.D. 1000 from the Mossi region of modern Burkina Faso. They were forced to leave Burkina Faso due to conflicts with the Mande of the Mali Empire.

Where did the Guans first settle in Ghana?

The Guan people first settled in the northern regions of Ghana along the Volta River, one of the country's largest rivers.

As time passed, they moved southwards through the Volta Valley and settled along Black Volta, throughout the Afram Plains in the Volta Gorge in the Akwapim Hills.

The ancient Guan state or kingdom was first established in northern Ghana between 1550 and 1575 by the Malinke cavalrymen, Songhai's emperor.

Initially, they were ruled by the Mande people, also known as the Malinke, Mandingo, Maninka, or Manding. Throughout the years, the Guan tribe was influenced by the Mande and other neighboring communities.

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Who defeated the Guans?

Years after establishing their kingdom, they were conquered by the Akwamu, Dankyira, and Asante in the 17th century. In the 18th century, they, like their neighbors, were defeated by the expanding Asante Empire.

When the British defeated Asante in 1901, the Gonja people, including the Guan, became part of the British Northern territories. Under the colonialists, the Gonja continued to be subsistence farmers and migrant workers.

Currently, the Guan people are found in twelve regions in Ghana: Oti, Northern, North East, Savannah, Bono, Ahafo, Central, Western North, Western, Eastern, Volta, and Brong Ahafo Regions.

Which region is Guan in Ghana?

The Guan District is in the Oti Region of Ghana, and its capital is Lipke-Mate. The district was created in 2019 from the Hohoe Municipality.

What ethnicity is Guan?

The Guans are of an African ethnic background, and most are natives of Ghana.

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What language do the Guans speak?

These people speak a variety of Guan languages of the Niger-Congo language family. Guan languages in Ghana comprise:

• The northern Guans languages comprise the Anii, Chumburung–Tchumbuli, Dwang, Foodo, Gonja, Kplang, Krache, Nawuri, Nchumbulu, Nkonya–Nkami, Ntrapo, and Vagala.
• The southern Guans languages are Efutu-Awutu, Leteh, and Kyerepong.

Some of these Guan languages are influenced by major languages in Ghana, depending on where a particular Guan tribe is located:

• The Anum, Boso, Larteh, Okere, and Kyerepong in eastern Ghana.
• The Buem, Nkonya, Likpe,Amedzofe, and Vane in the Volta Region.
• The Efutu and Awutu living in the central Ghana, Senya, and Bawjiase areas.
• The Gonja people in Brong Ahafo, Bono, and Ahafo parts of Ghana.
• The Nawuri people are in the north and parts of the Oti Region.

What are the three languages of Guan?

The three most popular Guan languages are the Leteh, Kyerepong, and Efutu.

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Guan food

Their traditional staple food is called Kenkey. It is prepared from de-husked and dried maize grains, which are soaked in water for three days, rinsed in freshwater, and ground into flour.

The flour is kneaded into a dough. Half of the dough is cooked, while the rest remains uncooked. Then, the two doughs are mixed thoroughly.

The mixture is wrapped in maize husks and boiled for one to three hours until it is ready to serve. Kenkey has also provided employment and income for the local maize farmers, retailers, corn mill workers, and hotels.

As a favorite food among the Guans, it is popularly said that a Guan hasn't eaten if he does not eat Kenkey during the day.

Guan festivals

The Guans celebrate Ohum and Odwira festivals, combining artistic, recreational, ritual, and ceremonial activities. The ceremonies take place at selected locations and according to schedule.

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Ohum and Odwira festivals provide opportunities for the collective renewal of arts as the people enjoy a lot of music and dancing as a community.

Odwira festival

The festival is celebrated in memory of the Great Akantamansu War of 1826, whereby the allied forces of Akuapem, Ga, Efutu, Awutu, and the British fought against the Ashantis.

Odwira festival is held mainly to purify the community of dirt and impurities. During this festival, participants give thanks to their gods and ancestors, offer sacrifices, and feed the ancestral spirits.

In addition, this event offers opportunities to solve family disputes, contract marriages, harvest crops, and launch mid-crop farming..

Ohum festival

The festival marks the beginning of harvesting new crops. The Akuapem natives, the Okre and Larteh people, celebrate it annually.

Guan dances

The Kpana or Kpanaliumni dance is the most famous Guan dance. It is performed when a hunter kills leopards, hartebeest, or buffalo. The dance is also performed during funerals. As the Kuntunkure beats the drums, the talisman dances while wearing a traditional talisman cap.

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Guan economic activities

The Guan people cultivate maize and various types of millet on large fields. Although the Nchumuru people and other Gonjas also farm, their main economic activities are hunting and fishing.

Their main commercial product is shea butter, which is still exported to the Coast. The shea butter is also sold in the local market, shaped like a sugar cone and wrapped in leaves.

Shea butter is very easy to make. The shea tree seeds are roasted, pounded, and boiled in large pots. The fat that swims on top is the liquid form of the product. Sesame seeds are also exported from the Guan tribe in smaller quantities.

Guan religion

The Gonja, specifically the Guans, take religion seriously. Muslims make up about 58% of the Gonja population, while traditional worshipers constitute around around 38%. The remaining are Christians.

Traditional Guan worshipers believe in a supreme being called the Ebore, ancestral spirits, and traditional powers.

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Guan political leadership

The modern Guang chiefdom has various traditional rulers who are linguistically and culturally different.

Most of the Guan traditional leaders descend from the Mande invaders. Others are commoners who speak Tano languages, while the rest of the rulers are Muslims who speak Gbanyito.

The Guans live in villages of about 300 persons. The villages are divided into territorial divisions, each ruled by a chief from the male hierarchy of Jakpa.

The paramount chief is called the Yagbumwura and is appointed in rotation by the chiefs of the five eligible divisions.

What dress do the Guans wear?

Traditional Guan clothing often incorporates vibrant colors, patterns, and fabrics like Kente, Adinkra, and Batakari.

The men wrap the fabrics over their shoulders, while the women wear two pieces—an ankle-length dress and a shawl or sleeveless dress with fitting bodices and short or long skirts. The dresses are usually worn with head ties and traditional ornaments.

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Are Guans Akans?

The Guans are not the same as the Akan, but the Akan language evolved from the Guan language. The two ethnic tribes of Ghana amalgamated to form the Akuapem people, who are known to be peaceful, humble, and respectful.

Ghanaians call the Akuapems "Ofie," which means "Home," because when upset, they show respect and humility with a one-sentence apology:

I am very sorry, but you are a fool.

Facts about the Guan tribe

• Most do farming, while a few practice hunting and fishing.
• Kenkey is their staple food.
• Ohum and Odwira are their main traditional festivals.
• They live in villages that are divided into territorial divisions.
• Their territorial divisions are headed by chiefs.

The Guan tribe is the earliest inhabitants of present-day Ghana and has a fascinating history and culture. Their festivals and dances, religious practices, and farming are unique. The Guan tribe is also the most educated in Ghana, with well-established administrative systems and competent leaders.

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Yen.com.gh shared an article about the Ga-adangbe tribe, also known as Ga-Dangme, GaDangme, Ga-Adampa, Ga-Adangme or Ga-Danmel. Their original homeland was Goshen, Egypt.

The Ga-adangbe tribe consists of the Ga-Mashie and Gaspeaker, who migrated from Akwapim, Anecho, in Togo. The tribe has exciting cultural aspects, including festivals, dances, and unique traditional clothing.

Source: YEN.com.gh