Bulsa People of Ghana
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Bulsa People can be found in Ghana and they are also known as Kajaga People, essentially they lived in the Bulsa district in the Upper East Region of Ghana their settlement area is located in central north in sandema district, they raise crops such as millet, beans and groundnuts, they make crafts, pottery, wooden stools, decorative hoe, axe handles, woven grass baskets and hats also they speak Buli language related to other Gur languages .
According to Bulsa Anthropologist , the Slave raider called Babatu attacked them in the 19th Century, they were able to fight back and they are descendants of a Mamprusi Warrior called Atuga from Present day Nalerigu , Northern Region of Ghana, they used to be one of Gold Coast 's best Soldiers recuits for British Colonial Gold Coast Army.
According to Sir. Angaabu a Bulsa native , it is said the Bulsa, who administratively occupy two district such as Bulsa North and South he gives account that Bulsa descended from the Kingdom of Mamprugu, Sandema became the most important town and the paramountcy and refers to the Chief of the area following the ability of Sandema to mobilized others defending the area and protecting the whole Kingdom, especially from Slave raiders, reigning over important towns such as Wiagu, Uasi, Fumbisi, Bachansi, Chuchuligu, the title for a Chief with the traditional and executive powers of Installing Chiefs for these towns.
In 1932 Rattray in his seminal work, tribes of Ashanti hinterland, described Bulsa as one of the acephelous groups in Northern Ghana with skillful organizational ability. Unlike other acephelous groups such as Kusasi, Konkomba and their former "masters" the Bulsa traditional area has remained relatively peaceful with a very stable and powerful chieftaincy system that has existed for more than a century.
A moument, " Nawen Niak Ghana", translated " God bless Ghana" was erected in Wiaga, Bulsa North district in Upper East Region of Ghana it is believed was to commemorate the great struggles informed by the actions of a united people as they reflect on how far they have come and which way to go next they come together in the Patriot spirit of Unity.
According to Amanda the first Sandemnab appeared in written sources available which is referred as Anaankum his reign was to a higher degree characterized by frequent attacks by Babatu, which he was described as a Notorious Zambarima Slave raider in the succesful resistance the Sandemnaab in competition with Bulsa, managed to assert himself as the leading Bulsa Chief, although a paramountcy did not exist around that time.
In 1897, Babatu was decisively beaten in the battle of Kanjaga by Lt. Chanoine and auxilliary troops who had previously been one of Babatu's Officers, and who, after his rebellion, became on of his most dangerous enemies after the Battle of Kanjaga the Chiefs experienced the increasing Influence of the British colonial power in Gold Coast Present day Ghana.
In 1901 a new protectore called Northern Territories of the Gold Coast was created in December 20,1905 by Lt. P.T. John Patridge who stated that Anaankum had 5 years ago previously and Captain Henry wrote a letter on May 24, 1906 stated that, " That last Chief of Sandema was Annakomi the correct spelling is Anaankum who was the brother of Chief Ayieta, Anaankum died around the early 1900s until 1906 sandema had no Chief at all a war broke out between the British troops and Bulsa which took place in Sandema then Sir. Nathan Governor of Gold Coast Colony wrote a letter to his Secretary known as Lt. A. Morris which they campaigned against Sandema after the sucessful campaign.
The Kings of Niafrongo and Sinlien with their representatives arrived in Present day Gambaga to make submission and to questioned that may be given the English flag in 1902, In 1905 a new Chief of Sandema became Chief after Ceremony and pouring of libations then Chief Leta Ayieta was approved as a paramount Chief of the Bulsa.
The Bulsa Hero Nab Dr. Ayieta Azantilow.
Nab Dr. Ayieta was born around 1900 at Present day Sandema to Nan Ayieta Apoteba and Madam Awusima Adaam from Present day Siniensi- Chansa he succeeded his elder brother called Nab Agaasa Ayieta, as Sundem Nab and consequently Paramount Chief of Builsa in 1931. Nab Dr. Ayieta Azantilow had many wives , children and great grand children, being a Paramount Chief he was concerned with Social, Political, Educational and Economical Development of his people as a result he built the first ever Native Authority Primary Boarding School in Sandema in 1935 which was established and opened in 1936, It is said he rejected loans from British Colonialist and he rather offered his 10 Euros out of 15 Euros that was needed to complete the School project. By 1948 he had educational facilities in his mother's hometown called Siniensi and other towns such as Fumbisi and Chuchuliga, all of his schools which were built through communal labour he then later fought for the building of the first Middle Boarding School in Sandema in 1952, the British relied on him heavily for his Soldiers for the World War ll, so in 1942, he was called upon by the British Governor in Kumasi before the Governor left for Wars front in Abyssinia Present day Ethiopia and Present day Burma so before he left he gave him a word, Dr. Azantilow addressed the whole West African Regiment in Accra who marched to the Castle to protest against the Governor he led signatory to the Irrevocable agreement to the Northern Territories to join the rest of Gold Coast for Self Government in 1956.
Dr. Azantilow received honour awards as well he later assisted Former President John Jerry Rawlings to comission the National Electrification Grid to the Upper East in 1989 at the Capital Bolgatanga and During the funeral of the late Dr. Azantilow he was the guest of honor at his funeral he show his respect and embraced the Bulsa Culture and J.J. Rawlings performed the War dance with the Bulsa Warrior dancers dressed in Bulsa Batakari and worn amulet later during Bulsa festival called Foek festival he decided to attened the festival at Sandema in Upper East Region.
Foek festival is celebrated by Bulsa People of Ghana during this festival some African Americans and some Afro- Brazilians of Bulsa Ancestry visit their Ancestral homeland in Sandema to celebrate a victory over slave raiders with the Bulsa defeat against the Zambarima Babatu in 1880s, the festival is celebrated around the 3rd week of the month of December each year, they gather and pour libations thanking the Creator and the Ancestors for this day and a performance of Bulsa War dance, Bulsa Chiefs come together as one the word " Feok" means abundance of food after a sucessful harvest of farming seasons they all come together as one people and as a family to celebrate.
In their traditions each compound usually contains men who have a common father or grandfather there are usually at least three smaller family units in a compound each made up of about 7- 10 people but some compounds are very large with over 40 people there, while compounds are normally three quarters of a mile and they have an open side grass roofed shelter outside the compound walls which is used for social activities.
It is used as a gathering place for family such as mothers, grandmothers, children, fathers and men also make use of shelter this is also the traditional way for a place to receive visitors.