Ghana - Tenzug - Tallensi settlements

The Tong Hills, a rocky granite outcrop rising from the savannas of the Upper East Region of northern Ghana, are one of the most important cultural sites in West Africa. Located only sixteen kilometers from the regional capital, Bolgatanga, the hills are the sacral epicentre of the Talensi (Tale people) and an area of outstanding natural beauty and cultural richness. This unique landscape is home to numerous sacred shrines—to the earth (tongban) and to the ancestors (ba'ar). Paramount among them is the ba'ar Tonna'ab, nestled in the cliffs above the village of Tenzug. The hills also provide a stage for some of the most colourful and vibrant festivals in Ghana. The Boaram, which takes place in October, is a harvest festival centred on the ancestor shrines. Gologo comes at the end of the dry season and is focused on the great earthshrine, Noo. Majority of the settlements are within the hills. Despite the physical challenges the Tallensi have mastered their environment by way of an effective use of land for agriculture and animal husbandry which engages about 98% of the population.