SISSALA PEOPLE. Sissala’s are a agriculturalist, friendly and culturally inclined cluster of Gur-speaking people that forms a subset of the larger Gurune/Grunshi ethnic group residing in the Upper West Region of Ghana and Southern Burkina Faso. In Ghana Sissala are mostly found in Tumu and Gwollu areas.
Sissala people are very hardworking and are very traditional people who value education a lot. Everyone in the Sisaala village seems to have respect and friendships with most other members of the village. People cannot pass you be without saying hello or greeting you to cheer you up irrespective of how you feel. Sissala people greets a lot and they have a phrase to fit every occasion. “Bedia” (pronounced BAY-dee-ha) is the morning greeting you would give someone you meet on a walk. “Ediapina ” (I-dayh-pi-NAH0) is the reply.
There’s always a conversation starter suited to your setting. Swapping greetings of any kind almost always involves a chat about family (including extended family) and work. Quickly passing by with a wave or a nod is rude to the Sisaala.” Ecology (natural environment) “Most Sisaala live in the flat grasslands of the Tumu district in northwestern Ghana. However, about 20% of the Sissala have migrated to the south. Ghana is located on the coast of West Africa, just five degrees north of the equator. However, the Sisaala are more than ten degrees north and are in the 10-40 window.” “Northern Ghana’s weather is hot and tropical. The Harmattan, a wind that blows from the Sahara desert, turns the sky to a haze of dust from December to February. The two seasons are humid and rainy (March-September) and dry (October-February).” “The Lambussie area is typically a dry, arid land with equatorial dry and wet seasons.
The wet season lasts from July until November, and is the fertile time for many crops including rice, groundnuts (peanuts), and other fruits and vegetables. The dry season makes up the rest of the year, with highest temperatures in April, May and June.” History The Sissala people are said to have been originated from different tribes and clans in the Northern part of Ghana and southern Burkina Faso to settle in their area today. It is believed that they are mostly from Gonjaland, the three Mole-Dagbani people, namely the Mossi, Mamprusi and Dagomba. Others too are mostly from the Gurunshi tribes. Rattray in his epic book “The Tribes of the Ashanti Hinterland” (vol.2, pp.469-71)” given background to how the Gwollu ancient Slave Fortified Wall was built in the 19th century {as a double circle} by Gwollu {or Gbollu} Koro Limann as a defence against slave raiders and how the name Gwollu itself came to be named averred that “The Gamvera (Crown-bird Clan) .. originally came from near Bole.. as told me by the elders of Gwolo. .. ‘Tangia built the walls around Gwolo, .. a second son of Yagbon .. He was a koro, a rich man. When .. Babatu, came, Tangia was sent by his father with ten men to meet him. .. Babatu first came to Gwolo as a friend .. While Babatu and his army were ar Kasana, the Gamvera began to build their wall. .. Babatu, however, never attacked Gwolo……The name itself means that the people went around and around and settled in the spot known as Gwollu.”” Clearly, one can see from this narration that the Sissala King of Gwollu and his clan are of Gonja origin. It must be noted that after the coming together to form a distinct ethnic group the Sissala people also spread across the their northern territories to the other communities to settle. Some even founded important towns such Banda Nkwanta which was formerly called ‘Dua’. “The first settler was a Sissala man who was driven down by war in the north and was later joined by a Dagarti friend. They decided to settle to do farming and hunting. The exact date the community was established is not known but speculated to be before the Second World War.
The name Dua was changed to ‘Nkwanta’ (meaning junction in Akan) because it became a trading junction where cattle were bought and sold. It was a junction to Banda.” Economy Sissala economy is based on agriculture and livestock keeping. The agriculture sector is characterized by crop farming and livestock production. Despite efforts to promote the sector, production still remains at subsistence level, as there is no large plantation holding in the district. The agriculture sector employs about 90% of the labour force. The major food crops grown in the Sissala areas are millet, sorghum (Guinea Corn), Maize, Cowpea and Yam. Cash crops such as cotton shea-nut and dawadawa are also found in the district. Cash crops, however, has received little attention due to market uncertainties. Economic trees such as shea, dawadawa and baobab also contribute substantially to household income in the Sissala communities. The vegetation of the Sissala environment also promotes animal rearing. However animal rearing is at subsistence level. The major animals reared are sheep, goats, pigs
