HISTORY OF SHAMA

The Origin of Shama.
​In tracing the origin of Shama it is to the early history of Yabiw we must look. Tradition has it that the ancestors of Yabiw were amongst the earliest races who inhabited the Western portion of the Gold Coast in an unknown period, and that they were contemporary with the Amanahyia and Nzima tribes, that in the dim ages, the ancestors of Yabiw through the pressure of an increasing population, feuds and severe famine and the threatenings of a neighbouring superior power, began to move southwards with a large body of emigrants who had come from Salaga and that that band of emigrants for years and years continued to move on until they came and settled at a place known as Amanfukesidu.

​The original stock of Yabiw emigrants, having settled at Amanfukesidu for a number of years, moved and travelled southward. When they had travelled for a day or two, they met twin ponds known as “Bura Nta” and the head of the emigrating band ordered that “bema yenbiw ha” meaning “let us post ourselves here”. The order was obeyed and they made a permanent settlement and called the place Yabiw that is, we have posted ourselves here.

​The people of Yabiw lived by farming and hunting. And in course of time one of the members of the Yabiw settlers by name Asimaku went a hunting with one of his sons. After a day’s hunting his progress was suddenly arrested by a river. He followed the course of the river downward until he came upon a vast expanse of water – the sea. He was overawed with its vastness and he said to himself that here might be a great Busum (deity). Then having poured a libation and made certain incantations he worshipped the wonder and built a hut there. He retracted his steps with his son and reached home at nightfall, and after his repast, he related to the people of Yabiw what he had seen. Some days after his arrival he decided to remove…
​Key Terms and Locations:
​Yabiw: The ancestral settlement mentioned as the precursor to Shama.
​Salaga: An ancient market town in Northern Ghana, suggesting a long-distance migration.
​Amanfukesidu: An interim settlement site.
​Asimaku: The hunter credited with discovering the Pra River and the sea.
​Busum: A Twi/Fante word for a deity or spirit.