THE BADU OR KULANGO PEOPLE OF GHANA


The people of Badu, also called Nkoraen by the Bono people, call their language Kulange or Kulango. They are a group of Senufo speakers found within the Tain district of the Bono-Ahafo region of Ghana. They originated from Angayi and Gyeribaba in the ancient Bouna Kingdom in present day Ivory Coast; where they left due to constant fighting. They were not the only tribe that left but then other tribes followed. Oral history of the Badu names one Seikwa who has been entrusted with particular duties to assist the paramount chief administrate a kingdom.

 

When they migrated from Bouna, Seikwa in the course of time established his own kingdom.
From Bouna-Angayi, they settled at Nyimpeano near Sampa (present day Nafaana land) under the leadership of Nnyenge Sagbani who was their first chief. He died of old age and was succeeded by Singe Hennie (alias Aduro Barima) who also died of old age and was succeeded by Samade (or Akrosuma-Agyentadua). Samade fought many kingdoms in other to expand the Badu kingdom. He even fought the Lobi and collected their bows and arrows; hence the title “Agye-Nte-dua.”

 

Well, Kulangos are not only in Ghana but in the Ivory Coast as well so one cannot be really certain about the origin of the name Kulango or Kulange due to the difference in identities and geographical locations. One Nana Kofi Badu ascended the throne of Baduman and this would earmark a whole new genesis for the Badu kingdom. The town was named after him as people who visited the town would normally say “miikɔ Badu” in Akan or “miiyaa Badu” in Kulango.

 

Badu is spoken with the Akan accent so at first audit, it may be mistaken for Akan or Guan. They inhabit the Tain district in the Bono region of Ghana. Some of their communities include Bipoyase, Nasana, Degedege, Kadamu, Adamu, Kolongo, Yonu, Kwame-Mensah, Miawani, Kwadiewalago etc. The Bono call the Kulango language spoken in Ghana Nkoraen and the varieties spoken in the Ivory Coast as Nkona. Jama spoken in the Ivory Coast is a closely related language.

COMMON COURTESY IN BADU (KULANGO)

KPELIGI

DꜪKꜪ

WORD

RESPONSE

Hɔ meze? / Ɔhɛ?

Mihɛ kama!

How are you?

I am fine!

Ogura lɛ!

Guadeta! (male)

Guadena! (female)

Good morning!

Good morning!

Omani!

Manideta! (male)

Manina! (female)

Good afternoon/

Good evening!

Good afternoon/

Good evening!

Mikpɛrɛ wo oo!

Midɛ!

Greetings!

I respond!

Midali wo!

 

I beg you!

 

Ojɛto!

 

Thank you!

 

Nɔ fuo!

Jɛ so!

Welcome!

Thank you!
I am Huniah Tetteh, born 10th October 1995 and a lover of languages and ethnicity studies. I love animals and traveling and ready to do everything to push the study of languages to the world

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