Intra-tribal Conflicts and the split of Birifoh Sila Yiri: A multiple Approach towards Indigenous Knowledge Management and Tourism in Ghana

Abstract

The study sought to reconstruct the Birifoh migration and intra-tribal conflict stories that were gathered mainly through sociological methods. Using a multiple approach consisting of ethnography, documented evidence and archaeology, this study found that the Sila (hawk) patriclan finally settled in Birifoh after a long sojourn from Wa. Evidence of rapid population growth at Birifoh was established as the presence of huge compound sizes were reported. As a result, coordinating human activities was constrained which led to a serious intra-tribal conflict that also caused loss of human life and property. The ethno-archaeology and history provided enough clues about bloodbath as there was evidence of multiple burials/pile of bones and some of the instrument that were widely used during that period. It is therefore concluded that this reconstruction is relevant for the, local community to remember their past, academics to do further research and promotion of dark tourism to improve the local economy in Ghana.

Keywords: Intra-tribal conflict, Ethno-archaeology, Lobi, Dagaaba, Birifoh