Akan People Research Articles

Metaphor as Sea Creature Naming Strategy in Akan

The paper discusses the role of metaphor in the name construction of sea creatures among Akan (Mfantse) people within the purview of onomasiology. The role of metaphor in the naming of sea creatures has been understudied. This paper is a step towards filling the gap by analyzing the role metaphor plays in constructing naming units for sea creatures. This study has a qualitative research design. Twelve (12) fishers were purposely sampled, three (3) each from four fishing towns: Anomabo, Apam, Sekondi (Sekunde) and Moree (Mowure). The data collection tool was a semi-structured interview. The paper finds that likeness between sea creatures and static and/or dynamic entities triggers names for sea creatures. It concludes that, metaphor is employed to achieve simpler forms for salient features, communicate non-codable salient features and condense multiple features in the quest to name sea creatures among the Mfantse people. Through these vital roles, a general metaphor Sea Creatures are Land Animals/Entities is realized. The encyclopedic knowledge, which the Mfantse people have about their environment is realized through their naming strategies. It is recommended that the linguistics of naming percepts in indigenous Akan occupations be explored further.

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Akan Dying, Death and Mourning Rites

This study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Akan traditional rites related to dying, death and mourning. The study used a qualitative research approach (based on both primary and secondary sources) to examine Akan dying, death and mourning rites and selected critical issues arising due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary data were obtained from semi-structured interviews and participant observa¬tion whiles secondary data were obtained from books, journal articles and others. The study found that though COVID-19 health protocols have changed many Akan traditional rites related to dying, death and mourning, the Akan people still maintain their traditional beliefs about dying, death and mourning. Therefore, there is a high probability that changes that have taken place will be discarded as soon as the pandemic is over.

Beauty in the Eyes of the Akan People of Ghana: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Alex Konadu’s Song “Asianawaa”

Beauty is a universal concept and has many facets. But the standards of measuring beauty are arbitrary and differ from one culture to another. The variations in the ideals of beauty show what is expected of women in any society. In the Western world, the standards of beauty do not extend beyond the physical appearance of a woman. In the African cultural setting, particularly in the Akan culture, the standards of beauty are not limited to only the physical appearance of the woman. How language is used in exploring the standard of beauty in the Akan has received a little attention. This paper seeks to focus on the use of language used in expressing beauty in the Akan society. Using data based on the song entitled “Asianawaa”, by Alex Kwabena Konadu, a well-known Ghanaian musician, this study examines the Akan concept of beauty as reflected in the use of language. Konadu captures the notion of beauty, through the female physical features, non-physical features and the social capital of beauty. The metaphor, allusion and symbolism are the main language tools that help to conceptualise the concept of beauty in this Akan song. The findings reveal that Konadu’s lyrics highlight the metaphorical concept of beauty with its connotations. It draws conclusion that Konadu’s idea of beauty is demonstrated in understanding the relationship between the language and the socio-cultural experiences of the Akan of Ghana.

Nietzsche’s idea of eternal recurrence and the notions of reincarnation in Onyewuenyi and Majeed

This paper examines Nietzsche’s idea of eternal recurrence and the notions of reincarnation in Onyewuenyi and Majeed with a view to showing how convergence and divergence of thought in the Nietzschean, Onyewuenyean and Majeedean philosophy contexts can inform cross-cultural philosophizing. Nietzsche’s idea of eternal recurrence represents his deep thought, which claims that every aspect of life returns innumerable times, in an identical fashion. On the other hand, Onyewuenyi posits that reincarnation is un-African as he conceives it as the theory that when the soul separates from the body, at death, it informs another body for another span of life, while Majeed sees evidence of the African rootedness of the belief in reincarnation, based on his study of the Akan people of Ghana and concedes that the belief, itself, is irrational, since there is no scientific or empirical basis for it. Attempts are made to highlight the dynamics of Nietzsche’s idea of eternal recurrence and to articulate the essential ingredients of Onyewuenyean and Majeedean conceptions of reincarnation. These forms of thought will be examined critically to exhibit their convergence and divergence in the context of cross-cultural philosophizing.
 Keywords: eternal recurrence, reincarnation, will to power, vital force, cross-cultural philosophy, spirit-world

Sankofa Time

Amongst the Akan people of Ghana, the word “Sankofa” can be broken down into three syllables— “san” (return), “ko” (go), and “fa” (take)—that can be translated into “go back and take it,” or more philosophically, go back to learn. It is often represented by the Andinkra symbol of a bird with its feet facing forward and its head tucked behind; an apt metaphor for the practice of genealogical research. In Black communities in the United States, it is often evoked in attempts to reflect upon and engage with an African past.

