A history of Wa, 1500 – 1900.

Abstract

Motivated by the works of scholars on the histories of ethnic groups like the Dagomba, Mamprusi, and Asante, the aim of this study is to delineate the origins of the Waala from the earliest period to the eve of British Colonial rule in 1898. Political, economic, and social developments between 1500 and 1900 led to the rise of Wa and the creation of the Waala Kingdom. Trans-Saharan trade routes passing through Wa exposed Wa to all participants in the trade and attracted some to settle in Wa. The mixing of different peoples in the area created socio-political institutions and blended various cultures, distinguishing the people of Wa from other peoples. To facilitate good governance, the Mamprusi ruling lineage involved the main social groups - autochthons and Muslims - in the administration of the Kingdom. Continuous developments in Wa soon caught the attention of external forces, both Africans and Europeans, who for diverse reasons struggled to capture and control Wa from the 1880s. In 1898, the British won the race for Wa. This study, therefore, chronologically examines the history of Wa from the earliest times critically looking at the various influences which transformed Wa for more than 400 years.