‘Naa Dataa Tua’ the abandoned tourism site in the traditional seat of Dagbon.

The Naa Dataa Tua literally means “the king’s rivalry tree” the old deteriorating Baobab tree where the people who has been found having sexual relationship affairs with any of the Yaa Naa’s wife’s were executed.

Their necks was placed on an oval shaped laterite rock and their heads was beheaded and thrown into a cave on the baobab tree with their body’s disposed in a valley.

This special deteriorating old Baobab tree was situated in between Kugu community and Yendi, the traditional seat and home of tourism in Northern Region, Yendi

History has it that, some of the king’s linguist and the general public was having relationship affairs with some of the king wife’s which is a crime in the tradition.

This was done to prevent and save as deterrent to those who might want to engage in sexual relationship affairs with the king’s wife.

The tree was also renowned for it’s cultural and spiritual significance in Dagbon cultures, and are often used to mark the boundaries of sacred sites.
According to history, Naa Dataa Tua is still visible in the Yendi township

In an interview with Daily Graphic, a historian, Abdulai Mohammed Mutala said, the execution was scary which really helped to prevent people from having sexual affairs with the king’s wife, “it was very scary but it helps the king’s wife not to have children from outside marriage ”

In the century, the king of Dagbon kingdom enskin chal lana in a farming community as the executor. The Chal lana is now a chieftaincy tittle in Gbambaya.

He added that, when a person was suspected, the Yaa-Naa would consult the Gods as tradition demands to confirm what they have suspected, before execution.

Mr. Mutala said, the execution was stopped during the reign of Naa Andani Naanigoo, when an innocent man was suspected to be executed.

This practice was change, recently to the slaughtering of Dog, Donkey and a Horse when the Yaa-Naa join his ancestors, this slaughtering is done during the funeral rite and the meat with the blood would disposed in a river, who ever have sexual affairs with any of the wife’s and took the water would die, he stressed.

Mr. Mutala further revealed that, when the site is properly developed could become a tourism center for foreign and local tourist, adding, “it’s already a tourist destination particularly students but the site is not developed.”

He, therefore, called on authorities, especially the ministry of tourism, NGO’s to consider developing the place so as to boost tourism in the area.