Historical Context of “N Sabi N Sabili Ŋo”
This piece is a report on Afa Ajura’s visit to Nigerian Independence festivities as a member of the Ghana delegation, which had been sent by President Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah in 1960. In the text, Afa Ajura lists some of the Ghanaians who went to Nigeria, important Nigerian people (big men) they met, the things they saw, the fact that all things they were given were complimentary (transportation, food); important cities and states visited. The text does not mention any cities or regions by name, but it is likely the delegation visited Lagos, where Abubakar Tafawa and Nnamdi Azikiwe were known to have been during the celebrations of 1 October 1960. This piece is a fact-based report, and contains no moral, spiritual, or social lessons or commentary. However, it does implicate Afa Ajura in national politics at the time, something that is not widely known by many contemporary Dagbamba, even students and followers of Anbariyya in Tamale.
People Mentioned in the Text
In “N Sabi N Sabili Ŋo,” Afa Ajura lists the names of several prominent figures in Ghanaian and Nigerian independence and post-Independence politics. Many of these figures were to go on to long and successful careers as politicians, diplomats, and statesmen over the ensuing decades.
Ghanaians Mentioned in the Text
- Dr. Kwame Osagyefo Nkumah. 1909-1972. Independence activist and later first president of Ghana.
- Yahaya Iddi. Dates Unknown. A prominent Dagbamba politician and member of the CPP and later served as regional chairman of the Northern Region’s NPP office. **More information needed**. See Martin Staniland, The Lions of Dagbon: Political Change in Northern Ghana, African Studies Series 16 (Cambridge [Eng.] ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1975), 144, 217, 224.
- Mumuni Iddi. **More information needed**
- Umar Igala [Imoru Egala]. 1916-1981. Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1960, presumably during this state visit to Nigeria on 1 October 1960. Alhaji Igala founded the People’s National Party (PNP) in 1979.
- Kojo Botsio. 1916-2001. An educator and diplomat who twice served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Nkrumah. In 1960, Botsio was Minister of Agriculture.
- Alhaji Tanko. ***More information needed*** Described by Afa Ajura in the text as “chief butcher of Kumasi.” An Alhaji Tanko was Vice-chairman of the PNP Ashanti regional office in 1980, a position that would be consistent with an Nkrumah supporter from Kumasi. The Tanko name is associated with butchers and chief butchers in Kumasi in the 21st century. ***More information needed*** See G.N.A., “31 Face Expulsion from PNP,” Daily Graphic, March 6, 1980, Issue 8, 135, 3.
Nigerians Mentioned in the Text
- Ethnic groups: Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa (Gbeŋgberi), Jikuri, Kanuri (Baribari)
- Sir Ahmadu Bello. C. 1909-1966. A prominent figure in pre-Independence and, later, post-Independence politics. A descendant of Uthman dan Fodio, Bello served as Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sardauna of Sokoto, and as leader of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC).
- Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. 1912-1966. Politician and Independence activist who was a prominent member of the NPC and became Nigeria’s first prime minister in 1960.
- Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. 1904-1996. Statesman, scholar, and first president of the Republic of Nigeria in 1963. “Zik” was a leading figure in the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, a leading political party that shared power with the NPC upon Independence.
- Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. 1933-2011. Lt. Col. Ojukwu was a prominent officer in the colonial Nigerian Military and subsequently the Nigerian Army. Following the military coup of 1966, Ojukwu declared Biafra an independent republic, thus launching the Biafran War.
- Kiwa Bikira. ***More information needed***
- Kifa Abaafa Awal. ***More information needed***
- Aminu Kano. 1920-1983. A schoolmate of Ahmadu Bello and Abubakar Tafawa, Kano was an Independence activist and politician. He served in parliament for several years and later as a Minister of Health under Nigeria’s first military government.
- Chief of Kaduna. ***More information needed***
- Chief of Baribari. ***More information needed***
***If you have more information on any of these figures, whether documentary or oral, the editors of this site would be interested to learn more. Please contact us here.