Darimani

Who is Darimani?

Na Darimani, was a Ya-Na of Dagbon, located in the northern part of modern day Ghana. He was said to have ruled Dagbon for only seven weeks in 1899 but occupies a very important aspect of the Dagbon chieftaincy conflict.

Before Na Andani died in 1899, he had advised his children that Na Allassani of Karaga, who was the first son of Na Abudu, should be made the next Ya-Na, and that Na Andani's eldest son, Tugulan Yiri should then move to Karaga. But when he died, his eldest son Tugulan Yiri refused this and went to Savelugu and brought Dahamani to be the next Ya-Na. He said he did not want Karaga, he wanted Savelugu. If there is a claim that there had been a system of rotation, this was not respected in this regard. Hence, the elders, whatever method they used either through soothsaying or by dancing to the personal whims of Tugu Lana Yiri, made Kukaridjei the Ya Na. Tamakloe sympathizes with the elders of Dagbon when he said that “the elders reluctantly did what was asked of them.” In any case Allassani did not accept the choice of the kingmakers and what happened later was rather conflicting. Na Allassani who was refused the Namship would not allow that. He went to Sansan Mangu and invited the Germans who came and crushed the Andanis, chased away Darimani after he had spent seven weeks in the Gbewaa Palace and gave the flag to Allassani.