ZAYAA MOSQUE AT WULUGU

The Zayaa mosque as lots of people call it is located at Wulugu, 14km from Walewale in the West Mamprusi district. It is one of the 20^thC buildings in the country built from mud. It is peculiar in that it is an uncommon storeyed traditional design of historical and military interest.

Sheik Abdul-Karim, the man behind this historic building ,had a vision of the building in a dream when he was residing at Bawku in the Upper East Region.

He migrated to Bolgatanga in search of a place to put up the building but could not find any land available. So he decided moving through Pwalugu and then to Wulugu which finally became his home. When he first got to this area, he lived in a small home.

He had the same vision again in a dream but this time, it showed him clearly where to put the building and how it should look like.

When he got up the next morning, he saw a hand-dug well in the area where his vision directed him to put up the building and that simply implied that God had provided him with water to use for the building, since it was hard to find water for building by then.

So the next day he started putting up the building but realized that any time he built to some level and broke of for the next day, the building automatically increased to another level, meaning some unknown person continued building. He tried several times at night to see if he could find that person but all to no avail.

One night again, he got another vision from a dream and it said to him “The land I have shown to you is a place to be kept holy”. And this is why any person visiting the place is told to take off his / her shoes before entering the building.

The building is a combination of two structures. A mosque and a house. The Sheik lived in the house whiles his wives and children lived at a separate building but closer to it.

The Zayaa building has 45rooms with two floors. The well in the house can be accessed from any floor, either from the first or second floor. The wife of the Sheik, Hajia Fatima. lives with her children in this village. She is 115 years old.

It is allowed to take pictures with Hajia Fatima, as well as the building, if you wish to. For further information please call +233(0)207005091.

FEES

Foreigners GH¢ 2.00

Ghanaian s GH¢ 1.50p

J.H.S Students GH¢ 50p

S.H.S Students GH¢ 1.00

Primary Students GH¢ 20p

VISITORS WILL BE TAKEN ROUND IN ALL THE 45 ROOMS.

Shrines and groves

There are sacred groves that are traditional nature reserves created around shrines. Notable among them are the Jaagbo and Malshegu Sacred Graves. The Jaagbo Shrine, situated at 30 kilometres from Tamale, consists of about 25 acres of conserved and preserved vegetation of medicinal herbs and near extinct and mysterious plants around the Jaagbo fetish. Among the vegetation of the grove is the “mystery tree” with marks of the hooves of a horse. The Malshegu Sacred Grove is at Katalga, about 12 kilometres from Tamale.

Architecture, archaeology and culture

The region is well known for its peculiar architecture of round huts with conical thatched roofs, which provide a particular scenic view. Among the relics of the past, which throw considerable light on the history of the people of the region, are the archaeological sites at Yikpa Bonso, in the West Mamprusi District, with relics of the Komas dating back to the nineteenth century (19th C). Other relics of interest in the region are at Jentilkpe and Kpaesemkpe.

Ancient mosques

Ancient mosques are a particular aspect of the relic legacy of the region which under pin the long history of Islam in the region. The Larabaga Mosque, which is of Sundanese architectural origin, dates back to the 13thC but the Bole Mosque, also of a similar Sudanese architectural origin, was built later.

While the Banda Nkwahta and Malew Mosques were built in the 18thC, imitating older mosque designs,

The remains of an ancient defence wall are in Nalerigu, in the East Mamprusi District. What is interesting about this defence wall, which dates back to the 15thC, is not only that it was built by a powerful Mamprusi Chief but equally important, is that the wall was built with mortar of mud blood and honey.

Festivals

The most important traditional festival in the district is the Damba, a relic of Islam, which has lost its religious origin of the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Mohammed. The Damba celebration is also a mix of music, dance, excitement, horsemanship and regal pageantry, at the climax of Naa Damba. The district is the home of the Fugu textile, the centres of production being Tamale, Gushiegu and Yendi.The fire festival is another intersting thing one might like to see. It came as a reslut of the search for the Son's of one of the grate kind of mamprugu.

INAUGURATION MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS) MONITORING COMMITTEE FOR WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT

On Friday the 16^th of July 2010 the MDG monitoring committee of west Mamprusi district was inaugurated at the Walewale lorry station under the auspices of the Northern Development Society (NORDESO), an NGO in Tamale and in partnership with Asiribisi Self Help Initiative also an NGO base in Walewale. Present at the occasion were representatives of various groups and organizations, local authority, the clergy and the general public. Also in attendance was a popular musician Abu Sadik who entertained the gathering from his new album. Adam “Maasa”, a popular comedian from Walewale could not be left out as he made everyone to almost laugh out their jaws with his news in Hawsa, English, Mampruli and French.

The project manager of Asiribisi Self help Initiative, Mr. Suleman Fatawu in his welcome address reminded political leaders about their promises and urge citizens to see themselves as stakeholders in the development of their districts. The Chairman of the occasion, Pastor Jonathan Banayiri encourage the clergy to preach about the millennium development goals at their congregations.

