Bim’manga (Smocks) for Dagomba Chiefs-Implications for Peace Promotion among Dagombas in Northern Ghana

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VIII, August 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Bim’manga (Smocks) for Dagomba Chiefs-Implications for Peace Promotion among Dagombas in Northern Ghana

Fusheini, M.Z.^1*, Adu-Agyem, J.^2
1Tutor, Department of Vocational/Technical Skills, Bagabaga College of Education-Tamale, N/R, Ghana
²Senior Lecturer, Former HOD, Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology, Faculty of Art and Built Environment, KNUST, Ghana
*Corresponding author

Abstract—-The general purpose of this paper aims at educating modern producers and users of the Dagomba Bim’mangli (smock) that the Bim’mangli (smock) is the main material culture that identifies chiefs and differentiates them from the ordinary persons. It, therefore, tries to promote peace among chiefs and between chiefs and the ordinary persons since misappropriations in dressing in the Bim’mangli at social gatherings can trigger conflicts. This study used oral interviews among Bim’mangli sewers, weavers and traditional folk historians to bring to bear some typical examples of Bim’manga (smocks) that are worn by Dagomba chiefs for their identities.  It was revealed that Dagomba chiefs have different ranks within the chiefdom and the chiefs are symbolically differentiated among themselves and from ordinary people in social gatherings by the type, colour, number and size of Bim’manga (smocks) worn. It also depicted that wearing Bim’manga according to one’s personality promote peace since Bim’manga communicate the wearer’s personalities to the general public. Lack of knowledge and understanding of the indigenous aesthetics of the Dagomba chiefs’Bim’manga may cause some socio-cultural problems that could lead to conflicts. It has, therefore, become imperative to discuss and document the indigenous aesthetics of Dagombachiefs’ Bim’manga(smocks) and their implications for peace promotion in Dagbon.

Keywords—-Bim’mangli(smock), Bim’manga(smocks), Dagombas, indigenous aesthetics, chiefdom smocks, peace promotion.

I. INTRODUCTION

The Dagomba Bim’manga (smocks) are indigenous Ghanaian traditional dresses made from cotton, wool and rayon [1]. They were originally hand woven and hand sewn but today, they are also sewn using machine. The Bim’mangli (smock) is woven, stitched, knitted, dyed and embroidered and these techniques greatly form part of the major components of Textile education in Ghana.

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