SANDEMA

CHIEFS (N.A.G.)

Naakon, Annakuun, Naku, 1900? confirmed by British, died 5 years before Nov. 1905

Ieta [Ayieta]: election Sandemnaab April 1905; formally recognised Nov. 1905,

            Paramount Chief: September 23rd, 1912

Affoko, Affoka, Afawko

Azantenlow, Azag(t)enlo: 19.12.1932 - 14.11.2006

Anaankum

1906:The last chief of Sania was Annakuun, who was the brother of the present chief. Annakuum died five years ago.

Ayieta

November 1905: Ieta was made Chief of Sandema when the town was visited in April by Major RA Irvine. The old chief Nakon having died 5 years previously. The present Chief was the brother of the previous one. ...

1905 Chief IETA. Next for stool Imora (above: Iuaro?), brother of the Chief,

24.5.1906: Ieta was made Chief of Sandema when the town was visited [by] Major R.A. Irvine. The former chief Nakon having died five years previously. The present chief was the brother of the previous one. From the time Naku died till Ieta was made chief by Major Irvine the people recognised no one as their Chief. Ieta was formally recognised by the people as their chief in November 1905, going through the ceremony part of which consists in being locked up in a dark room without being allowed to come out for 7 days.

There are no towns under the Chief of Sandema except Wia (Wiaga) + Seniesse. No discharged soldiers live in this town in Kanjarga. Sgd. P.I. Partridge Lt. 20/X/05

24th May 1906 ...Sania was visited on the by Capt. A.M. Henry D.C. From information derived from the Chiefs of Wia + Sania it would appear that the Chief of Sania is not paramount over the towns of Wia + Seniessa... There are no Mohammedans residing in the town.

23.9.11: [election of paramount chief] The following Chiefs present
1. Chief of Kanjarga, 2. Chief of Saniessa [Siniensi], 3. Chief of Wiaga, 4. Chief of Kardima, 5. Chief of Sandema, 6. Chief of Fambisi, 7. Chief of Wiasi (Mamprusi), 8. Chief of Doninga, 9. Chief of Uassie.
After Babatu raided the land, all towns were broken up, with the exception of Sandema who repulsed him. Most of the people of the other Kanjarga towns fled to Sandema. No one followed the Chief of Kanjarga after
The following Chiefs vote for Sandema
Sandema, Kardima, Siniessi, Wiaga
[votes for Kanjarga] Kanjarga: Fumbisi
Neutral: Doninga, Bedemma, Uassi: willing to follow anyone appointed.

15.4.1912: The election of the Chief of Sandema as Paramount Chief of the Kanjaagas approved. Sgd C.H. Armitage, C.C.N.T.

26.6.1912: Chief Ieta is dead and the Election... [see below]

[According to Francis Afoko (Bolgatanga), Chief Ayieta died on May 18th, 1912]

26.6.1912: The Chief Ieta is dead and the election of his successor is pending.

The chief’s son Affoka, a tall youth and likely to make a good successor to his diseased father, complains that Aieparo sent to Nalerigu Awanyir, Aguranavoo and Addea with presents to try and be made chief. Aieparo seems to be no relation of late chief, has elephantiasis on right leg and probably would not make a good chief. He is warned to keep quiet till election time.

Assukoro is brother (elder) of Affoka, he... [unreadable] his claim to the stool as he has elephantiasis also. On the advice of Abelladem of Soo wor (Suarinsa?) section it is decided that chief son Affoka and the above Aieparo look after the town till the election of new chief.

I am in favour of Affoka being elected. S.D. Nash, DC, 26.6.12

27.8.1912: Extract from Chief Commissioner’s letter... When at Navarro I appointed the Chief of Sandema [Afoko] Paramount Chief of Kanjarga

27.9.1916: Presents to Chiefs: Sandema: piece of figured silk for gown

1.3.1917: Chief of Sandema came in and I asked him if he had got me any recruits and he said "No". I told him that I did not come all the way to Kanjarga and tell all the chiefs that I wanted recruits for nothing.

8.3.1917: "Afawko, Head Chief"

5.7.1917: Afawko was this day presented with a medium sized medallion,

30.12.1917 ...the present chief of Sandema (Afawko) himself is an example of Mamprusi markings shewing his Mamprusi descent.

26.6.1919, The Chief of Sandema came in to meet me, but as soon as I mentioned Mamprussi his suspicion was aroused and he knew nothing.