MDGs COMMITTEE MEMBERS – WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT

NAME	DEPARTMENT
JACOB S JABUNI MUSAH MAHAMA CHILALA SALIMA ISSIFU MOHAMMED IDDRISU JAMA MUTAWAKIL ALHASSAN ISSAKA ALIMA YAHAYA MU-AZU MOHAMMED AZABU YAMUSA MAHAMA SAWRA ABUKARI SULEMANA SAASI SAIBU J. D ADAMS SAIBU SURAKATU SAMPSON KOMBAT PASTOR JONATHAN BANAYIRI	LOCAL AUTHORITY YOUTH GROUP WOMEN GROUP PERSONS WITH DISABILITY STAFF (ASHI) STAFF ((ASHI) ASSEMBLY PERSON ASSEMBLY PERSON UNIT COMMITTEE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY G E S MINISTRY OF AGRIC MOSLEM COMMUNITY MINISTRY OF HEALTH ELIM - GHANA

For any enquirers contact:

Asiribisi Self Helf Initiative

P O Boxt65 Walewale

OR

Mutawakil Alhassan

(Project Co-coordinator)

Tel: 0208291571

Sulemana Fatawu

(Project Manager)

Tel: 024802011

INNOGRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLUBS IN WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT

E.P.A FORMS CLUBS IN WEST MAMPRUSI DISTRICT

For years now, environmental damage has always been the topic in our every day discussions. The environment is one of the most important thing that man must prevent from distraction. The burning of bushes, cutting down of trees, improper disposal of waste are some of the things we do to cause damage to the environment. The West Mamprusi district has been hit by flood and storm several times and this year was not exception. In view of this, the Environment Protection Agency decided to educate students by forming environmental clubs in some selected schools in the district to help send out the information to the local people.
Walewale Senior High, Wulugu Senior High and D/A Junior High School where chosen as schools in the district were this clubs are to be set up.

STUDENTS OF D/A J.H.S

Wungu, 8-9km village from Walewale was badly affected by storm and almost every home was affected, all as a result of deforestation. The local people thinks they will have to live by cutting down trees to sell for capital or burn charcoal from trees for sell.

This is the reason why the E.P.A decided to tackle schools and educate students on the dangers of destroying the environment and also to use them as agents for educating the local people and fight strongly against people destroying the environment.

THE INNOGRATION WAS DONE BY MR. WUMBEI ABUBAKARI AND MR. SALIFU WAHABU (E.P.A TAMALE)

the innogration took place at the D/A school premises, yesterday the 14th of July, 2010. 50 students were chosen as members of the club and Mr. Daniel A Bajaba as the patron. It was lovely to see members of the C.I.C I.C.T club being members of this club and all seven executives from the I.C.T Club. The elected executives were, Mohammed Dokurugu Mofin as the president a member of the I.C.T club, Dahamani Salimu the vice president (I.C.T Club), Mohammed Ma-aruf the secretary (I.C.T Club), Mohammed Ruhiya as organising secretary (I.C.T Club), Abu Rahinatu the treasure of the club as she is for the I.C.T Club, Issah Arimiyaw an eleced member (I.C.T Club) and Haruna Alimatu another elected member and also from the I.C.T Club.
The Patron, Mr. Daniel A Bajaba thanks Mr. Wumbei and Mr. Wahabu for taking their time in coming to form an interesting and educative club in the school. He added again that, each member chosen will work effectively in campainging against any form of environmental distruction and he will work with the club and the elected executive to promote a safe environment for all. Mr. Wumbei was glad and encouraged each elected member and executive to take this opportunity seriously, and further said it could end them into getting emplyment in the E.P.A in the coming future.
He said that as time goes on they will be coming several times to educate them on new issues and also linking the club with other clubs in other part of the country for debates and quize competions. The 50 member club togehter with the founders took a group picture to clamax it all.

GROUP PICTURE

Projects Node meeting.wmv

This meeting was held at Tamale and Mr.Mashood represented Walewale C.I.C.

A TOUR TO ZANGUM, 6KM FROM WALEWALE

Yesterday, I decided taking a trip to Zangum, a 6km village from the District capital Walewale. On arrival, I was warmly welcomed by the chief and his elders who had sat to discuss issues affecting the village.

The chief of the village Alhaji Musah Mumuni was so pleased for my coming and offered me cola nut as tradition demands.

He asked me to sit and join the discussion. Some of the issues raised were the lack of portable drinking water, no enough classrooms for students and lots of orphans who are not well care for.

When I questioned them about the situation, the chief explained that, the village has only two bore-holes, of which one produces water and the other not able to. He went further to add that, the two bore holes were constructed four years ago and is only one that operates effectively.

He however, said that he will be very grateful to any individual, organization or N.G.O that could come to the aid of his people.

The chief, an herbalist who treats all kinds of sickness, said it will be nice if a structure could be put up or a clinic where he could be taken treatment and also to serve as accommodation for people who travel from far and near to receive treatment, since most patients are always accommodated by him.

THE CHIEF ALHAJI MUSAH MUMUNI

AND HIS ELDERS

On my way from the chief’s palace, I met the women’s group, “Sunga-villa” meaning “good is best”. I had a word with the leader of the group. She explained that, they form this group in other to help one another in both financial and spiritual. She went on by adding that, each member of the group deals in Shea butter extraction as a business and so they meet every two weeks (Mondays) for their meetings. She again said that, every member of the group contributes 20p as dues for the group which is taken to the Bank for saving. When asked weather they have partners who work with them, she explained that one Mr. Salifu promise of linking them to an N.G.O and till now they have not heard anything good from him.

I encouraged the women to keep it up and promise to put their association up on a blog. She thanked me on behalf of her colleagues. The next place to visit was the D/A Primary and J.H.S, just at the extreme left entering to the village. On getting to the school, it was sad to see the class 1, 2 and 3, sitting under trees for lessons.

The headmaster of the school Mr. Sulley explained that two of their classrooms got ripped off by rain storm last two years and have not yet been roofed since then. My feet went cool when I heard this. He however said that, he has spoken to a lot of individuals and organizations about the situation, and therefore prays that they get help soon.

CLASS THREE STUDENTS TAKEN LESSONS

UNDER A TREE

When asked about the current introduction of I.C.T in the syllabus and how his school was dealing with it, he explained that at the moment the school has not gotten a master to handle the subject, but said he has raised the issue several times at G.E.S meetings and so very soon a master will be send to the school to handle the subject in question.