A Night of Sikyi Dance: The Socio-Cultural Sensual Dialectics of Asante Dance through Performance Art

Research on Asante's performances and arts overlooks the theme of Sexuality which has been misconstrued as being shrouded in secrecy and out of the public eye of which this paper has proven wrong. Evidence comes from our fieldwork in Asante on their erotic arts from ethnographic, cultural and artistic traditions. Also, a review of the literature on Sikyi and its aesthetic as well as ethical dialectics was thoroughly done. Data was solicited through personal and telephone interviews from respondents who were purposively sampled as well as participant observation. The study revealed that the societal ignorance of or the lack of interest in the Asante cultural eroticism has resulted in its extinction. Sikyi dance provided quite worthy a case to be studied to gather the linkage between the Akan people's sexuality and contexts within their cultural ethos and fragments of its complementarities in ‘sex education' within their standards of living.

The Socio-cultural Context of Dirges among the Akan People in the Ejisu Communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana: Aesthetics and Intonation

The Socio-cultural Context of Dirges among the Akan People in the Ejisu Communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana: Aesthetics and Intonation

Of the Akan people: Colour and design education in Ghana

This article digests some of the general ideas that constitute the concept of colour among the Akan people of Ghana and how their proper understanding and desirable consideration will enhance effective visual communication in the Ghanaian visual arts curriculum. The investigation, which involved a number of conversations with knowledgeable personalities in the teaching and speaking of the Akan language, sought to bring out the perceptions, beliefs and functions of colour among the people. The outcome of the study pointed to how colour resides deeply within the traditional lives of the Akan people, not only as aesthetical experience but also as an ‘object’ of cultural and spiritual signification. The study therefore recommends a proper understanding of and conscious respect to the perceptions and meanings of colour among contemporary Akan designers and design educators to improve the design experience of teachers, learners and practitioners.

Cephalofacial characteristics of the Akan people in the Assin Districts in Central Region of Ghana: Anthropometric Studies

Objective: Cephalic and facial indices are very important in the classification and identification of populations. The present study aims at determining the cephalic and facial indices among the Akan ethnic group living the Assin Districts in the Central Region of Ghana.
 Methods: A total of 100 (50 males and 50 females) Akan volunteer adults between the age of 20 and 58 years were recruited for the study. Cephalic Length (CL), Cephalic Width (CW), Facial Width (FW) and Total Facial Height (TFH) were measured using a Spreading caliper. Cephalic Index (CI) [(CW/CL) × 100] and Facial Index (FI) or Prosopic Index (PI) [(TFH/FW) ×100] as well statistical analysis such as z-test and Pearson Correlation were performed. The p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
 Results: Our results are comparable with other authors with mean (for both male and females) CI and FI of 78.6± 4.66 and 96.51 ± 12.55, respectively. There was a correlation between CW and FW as well as some other cephlaofacial parameters. There was no sexual dimorphism of both CI and FI. The predominant head type among the study populations was mesocephalic and brachycephalic while Hyperleptoprosopic was the face type.
 Conclusion: This study provides baseline data for the Akan people of The Assin Districts of the Central Region of Ghana, which will be valuable in cephalometric anthropometry and in forensic science.

The power of the tongue: Inherent labeling of persons with disabilities in proverbs of the Akan people of Ghana

Proverbs are an important feature of any language worldwide. In Africa, for instance, people in their everyday conversations use proverbs to add special effects and flavour. However, the inclusion of proverbs in speech goes beyond mere decoration. As a repository of African knowledge and culture, proverbs serve as a medium for educating present and future generations about society’s cultural values, beliefs, and ethics. In this powerful role, proverbs may have significant effects on speakers and their listeners. While these effects may be positive, in terms of their references to certain groups of people, proverbs may have telling effects. In this paper, we examined samples of Ghanaian Akan proverbs on mental and physical disabilities and their meanings, using critical discourse analysis and guided by labeling theory. We conclude that Akan proverbs predominantly label people with disabilities negatively, thereby leading to their stigmatization, marginalization, and exclusion. We recommend using proverbs with negative connotations for people with disabilities as a tool to educate society on how not to treat people with disabilities.

Parangadinkra: potencialidades pretagógicas, ensinamentos e filosofias de três adinkras do povo Akan em Gana

In this paper we propose to present the Parangadinkra, an esthetical-pedagogic object which we invented to envolve School and University in African oralities and traditional philosophies and oralities, still very seldom explored as source and production of knowledge, because of prejudice or ignorance. We have particular interest in ganeian ideograms called adinkra that transmit ethic-estetical and philosophic values of Akan people in Ghana. We thereby expect to 1) show that the language of these traditional simbols also make part of the great concept of orality of Hampâte Bâ, 2) that they show a wealth of possibilities of didactic educacional use, that can be enhanced by afroreferentials as Pretagogy.

