The King and Overlord of Dagbon, Ndan Ya Naa Abukari II, on Sunday, February 16, 2025 paid the King of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I a historic royal visit at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo, the capital of the Savannah Region.
The visit of the Dagbon ruler was part of efforts towards solidifying the relationship between Dagbon and Gonjaland who have lived as neighbours for centuries.
The visit was the first in a very long time that a reigning Dagbon King paid an official visit to the seat of the Gonja ruler. It follows an earlier royal visit by the Yagbonwura to the Gbewaa Palace in June 2024.
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The Ya Naa was accompanied by his royal household, over 100 Paramount, Divisional, and sub-Divisional Chiefs including Naa Bakpem Kari Naa, Naa Yab Nyankpalana, Naa Yab Lang Lana among other prominent chiefs, and over 100 warriors with hundreds of celebrants from Dagbon.
The Dagbon King made a grand entry into the capital of Gonja, riding majestically on his royal horse, accompanied by at least 40 other Dagomba chiefs who also rode on horseback.
The entourage was welcomed by hundreds of residents of Damongo and a special delegation of the Gonja overlord, amidst drumming and dancing.
At the Jakpa Palace, the Gonja Overlord organized a grand durbar for the arrival of the Dagbon Overlord. It was a center of pomp and pageantry, displaying the rich culture and traditions of the two ancient kingdoms.
“I traveled all the way from Yendi to witness this great day. It is a once-in-a-lifetime event and I could not have missed it” Iddrisu, a young man who traveled nearly 200km for the event told Xtrememediaonline.com
Iddrisu was not the only one who made the journey to experience the historic visit.
Mohammed Adam, a resident of Tamale joined the hundreds of people who voluntarily made the trip from Dagbon. He told Xtrememediaonline.com; “We were only taught about the wars between the two Kingdoms as they invaded each other’s kingdoms to capture lands. It is so exciting that today, the Yagbonwura and Ya Naa are visiting each other, not to fight but to make merry and talk about development”.
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Residents of Damongo were excited to see the Dagbon Overlord ride on a horseback, in their own backyard.
Iddisah, a resident, said; “I always prayed for this day. A day when our neighboring kingdom will be here, sharing great moments such as this with us”.
The Gonja King since his enskinment last year has adopted diplomatic policies to foster unity between him and his neighbours. He paid royal visits to Dagbon and Mamprugu, two of his most powerful neighbours in 2024.
As neighbours, Dagombas and Gonjas have assimilated over the years, through marriages and permanent resettlement by both ethnic groups, burying the ancient tensions that existed between them for centuries.
Although there is an ongoing boundary dispute between Gonjaland and Dagbon, the two leaders have chosen the path of diplomacy, with many residents of Dagbon hoping that discussions would include finding a solution to the dispute to pave way for the approval of the Revised Dagbon Constitution, pending before the National House of Chiefs (NHC).