Emoula is a famous group of people believed to have hailed from Kumbiifu in Burkina Faso. They found their way into Wa and deeply rooted in the upper west region of Ghana through trade. In particular, the Emoula reared horses for sale to ancient rulers and warriors. With great populations, the Emoula are predominantly found in Kumbiahi, Kaleo, Loho (all near Wa) and Kulmasa in the northern region. Kumbiahi, where they first settled is invariably the administrative capital of the Emoula in and around the Upper West Region.

The Emoula consider crocodile as their spirit and for that reason taboo it entirely. Any part of this reptile eaten by an Emoula is a dangerous poison which has a resultant effect of death or leprosy. It is believed that during the era of warfare, their great ancestors were pursued until they came across a river they could not cross. Almost losing hope that they were at the mercy of the enemy, their leader (unnamed) made incantations for divine intervention. There and then, a very huge crocodile surfaced from the water which they sat on to enable them cross the river. The crocodile also appeared before the enemy but when they sat on it and it took them to the middle of the river, it discarded them and they got drowned. Thereafter, the ancestor forbade all his progeny from harming or eating crocodile.

Kulmasa, which literally means ‘cold or calm wells’ was founded by one of the sons of Dangoli (one of Emoula ancestors at Kumbiahi near Wa) around a well called Bituori. As if history repeated itself, Bituori is flooded with crocodiles and water therein never dries up. These crocodiles peacefully co-exist with the people just at their backyards causing harm to neither human beings nor animals. Attacks by crocodiles on human beings and animals in Kulmasa are clear signs of calamity to befall the people. Dead crocodiles from Bituori are prepared and buried just like human beings. The people of Kulmasa even taboo any other creature (such as fishes and frogs) living in Bituori.

Interesting however, the Emoula are not among the ruling class of Kulmasa. Kulmasa is considered part of Daripe (a Gonja controlled land), and as such chieftaincy is in the hands of the Gonjas who have a central administration at Damango in the northern region.

The people of Kulmasa are mainly farmers. Sorghum, legumes and yams are their main food crops, with shea tree and cashew being their cash crops. Livestock is also kept on quite substantial scale. While some aspects of barter are still being practised, the Ghana cedi is the official medium of exchange. Cola nut is also a very important commodity among the people of Kulmasa for a lot of their customary practices.

Despite a lot of development potentials in and around Kulmansa including a huge tourist potential, poverty still lingers among the people. Low literacy rate, women marginalisation and inadequate social amenities e.g. health care delivery, are identified to be some of their challenges. There is only one borehole serving the close to 3,000 residents of Kulmasa.