Gwollu Slave Trade Defence Wall
Gwollu Slave Trade Defence Wall
70km north of Wa (Upper West region of Ghana), Gwollu has another poignant reminder of the ancient slave routes that led through this region. The wall was built in the 19th century by Gwollu Koro Limann as a defence against slave traders for the the local residents of the town of Gwollu of that time, against slave traders. The wall is another heartrending reminder of the ancient slave routes that led through the region. |
Portions of the ruins of the slave defense wall have been preserved at a few places in town. The wall is of important historical value as it is one of very few remaining pieces of evidence of organized resistance and fight to slave trade in the world, and in Ghana in particular. The remnants of this defense wall as a result of the 300 hundred year long slave trade that left unforgettable landmarks are found at the border town of Gwollu.
The Gwollu district is sharing a border with Burkina Faso, facilitating cross border socio-economic activities between not just the district and Burkina Faso, but more importantly, the two countries. It covers a total Land area of 4,11289km, which is approximately 25% of the total Landmass of the Upper West Region.
The Gwollu district is sharing a border with Burkina Faso, facilitating cross border socio-economic activities between not just the district and Burkina Faso, but more importantly, the two countries. It covers a total Land area of 4,11289km, which is approximately 25% of the total Landmass of the Upper West Region.
Chief calls for reparation from beneficiaries of slave trade
Gwollu Slave Trade Defence Wall - Source: GNA Gwollu (N/R), July 29, 2004 - A paramount chief in the Upper West Region has appealed to the government and other countries whose people suffered under the slave trade for reparation from countries who benefited from trade.
He said the reparation could be used for the descendants of the slaves in the Diaspora.
The Gwollu Kuoro, Kuoro Buktie Limann, Paramount Chief of the Gwollu Traditional Area in the Sissala District was speaking at a durbar organized by the chiefs and people of the area to climax activities marking the Emancipation Day in the Region. The durbar, which was held under the theme "Retracing our steps, the path to development", was attended by Madam Victoria Manful, Managing Director of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) and some tourists including those from the Diaspora. |
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Kuoro Limann briefed the guests of the heroic resistance of the people of the Gwollu and its surrounding areas under its great leader Tanjia against the slave trade.
He said the remains of the Gwollu slave defence wall at the durbar ground, which provided the people security against the slave traders was a monument attesting to the great leadership of their chief Tanjia. He said Grushies, Sissalas and Dagaabas were mostly the victims of the slave raiders.
The chief prayed that humanity should never allow such slave trade to happen again.
Earlier, a drama re-enacting how raids by the slave raiders captured people was dramatized by a youth group in Gwollu town.
He said the remains of the Gwollu slave defence wall at the durbar ground, which provided the people security against the slave traders was a monument attesting to the great leadership of their chief Tanjia. He said Grushies, Sissalas and Dagaabas were mostly the victims of the slave raiders.
The chief prayed that humanity should never allow such slave trade to happen again.
Earlier, a drama re-enacting how raids by the slave raiders captured people was dramatized by a youth group in Gwollu town.
Other attractions in Upper West region of Ghana
The regional capita, Wa, is dotted with Mosques, including the Ancient Sudanese Mosques at Nakore, and Dondoli. The magnificent palace of the chief of Wa, located in Wa which was built in Sudanese architecture that dates back to the 16th century, with its architectural uniqueness. The palace of Jirapa chief also showcases local architecture, a labyrinth which is the first multi-storey mud building in the Ghanaian history. Others include major feature of this region which are its ancient caves. The caves found in Bulenga, Dahili and Sankana, were places of refuge for the inhabitants who were fleeing from the slave raiders whenever they attacked. Slave Camps can be found at Pizaga and Dolbizon and Slave market at Kassana, which all together gives the visitor a complete slave trade experience and history.
Another amazing attraction in the region is the Gbelle Game Reserve/ Bird Sanctuary The reserve which is about 565 kilometers square is at the south of Tumu, is home to elephants, buffaloes and the country’s largest herds of Roan antelopes. There is also a Bird Sanctuary and the Wechiau Hippoppotamus Santuary which all makes traveling to the region interesting. This extends along the Black Volta River near Wechiau, also serves as a habitat for other reptiles and several birds.
Do not miss the smoothly polished mushroom-shaped rocks formations leaning on their sides in Wuling, The Gothic stone cathedral church, the largest in west Africa, built in 1936 found in Nandom, and the traditional Lobi Houses and the making of Ghanaian xylophone in Lawra, which all makes traveling to the region a unique experience.
Another amazing attraction in the region is the Gbelle Game Reserve/ Bird Sanctuary The reserve which is about 565 kilometers square is at the south of Tumu, is home to elephants, buffaloes and the country’s largest herds of Roan antelopes. There is also a Bird Sanctuary and the Wechiau Hippoppotamus Santuary which all makes traveling to the region interesting. This extends along the Black Volta River near Wechiau, also serves as a habitat for other reptiles and several birds.
Do not miss the smoothly polished mushroom-shaped rocks formations leaning on their sides in Wuling, The Gothic stone cathedral church, the largest in west Africa, built in 1936 found in Nandom, and the traditional Lobi Houses and the making of Ghanaian xylophone in Lawra, which all makes traveling to the region a unique experience.
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