[wds id=”2″] The funeral service of the late Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV has been climaxed with a special Qur’anic recitation on Friday, December 28, 2018. Muslim Clerics from all walks of life converged at the reconstructed Old Gbewaa Palace in Yendi for the ceremony. They extolled Almighty Allah for a successful performance of the funeral service of the late Dagbon Overlord who died in 1988. They also prayed for Dagombas total unity and genuine reconciliation after the funeral of the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II scheduled for December 4 to 18, 2019. The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Sae-ed and other dignitaries were there. By the Asantehene-led Mediation Committee’s final roadmap, the Abudu family was given two weeks to perform the late Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV funeral. Plans are afoot to perform the funeral service of the late Yaa-Naa Yakubu Andani II as the Andani family members led by the Yoo-Naa Bukari Mahama have promised to subscribe to the dictates of the final roadmap. YAA NAA MAHAMADU ABDULAI IV 1969 – 1974 Yaa Naa Mahamadu Abdullai IV whose funeral is being performed after 30 years of his demise was the 35th Yaa Naa of Dagbon. He was born on 2nd March, 1949 to Yaa Naa Abdulai III (Gmarigon). He was in form one at the Gbewaa Secondary School (now Tamale Senior High School) when his father died. He was installed as Regent of Naa Abdulai Gmarigon, and of Dagbon in 1967. Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV ascended to the Yani Namship on 13th September 1969 as ‘King’ of one of the greatest kingdoms in Africa. On the night of 12th to 13th September 1969, Yaa- Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV was escorted to Katini duu and finally enskinned as ‘King’ of Dagbon, Yaa Naa, amidst musketry, drumming and dancing. He was touted as a man of peace, patience and imbued with an impeccable sagacity. His royal appellation was “Kuli Noli din vela ni lagim nyuriba” to wit “a stream sparkling with purity gathers multitudes of the thirsty.”
During his manship, Dagbon witnessed blissful transformation during his fives years reign. He became a member of the Council of State of Ghana in September 1969 and in May 1970 he was elected as the President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs. As if by a doom spell of design, his foes who coveted his exalted position had begun to write a series of petitions for his removal from the Yani Namship. Employing vile, vengeful subterfuges and insidious political machinations, the conspiracy thickened. On the fateful day of 23rd April 1974, Dagbon eventually, the news went round that Yaa-Naa Mahamadu IV had been removed from the Yani Namship; not by customary procedures but by executive fiat of the Acheampong administration. On the dark day of 15th of October 1988, Naa- Mahamadu Abdulai IV died. On October 17th 1988, the King was laid to rest in the royal mausoleum, Katini. WIVES AND CHILDREN He had 18 wives, but three later died. The wives of the Late Yaa-Naa Mahamadu were as follows: (1)Gbanzaling (2) Galibang (3) Koyibga (4) Pariwaa (5) Gasinaba (6) Yiblana (7) Batamgali (8) Balchisu Limam (9) Azara Sagpegu (10) Fati Sunsong (11) Zuweira (12) Aramatu (13) Azara Bimbilla (14) Safiatu (15) Rahinatu He left behind 14 children comprising, Abdulai Mahamadu, Alhassan Mahamadu, Alhassan Mahamadu, Yakubu Mahamadu, Abdulai Mahamadu and Sulemana Mahamadu. Sugri Mahamadu, Fati Mahamadu, Samata Mahamadu, Zenabu Mahamadu, Mariama Mahamadu and Awabu Mahamadu are the female children. BOLINGLANA ABDULAI MAHAMUDU The Boling-Lana Mahamadu Abdulai is the first surviving son of late Yaa- Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV. He was born in 1974 when his father was facing political and uncustomary machinations from his detractors. He became the Boling-Lana at the age of 14, a day after Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV was laid to rest at the Katini duu. The Boling-Lana-Lana Abdulai Mahamadu was in SDA Primary School in Tamale when his father died. He has since been the Regent of his later father for 30 years now. The Bolin-Lana Abdulai Mahammadu has four wives and twelve children. The Boling-Lana Mahamadu Abdulai was installed as the new Regent of Dagbon, Friday, December 14, 2018. The installation was an integral part of activities lined up for the performance of the funeral of the Yaa-Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV. People from all walks of life including Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of State agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, Chiefs, the Clergy, family relations and well-wishers witnessed the occasion. Source:Abdul Karim Naatogmah