The final funeral rites of the late Paramount Chief of Mion, Mionlana Mahamadu Abdulai, has begun today Friday (May 23, 2025) in the Mion district of the Northern Region. The revered traditional leader died on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
He was subsequently laid to rest at Sambu, the traditional capital of Mion in line with Dagbon customs and tradition.
Elders of the Abudu royal family few weeks ago announced that the final funeral rites will begin on May 23 to 30, 2025. The family led by the Paramount Chief of Karaga, Naa Natogmah Abdulai, further informed the government about preparations for the funeral and former President Akufo-Addo.
Consequently, the weeklong funeral rites commenced Friday morning with the shaving of hair (Zugu kurisibu) of all children of the late Chief – which is a very significant ritual in the performance of the funeral.
The next major activity is the display of wealth (Buni wuhibu) slated on Thursday, May 29, and the final funeral rites (Sara taribu) on Friday, May 30.
Meanwhile, the completion of the funeral will then pave the way for the Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Abukari II, to enskin a new Mionlana to occupy the skin.
Background:
The late Mionlana Abdulai Mahamadu was born in 1974 and became the Boling-Lana (Regent) at the age of 14, following the demise of his father, the late Yaa Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV. He died at age 48 years.
He left behind four wives and 12 children.
He was enskinned as Mion Lana on March 3, 2019, by Ya Naa Abukari II, the Overlord of Dagbon following the successful implementation of the Dagbon peace pact in January 2019.
He was the first son of the late Ya Naa Mahamadu Abdulai IV who was the Overlord of Dagbon from 1969 to 1974 and was eligible to ascend to the Dagbon Namship (Yani).
