The Story of Larabanga

The story of Larabanga has been passed down orally from generation to generation. Only the high chief of the village knows the complete story, but everyone in Larabanga could tell you the basics of Larabanga's foundation. The exact date of the founding of Larabanga is therefore unknown. Some of the villagers would say during the eleventh century, others would say during the thirteenth or fourteenth century. What is agreed upon is that Larabanga was founded by the Yidan Braimah, a Kamara man who was originally from Madina in what is today Saudi Arabia. Today his name has been colloquialized into Ibrahim and many children in Larabanga are named Ibrahim in honor of the founder.

The arrival of the first Kamaras to Ghana

The leader of the Gonjas, Ndewura Jakpa, called the first Kamaras to Ghana because he was attempting to conquer the vast lands but was facing great difficulties. Ibrahim and another Kamara, by the name of Fatawu Murkpe, were called to spiritually assist Ndewura Jakpa in his fight. Specifically, Ndewura Hakpa was having trouble conquering Kango, an ancient town in what is present day Cote de Ivoire, and so Ibrahim and Fatawu Murkpe wrote some charms which allowed the Gonjas to conquer Kango. This made the Gonjas so happy with the Kamaras that they were given a special place in Gonja administration. Today, Kamaras continue to play a special religious role in Gonja administration where they are often called to assist the Gonjas as administrators of Islamic law, prayer leaders and conflict mediators. Furthermore, even today, when the Gonjas greet the Kamara people they add "Kongote" to their greeting which means 'Kango is finished,' to refer to the Kamara's role in the conquest of Kango.

The settling of Larabanga

Ndewura Jakpa met his death by a spear in a battle after he crossed the White Volta river against the advice of Ibrahim, which is why still today the Gonja lands end at the White Volta river. As Ndewura Jakpa was dying he told Ibrahim, who was too old to travel back to his home in Saudi Arabia, that he could settle anywhere on the conquered lands. Ibrahim was at Mystic Stone offering some prayers when he took a spear and threw it high into the sky, declaring that wherever it should land would become his home. The spear landed on the high fertile ground at "Zuriyir," a place that had been settled by the Dhen Zuo people and later abandoned by previous invaders from the north. "Yirikpani" or "the landing of the spear," is the name still used within Larabanga to describe the section of its community living around the mosque. Ibrahim then took a wife from the Mamprusi region just north of Mole National Park and their descendants became the people who make up the community of Larabanga today.