UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By – Sadat Dabo
The Paramount Chief of the Waala Traditional Area, Wa-Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo, has recounted the historical origins of the Waala State, revealing how a Mamprusi prince, Suale, left the Mamprugu Kingdom centuries ago to establish what is now the Waala Traditional State
According to the Wa-Naa, the Waala people share deep ancestral connections with the Mamprusi people, with the Waala State emerging as an offshoot of the ancient Mamprugu Kingdom
The historical account was shared through the Wa-Naa’s Secretary, Jenpihi Naa Kadri, during a courtesy call by the Paramount Chief of the Wungu Traditional Area, Mba Naa Salma Issahaku Mahamudu, at the Wa-Naa’s palace in Wa on Thursday, November 5.
Jenpihi Naa Kadri explained that the establishment of the Waala State was traced to a Mamprusi prince named Suale, who left Mamprugu in search of his destiny after losing his position in the traditional succession system
“He went in search of his star, tracing it up north here, and eventually got to establish the Wala State,” the Wa-Naa’s Secretary recounted
He said the Waala people, in recognition of their ancestral heritage, named one of their important settlements Batiri after Naa Gbewaa, the founder of the Mamprugu Kingdom, as a way of preserving their historical connection for future generations
The Wa-Naa’s Secretary noted that the relationship between the two traditional states has remained strong over the centuries, with the Wa-Naa consistently regarding the Nayiri, the Overlord of Mamprugu, as his eldest brother
“There is very little to separate the Wala from the Mamprusi. Mba Wa Naa has always regarded Nayiri as his eldest brother all the time,” he stated
Waala Kingdom’s Name Rooted in Historical Encounter
The account further revealed that the name of the Waala Kingdom is associated with an encounter between Prince Suale and emissaries sent from Mamprugu to locate him after his departure
According to the oral tradition, the emissaries encountered Suale around the Guli, Beturi and Yeru areas, where he had established himself and achieved notable successes
Upon hearing the emissaries’ account and seeing his army behind him, Suale reportedly danced and exclaimed, “Manwarlawa,” an expression identified in the narration as the origin of the name of the Waala Kingdom
The Wa-Naa’s Secretary said the historical account underscores the importance of maintaining ancestral connections and ensuring that the shared heritage of the two traditional states is preserved
Renewed Commitment to Mamprugu-Waala Relations
The Wa-Naa, who was elated by the visit of Mba Naa Salma, extended greetings to the Nayiri and prayed for a strengthened bond among the Gbewa fraternity
He described the visit by the Wungu Paramount Chief as a restatement of the shared historical origins of the Waala and Mamprugu traditional states
The relationship, he said, has been reinforced through traditional engagements and cultural celebrations over the years
He cited the 2023 Damma Festival, during which the Wa-Naa invited the Nayiri to serve as chairman for the climax of the celebration. The Nayiri subsequently delegated Mba Bon-Naaba Baba Salifu Atamale Aleemyarum to lead a high-powered delegation to the event
The Wa-Naa also acknowledged the Nayiri’s initiative to organise the Gbewaa Youth Homecoming event, noting that invitations extended to the Wa-Naa had consistently been honoured
Wungu Paramount Chief Represents Nayiri at Dorimon Coronation
Mba Naa Salma Issahaku Mahamudu was delegated by the Nayiri to represent him at the coronation and outdooring ceremony of the Paramount Chief of the Dorimon Traditional Area, Naa Alhaji Seidu Tungbani Salinbile II, in the Dorimon community
Before proceeding to Dorimon, the Wungu Paramount Chief considered it important to pay a courtesy call on the Wa-Naa at his palace in Wa
The visit provided an opportunity for the two traditional leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the longstanding relationship between Mamprugu and Waala
The historical account of Prince Suale’s migration and the establishment of the Waala State serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted cultural and ancestral ties connecting the two kingdoms and the broader Gbewa traditional fraternity
Source : gbcuraonline.com
