Mo (people)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Mo are an ethnic group in the west of what is now Ghana and in the Ivory Coast . However, they call themselves Deg , the name Mo is used by their neighbors and other outsiders. Mo was also the official name in colonial times. Other alternative names for the ethnic group are Degha, Janela, Aculo, Mmfo, Mohua, Mochia, Miao, Mo Jia, Mo Min, Buru (Buro), Ching, Sou and Panyam.

The current Ghanaian settlement area of ​​the Mo is located south of the Black Volta in the region east of the city of Banda with the core area in the area opposite Bamboi , where there is traditionally an Ashanti ferry across the Black Volta. (Bamboi is located on the north bank of the southern course of the river at 8 ° 10 ′  N , 2 ° 2 ′  W. ) Some of them also settle north of the Black Volta. Another smaller Mo group is located further north in the northeast of the Lobi country, around the point 09 ° 40 'N; 02 ° 30'W.

In 1912 the political head of the Mo resided in Longoro at 8 ° 11 ′  N , 1 ° 53 ′  W on the south bank of the Black Volta. Politically and religiously, however, the Mo were mainly influenced by the Tindana (priest of the earth deity) of Sakpa (at 8 ° 52 ′  N , 2 ° 21 ′  W ), who embodies the most important personality of the people.

The Mo speak a language called Deg , which is part of the Gur group of Niger-Congo languages. In 2003 the number of Deg speakers was estimated at 27,500, of whom 26,400 lived in Ghana and around 1,100 (1991) in the territory of the Republic of Ivory Coast. Longoro, Mangum and Boe are considered dialects of the Deg language. Akan is understood everywhere in the country.

literature

  • R. Bagulo Bening: Internal colonial boundary problems of the Gold Coast, 1907-1951 . In: International Journal of African Historical Studies , Volume 17 (1), 1984, pp. 81-99

Web links