An Anthropological Study of Indigenous Weapon Production Among the Anufor of Northern Ghana

Weapon production and warfare are unavoidably linked, as the former is needed to prosecute the latter. It was essential for the protection of the ego and image of a group, and this urge was strong enough to plunge states into endless warfare. During pre-colonial times, West African states like the Dagomba, Gonja, Mamprusi, and allies, including the Anufor, were preoccupied with wars of expansion and consolidation of acquired territories. In most cases, these wars involved the seizure of territories, as the ownership of territories showed the extent of one’s power and influence. Several traditional armies were thus engaged in warfare to control territories and the resources therein, including trade routes and markets. The strength of an army partly depended largely on the efficacy and level of sophistication of their weapons. The Anufor, who were very efficient in the war enterprise as mercenaries, were equally efficient in producing various weapons, including physical handheld weapons, plant venom, and spirituality. This paper uses oral histories and traditions among the Anufor and their allies in Ghana and Togo, as well as archival sources. Critical analysis of relics of war accouterments and Arabic manuscripts at the Institute of African Studies, Legon, was enriching.