23.9.1919, In the evening I took the chief of Sandema to see my garden. He was very struck ... and asked me for seed. I told him I would get him some for next years planting. ...He also admired my eucalyptus and took away a lot of the leaves I am very proud of it.

Dec. 1922 Afawko has been of very great assistance to government in recruiting of labour... He readily willingly does everything he is called upon to do, he is not only ... assisted by his Chiefs but notwithstanding works hard to get Builsa country in good order...

16.9.1924,...told him [Afoko] to get all his people... cleaning the roads especially the Navaro - Sandema Sisaala River road partly under him.

Nov. 1926? (speech D.C. in Wiesi) ...I stressed their tribe, country, a chief, and my difficulty in understanding their proposed intention of moving into Country that was not Kanjarga, and putting themselves under a chief who was not a Kanjarga, especially when the possessed a Head Chief like Afawko whose father had bound [?] them together as a tribe and successfully resisted Barbatu etc. etc.

8.4.1927, Election of new Chief viu Afawko dec[eased].

Electors - chiefs: Wiaga, Siniessi, Doninga, Kanjarga, Kadema, Bedema, Uasi, Fambisi, Wiasi, Bachansi, Chuchulliga and Godemblisi. 12 in all

Headmen of all Sections of Sandema except Pungsa.

Candidates: Adong, Akonavu (sons of Nakou, last chief but two)

Akansugasa, brother of Afawko, the late chief

Akansugasa, likely to be known shortly as Agasa, was unanimously elected on one year’s probation... Whittall

1.12.1927, Akansugasa, Chief of Sandema, was informed that since his election he has done good work and was shaping well.

10.4.1928, Akansugasa confirmed in his appointment CCNT. Presented with medallion No 4 by Ag. C.N.P.

11.9.1930, rituals of installation and seclusion rites

23.4.1932: [assembly with the White Fathers, unveiling of a tablet]: Navrongo and Sandema sat in the middle, opposite to the Chief Commissioner, and ... Sandema resplendent in a cloth of gold, under umbrellas of state.

13.6.1932: The two men who are to go to Pong-Tamale arrived this morning. The Navrongo one looks intelligent enough, but the Sandema one looks far from it. I am asking O.. to talk to them tomorrow to see if he thinks it is any use their going there. I expect I shall have to get yet another from the Builsa Division. The Chief’s last messenger is quite an intelligent sort of man. I expect I shall have to send him.

23.6.1932: To Sandema...I talked about Native Administration and asked the chief to let me know the names of the people he wished to have on his council as soon as possible so that I could send them .. to the C.C. for his approval.

(3) I told him we would start a Native Treasury at once and I would leave it to him, to start with, to bring in half his Court Fines and all his market stall fees at the end of each month. The great thing is to get it started as there is nobody available yet to be a clerk I am trusting to the Chiefs.

(4) a complaint

7.7.1932 [diary of assistant D.C., signature not readable]

Heard from the Chief of Sandema [Azantinlow] that two lions visited his compound two nights ago and kicked brother Affoko’s horse. Affoko, who is now dead, is the late Chief of Sandema. The horse was apparently tied up in between two others in the compound. The lions left the other two untouched and devoured Affoko’s horse. I am told that the people think that Affoko was angry because other people had been riding his horse and therefore he sent lions to kill it. Lions have not been seen in Sandema since anyone living there now...

16.7.1932: The chief of Sandema sent in Lb 2.2.8 for the Native Treasury. I am opening two Post-Office Savings Bank Accounts, one for the Navrongo and one for the Builsa Treasury. I have asked Monseigneur Morin if he has anyone who can be spared to do clerical work for the Chief. He says that at present he has no one good enough and that we shall have to wait three years when ...

21.11.1932: Chief Akansugasa died this day.

21.11.1932: Heard in the .. that the Chief of Sandema died this afternoon. A keen and energetic young Chief who will be sadly missed. I do not know yet whether his death will mean a re-arrangement of the Builsa people under Mamprussi, but I think they will still want to remain separate... He had not been well when I sent there a few months ago, but last ... when I went, he looked very fit... I am very sorry about his death, and I wish (?) his successor will have to work hard to be as successful as he was.

