The Overlaord of the Gonja Kingdom and President of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs, His Royal Majesty Yagbon Wura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale (l) urges various schools in Gonjaland in the Savannah Region to increase the usage of the Gonja Anthem in schools to preserve the Gonja cultural and traditional heritage.
Speaking with Yagbon Radio Morning Show Host, Mr. Diwura Abdul Fatawu, on the Radio’s Morning Show (Tea Cup) on Wednesday, 8th October, 2025, two Guest Speakers, Prof. Adams Sulemana Achanso and Mr. Dramani Dari (Associate Professor at UDS and a Lecturer and Head of the Gonja Department at UEW respectively), were contacted phone call on their thoughts on HRM the Yagbon Wura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale’s (l) call on the usage of the Gonja Anthem in schools in Gonjaland.
Prof. Achanso started by extending warm greetings to HRM the Yagbon Wura, the Paramount Chief of the Bole Traditional Area, and all other Chiefs in Gonjaland and proceeded by elaborating on the meaning and significance of the Gonja Anthem to the preservation of the Gonja cultural heritage and identity.
According to him, the Gonja Anthem should be sang not just in schools but at all Gonja social gatherings in order to remind Gonjas of their responsibility towards Gonjaland, their cultural heritage, identity, and the preservation of Gonja customs and traditions. He added that radio stations, parents and guardians should endeavour to use the anthem to educate their children and the general public on its essence and significance.
During Mr. Dramani’s submission, he indicated that the meaning of the Gonja Anthem in the Gonja language is ‘Kanasesh3’ to it ‘Patriotic Son’. He noted that there are two things that unify every group of people; their language and land.
He further explained how language play a crucial role in cultural transmission and preservation. He highlighted efforts his Department has been making to ensure that more students in Gonjaland are enrolled in various higher educational institutions to learn the Gonja language. He said this was necessary as result of lack of Gonja teachers.
According to him, the core foundation of the preservation of the Gonja language is the availability of Gonja teachers to teach the language. He advised that Gonjas should give their children Gonja names to enhance their sense of belonging and identity.
Prof. Achanso on his part advised that there is the need for parents to speak Gonja with their children to ensure their children understand their mother tongue (Gonja) since research proves that understanding one’s mother tongue or original language enables them to learn in other languages and understand better. He urges students in Gonjaland to develop the desire to pursue bachelors’ degree programs in the Gonja language in higher educational institutions since after bachelors’ degree, they could pursue masters or postgraduate programs in other disciplines.
Mr. Dramani further indicated that poems, stories, adages, songs, cultural dances, funeral rites, naming ceremonies, marriage rites, food, culture, history, enskinments, just to mention but a few, have been documented in the Gonja language by his Department and are available to the general public. He pleaded that Gonjas in particular should take advantage of their availability to learn their language, culture and traditions.
He also said that he was going to send proposals to the right authorities to ensure that more Gonja teachers are posted to various schools in Gonjaland to facilitate the learning of the Gonja language. He called on media organisations, schools, parents and guardians, the Gonjaland Youth Association, and the like, to play their respective roles in that regard..
Prof. Achanso and Mr. Dramani concluded their submissions by encouraging everybody in Gonjaland to consider the use and promotion of the Gonja language as a collective responsibility since everyone stands to benefit by so doing. It is only when we work together that we could achieve such a goal they said.
Source Diwura Abdul Fataw
