Dagomba in Ghana


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Dagomba are a large people group living in northern Ghana. Their kingdom, called Dagbon, was established centuries ago and dominated an area near the Dagomba capital of Yendi. Yendi was located east of the White Volta River and north of Tamale. In the 1600s, the Gonja people began to attack Dagbon from the west, pushing the Dagomba across the White Volta and forcing them to abandon their capital. Yendi was soon renamed Yendi Dabari which means "ruined Yendi".

By the end of the 1600s, however, the Dagomba pushed eastward, establishing a new capital for their kingdom (also called Yendi) and located east of Tamale near the border of Togo. In the early 1700s, the Dagomba rallied against the pressuring Gonja and succeeded in driving them back. Today, the Dagomba remain a powerful people. They speak Dagbani, which is a Gur language.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Dagomba make their living primarily through farming. Much of the land of the Dagbon is infertile and requires that a farm be left fallow for up to five years; therefore, Dagomba villages are somewhat small, leaving room for farms to be widely separated. Farmers use much fertilizer from the manure of the village cattle, and eventually the soil does become quite fertile, enabling the farms to be used year-round. However, farms located in the bush are used only for two or three years and then are left fallow. Since yams are the specialty crop, the Dagomba plant over 32 varieties. Farmers also grow crops such as maize, millet, rice, peanuts, and beans.

The Dagomba are not only skillful farmers, but also are fishermen and hunters, and some even engage in administrative and managerial work. Dagomba craftsmen are skilled tailors, traders, and makers of ropes and mats. Some also specialize as blacksmiths, butchers, and barbers. Parents send their young sons to be trained by these craftsmen. Through observation and practice, a boy will gradually learn a trade and assume his role in the new occupation.

In Dagomba society, villagers arrange their houses in a particular order. The chief (eldest man in the village) locates his dome-shaped hut in the center. His hut stands out above the rest. The village is divided into wards or quarters, all facing the chief's home. A quarter is identified by its head or by its dominating specialist group. For example, there may be a soldiers' quarter or a butchers' quarter. The commoners are scattered throughout the village in round or rectangular huts (for female and male, respectively); there is no physical separation of the commoners from the ruling class.

Drummers play an important role in the village, for they not only are musicians, but also are court historians. They must learn and retain much information. In most cases, a drummer's son follows in his father's footsteps, becoming a drummer and learning from his father the origin of the people and their kingdom.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Although more than half of the Dagomba follow the Islamic faith, many also believe in and worship additional spirits and gods. Each village sacrifices to its individual ancestral gods and the entire society collectively worships the more powerful gods. The Dagomba also practice witchcraft and consult diviners to rid themselves of curses.

The Dagomba honor their ancestors with a festival called Bugun, which means "fire". The celebration begins with a great feast and culminates when the people gather together with lighted torches near a tree outside the community. There they recite the names of their ancestors and throw their torches into the tree.


What Are Their Needs?

Some Christian resources are available to the Dagomba. The Dagomba's minimal response to Christianity, however, shows that Christians need to pray and intercede for the people to yield their hearts to the power of the Gospel.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will use the Dagomba believers to share the love of Jesus with their own people.
Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies laboring among the Dagomba.
Ask the Lord to raise additional laborers to go into Ghana and work among these people.
Pray that God will open the hearts of the Dagomba leaders to receive the Gospel.
Ask God to raise prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
Ask the Lord to raise strong local churches among the Dagomba.


Scripture Prayers for the Dagomba in Ghana.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Dagomba
People Name in Country Dagomba
Alternate Names Banda-Banda; Dagbamba; Dogomba; Gbambiya
Population this Country 1,508,000
Population all Countries 1,522,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 11470
ROP3 Code 102372
Country Ghana
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu/Nanton, Tolou/Kumbungu, Gushie, Karaga districts, Yendi Muncipality.   Source:  Ghana Christian Outreach Fellowship
Country Ghana
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu/Nanton, Tolou/Kumbungu, Gushie, Karaga districts, Yendi Muncipality..   Source:  Ghana Christian Outreach Fellowship
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 8.74 %)
22.00 %
Ethnic Religions
1.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
77.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Dagbani
Language Code dag   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Dagbani
Language Code dag   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Dagbani

Primary Language:  Dagbani

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1935-1955)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1974)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2006-2021)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Dagbani Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Dagbani YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Dagbani YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Kerry Olson  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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