THE NGMALA & TIKALI ANCESTRAL DEITY OF THE GA & AKAN PEOPLE

                                                            

Ngmala is corrupted from the word Mla that translates as "rules/laws/precautions/regulations" in the Ga language. The Ngmala deities are a group of deities that are seen to be very strict. Ngmala, although worshipped by the Ga people and other coastal dwellers in Ghana is originally an Nzema-Bawule deity. (Ngmala is pronounced Ŋmala)

Ga people call their aboriginal deities as the Kpele deities and call the non aboriginal oness as Tsofa woji. These deities (Ngmala and Tikali) are mainly concerntrated in Teshie, a town in the Greater-Accra Region of Ghana.

There are also the Otu and Akom deities found throughout the Greater-Accra Region. For Nungua, Otu deities are Abili, Sei-Haku, Asaabri and Bruku. These Akom deities are of Akan origion whiles the Otu are of Guan origin.

It is believed that the Ngmala deities got to Accra with the help of one lady at Opare krom who befriended a Ga man. This relationship helped introduced Ngmala to Ga. Very prominent Ngmala priests in Ghana include Nana Kwaku Bonsam. but they may have a different name for the Ngmala cult. The Ngmala cult is believed to have originated from a variant of the Asuo Tano deity which stretches its banks into Anyin-Elubo entering into the Bawule areas in the Ivory Coast. The extension of the Tano river is called the Boubo river(Ivorian) or Nana Bobo (Ghanaian). Ngmala worshippers speak Nzema and Bawule whenever they are possessed.

Tikali, which is Dagbanli for "our culture" is also a Gonja/Dagbani deity that originated from the Gonja/Dagbon lands. Gonjas are Guans who are good in speaking Akan and Dagbanli so Tikali deities are also versatile in Twi, Gonja, Hausa and Dagbanli. Among the Ga and Akan people, most of their Tikali priests rather communicate in Twi. Down south among the Ga people, Tikali, is the chief linguist to the Ngmala deities making the Tikali and Ngmala deities to be affiliated. 

Tikali deities among the Ga people speak Akan probably because most Dagbons migrated to Asanteman and perhaps took their deities there. Also, Bonoman is just before Gonja land so its easier for cultures to be exchanged. The Tikali deities are not just one deity but a stock of deities that have different functions but are generally refer to as Tikali.

As at the writing of this article, Tikali deities that I recorded are

- Those that respond to the Kanjaga dance. Kanjaga is the alternate name of the Builsa people in northern Ghana. The Builsas have Sandema to be their capital.

- The Blofo/Abrofo deities. These deities are believed to have been brought from Fernando Po in present day Equatorial Guinea. It is common knowledge that Equatorial Guinea has Spanish to be its official language. These deities are known to speak English. Not all are from Equatorial Guinea. Some were brought from England during the colonial days and other places. These group of deities include Herliotte, Talisman, Uranus (Ga variant), Number 5, Savastian. They respond to the Gome dance originally from Equatorial Guinea.

                                                      

(a blofo priestess dancing Gome)

- The Sakla deities also respond to the Sakla dance. they are believed to have originated from the Gurunsi/Frafra areas.

                                       

                                                    (a Sakla priestess)

Ngmala is a collection of spirits that come from a single family. In an interview with Nana Bobo Aboya of Teshie, he explained that Tanowa, is the overall mother of the Ngmala spirits. She is an old woman who is married to a spirit called Afunga. Afunga is also an old man.

Tanowa gave birth to Nana Nteren who is called in the Bawule language as Mmo Nteren. Mmo Nteren is married to Nana Adu Kwesi according to Bawule/Nzema mythology. Mmo Nteren is the queen whereas Adu-Kwesi is the king.

Nana Adu Kwesi together with Nana Nteren have children, And they are 

Nana Aboya - First Born

Nana Asuma - Second Born

Nana Atingmele - 3rd Born

Gyensi - 4th Born

and others mentioned include Baaka, Akitiw etc.

They are believed to be serpent deities or snake spirits. Thus, they like eggs whenever they are possessed. They are also believed to be spirits of money thus, whoever worships any of the Ngmala spirits would certainly never lack money.

It is of great record that Ngmala is known for curing people thus, whoever may be sick in any manner is certainly to be cured by Ngmala. But then, one should note that Ngmala is certainly a strict spirit who exist by principles.

Tikali also spelt as Tigalie, is also a family of related spirits who are beneath Ngmala. The father of the Tikali spirits is usually celebrated the 2nd week and 3rd Saturday of February at Nungua, by Afieye who is popularly known as Aawon Patience whiles Ngmala is celebrated on the 2nd and 3rd Sunday of February.

                                                               

a Tikali priestess dancing to Kanja

Tikali is also attributed as unforgiving spirit. Both Ngmala and Tikali spirits have a similar way of shaping their hair. 

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