SELECTION PROCEDURE FOR YENDI: THE 1930 CONSTITUTION

No grandsons of a Na have ever yet succeeded to the Nam of Yendi.

10. The Paramount Chief of Yendi, i.e. of Dagbon, is chosen from the holder of the Chieftainship of

KARAGA

MION

SAVELUGU

METHOD OF ELECTION

The Gushie-Na, the Kuga-Na, the Tuguri-Nam and the Gomli form the committee of selection. All these candidates present themselves for selection and recourse is made to the spirits of the dead Chiefs, the cult of whom is controlled by the Gulkpe-Na, Baghali-Na and the Kuga-Na and, from the results of a sacrifice, it is decided which of the candidates is the possessor of a ‘good head’, i.e., the man whom the spirits desire. Having been selected the candidate is taken into a dark room by the Zohe-Na where he is made to choose one of a number of staves which he cannot see. These staves are believed to be imbued with the souls of the dead Chiefs and according to the stave chosen so does the soul of the respective dead Chief enter into the body of the new Na. He, the Na elected, remains in this dark room for some days, during which time the actual investiture takes place. The object primarily conferring the power on the newly-elected Na is the ‘Bolon’ [,] a lump of wood which is kept by the Chief of Kpatia and which is brought from there to Yendi for the investiture by the Togasi-Nam [sic] and the Gomli who are the only other persons who may touch or ever see this highly sacred object.