Azantinlow

19.12.32 (list of chiefs): Azantenlow enstooled

19.12.1932: election of new chief; All headmen of section of Sandema, 19 in all. The following chiefs were also present: Wiaga, Kadema Siniessi, Doninga, Gwedema, Kanjarga, Fambisi, Yunwesi [?, below: Yawassi], Kunkwa, Wiassi, Chuchuliga and Bechaunsi

Candidates: Adong: brother [?] of Annakora, a former Chief; Amama, brother of Afawko and Akansugasa, Azagenlo, brother of Afawko and Akansugasa

... being no hereditary law of succession, the election was put to the vote and Azagtenlo was unanimously elected and was appointed.

1932: Went to Sandema to be present at the election of the new chief by the special request of the people. The following chiefs were present: see above

There is apparently no hereditary right of succession I was told by the old men present, their chiefs had always been elected by the majority of votes before the coming of the Europeans. I asked them if they had already their new Chief and they said that one AZAGTENLO was their man. They were all absolutely unanimous except 3 or 4 malcontents. Every section headman however was on Azagtenlo’s side, and he was ... carried away shoulder high amidst cheers and drumming, which continued for the rest of the day. The new Chief is a young brother of the two late chiefs. I had a talk in the evening about the formation of a Tribal Council which the Chiefs of Kanjaga, Fambisi and Yuwasi agreed to join provided they could be looked upon as chiefs by the new chief of Sandema and not as his mall boys. I assured them that in the Council they would be all equal. ...

24.12.1932: Late Chief’s medallion returned.

(1932): One Angwusi... out of his compound as he is an obstructionist and is trying to incite others against the chief. Angwusi came to me and complained of the chief of Sandema’s action in turning him out of his compound as he... says doing no wrong at all. I explained that the incident was no affair of mine and ... if the chief wished him to go, he must go.

March 1933?: To Sandema where I met all the Builsa chiefs except those recently allowed to follow Passankwia.

14th July, 1933 [?] ... The Chief of Sandema accompanied us as far as Chuchulliga where we had breakfast.

13.8.1933: The names of the purposed Tribunal for the Builsa... area...

Sandemnab - chief of Sandema

Kpalangakanab - The Peacemaker (stopper of war)

Ngangditanab - who... crops

Tugurunab - Head of Army

Gwonab - Chief Hunter

Nusomnab - who calls together the old men

Napienab - Chief Headman

Tugurunab - Second in Command of the Army

12.1.1939: Sandemnab welcomed me as usual with his charming smile and when asked how things were going [he] said "everything good". He never bothers me with lost wife palavers as some Chiefs do, Ketiu for example

8.3.1939, Met the Chief of Sandema at Kanjarga on my return he is accompanying me on this trek and doing some useful work in the way of electing Section Headmen where there are vacancies in towns down here.

12.3.1939, The Chief of Sandema left for Wiaga this morning and I shall stay on here for a bit. Its an education to go round with the Chief of Sandema and see the respect in which he is held by chiefs and people. He has been doing sterling work on this trek electing Sec. Hdmen and settling domestic matters in the villages and inspecting water supplies with me. Those who doubt the efficacy of Indirect Rule should come and stay in Builsa country for a month or two and they would be convinced. I do practically nothing now except advise. Sandemnab’s English is vastly improved recently and soon he will be quite fluent. This is a big help both to him and to us. There is no doubt that he has taken the trouble to learn English so that he can do his job better and hear without an interpreter.

30.8.1939, The Chief of Sandema said after I had told him that we must have the men [for recruiting] "you can have us all if you want us - we would rather die than be put under another power". He also said that if a war came it would spoil everything and interfere with the Native Treasuries. He looks upon the 150 recruits I have asked for more from the point of view of 150/- tax money lost than anything else.

5.11.1939, [British officer] arranged a football match between Sandema School and Navro Junior School and went over for it. ... Score 4 to 1 for Sandema... Sandemnab made an excellent host. What I like about him at these shows is that he gets up and moves about greeting people and talking to them and does not stay ... sitting in so-called state. He gave a sheep to the Chief of Chiana for the Navro boys which was of course much appreciated. He also shewed the Chief of Chiana, who is a great friend of his, round the school...

26.3.1940 During the evening the Sandemnab demonstrated to the Chiefs his own Mixed Farm and his kraals [;] with my lorry and the Builsa lorry we were able to take a party of about 20. The Sandemnab has an enormous farm worked by a pair of bullocks and 2 boys, the Siniessinaba said it would need nearly 100 hoes to do the same work, on the farm besides the usual crops are yams (grown on a raised bank of earth) and cassava - he sold some cassava he told me for Lb 1. 15/-, The farm is 4 miles from the Rest House and the new dam is (conveniently) alongside it.