Upper East: Culture, Architecture and History

Upper East is a region of Ghana for travelers who want to focus on cultural history, architecture and landscapes. At the Tongo-Tengzuk Cultural Landscape, striking rock formations are intertwined with cultural significance. In Navrongo, the design of the Old Navrongo Catholic Cathedral shapes the architectural impression; the Upper East Regional Museum in Bolgatanga offers a look at a diverse collection. The Hiding Caves, the Hyena Caves and the Pikworo Slave Camp represent further historical contexts. If you are looking for a hotel in Upper East, you can first decide whether you want to focus your trip more on architecture, cultural sites or history.

Tongo-Tengzuk: Rocks and Cultural Significance

Between December and February, the Harmattan wind can produce a whistling sound as it blows through the rocks of the Tongo-Tengzuk Cultural Landscape. This natural phenomenon is seasonal and therefore provides a specific point of reference when the timing of a visit to the landscape matters. The Ba’ar Tonna’ab Ya’nee, the best-known shrine in the Tongo-Tengzuk Cultural Landscape, is part of the site’s cultural significance. Asante traditionalists call it Nana Tongo and often visit it. The landscape thus offers both a seasonal natural feature and a cultural point of connection associated with the shrine and its significance to Asante traditionalists.

Architecture and Collections

The Old Navrongo Catholic Cathedral in Navrongo is made entirely of mud bricks plastered with mud mortar. At the same time, it combines European architecture with local building techniques. Those interested in construction methods can look at both the materials and the combination of architectural traditions here.

The Upper East Regional Museum in Bolgatanga displays local pottery, paintings, musical instruments, jewelry and weapons. The collection also includes the possessions of chiefs, carved stools made of dark wood and bronze ancestral vases. The variety of objects offers a different focus from the cathedral: here, the emphasis is on various objects, while there it is on the combination of architecture and local building techniques. Which items are currently on display may change; check the current exhibition before visiting.

Caves and Historic Routes

The Hiding Caves are historically associated with the local chief: around 1911, he sought refuge there during British attempts to colonize the area and commanded his troops. At the Hyena Caves, the chief and other leaders met during their struggle against the British. Both places relate to leadership and conflict, but to different events: refuge and command of troops in one case, meetings with other leaders in the other.

In Paga, the Pikworo Slave Camp served as a stopover for enslaved people who were taken from the north south to the slave market in Salaga and onward to the coast. The focus here is therefore a forced route, while the stories of the caves concern local leadership and the struggle against the British. These different historical emphases can help you choose which sites to visit based on your interest in the region’s history.

Discover more destinations: Bawku West District, Bolgatanga, Western Region, Volta, Upper West, Eastern Region, Greater Accra, Northern Region.

For the broader travel overview: Ghana.