Tristes Tropique in Jacqueline Bishop's Patchwork Aesthetics

Tristes Tropique in Jacqueline Bishop's Patchwork Aesthetics

Theorising pornogrammar in the Akan folktale tradition: The trickster’s rhetorical indirection and sexual indiscretion

In the oral and written folktale tradition of the Akan people of Ghana, Kweku Ananse is the archetypal trickster. Simultaneously, he is divinity and mortal, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic, mind and matter, culture hero and comical villain. Though the phenomenon of Ananse has been widely studied, the question of Ananse’s sexually-oriented verbal traps has received very little or no attention. The present essay attempts to contribute towards filling this gap by raising fundamental questions about Ananse’s language. What linguistic stratagem informs the apparent ease with which he appropriates other people’s wives? We find that as the quintessential linguist, Ananse’s mastery of rhetorical indirection is fundamental to his success as a libertine. The essay examines the forms of rhetorical indirection and linguistic stratagem by which Ananse negotiates sex, whether he is taking advantage of a friend’s wife, seducing the king’s daughter or appropriating Nana Nyakopon the Supreme God’s spouse.

The concept of peace, conflict and conflict transformation in African religious philosophy

ABSTRACT This article explores the African religious, cultural and philosophical dimensions of peace, conflict and conflict transformation. It seeks to examine African traditional religious and philosophical ideas as resources for the promotion of peace and justice and their implications for intra-state and inter-state conflict resolution activities. Specifically, it examines how the cultural dimensions of peace and conflict and its nonviolent resolution as expressed in the traditional religious and philosophical oral texts (the documented proverbs and symbols) of the Akan people of Ghana can contribute to our understanding and mechanisms for conflict transformation and peacebuilding strategies in Africa. It argues strongly for the promotion of some of the understudied positive elements in the religious and philosophical traditions of Africa for finding solutions or ‘cures’ for contemporary conflicts in Africa such as electoral disputes and internal ethnic conflicts, and their peaceful resolutions. Hence, it demonstrates how the African traditional methods for conflict resolution when effectively developed can substitute (or complement) in critical situations when the formal political institutions such as the Judiciary becomes ineffective. Finally, the study demonstrates how indigenous conflict transformation strategies can infuse some innovations, creativity and sustainability to the national and international attempts at resolving intractable African conflicts.

English

The Akan of Ghana are one of the ‘richest’ ethnic groups in the country. They are known to be the first ethnic group that settled in Ghana, hence the reason for the name “kan (e)” which means ‘the first’. There are several subgroups that are classified under the eight main clans of the Akan and all of these subgroups are well known for their rich culture. Among the Akan culture the chief is seen as the custodian of the land. To convey the words of the chief to the people, the spokesperson (I½kyeame), being a repository of the Akan customs, values and language, quotes the words of the chief appropriately, for easy understanding. The spokespersons staffs (I½kyeame Poma), magnificent gold–covered staffs, are carried by these spokespersons who are high–ranking officials within the court of the Akan chiefs in Ghana, as symbols of authority. The spokespersons staffs are usually classified under Akan symbolism as they are said to serve as a medium of communication. The staff is meant to constitute a principal symbol that defines the spokesperson’s office and facilitate his functions in and out of the chief’s court. To gain the relevant information about the unwritten perspectives of the Akan spokespersons staffs from experts in the field of Akan history, interview was used as the main form of data collection. From the study, it was evident that all spokespersons staffs (I½kyeame Poma), carry the philosophy of the group of people it represents. The spokespersons staffs are also respected as an embodiment of the souls of the Akan people. On the unwritten perspectives of the Akan spokespersons staff, it was evident that the I½kyeame’s are not linguists (as they are popularly called) but rather spokespersons. Key words: Spokesperson, spokespersons staffs, linguist, Akan history, Akan clans.

A Look at Hebrews in the Light of an Akan Perspective on Personality

To interpret biblical texts appropriately, it is important to understand the social institutions and scripts that underlie the text. The similarities between some concepts of personality in first-century Mediterranean society and the Akan society of Ghana makes it possible to read the letter to the Hebrews (hereafter referred to as Hebrews) through the lens of an Akan understanding of personality, enabling us to appreciate Hebrews in much the same way as first-century Mediterraneans. To demonstrate this, this article discusses some relevant theories on personality in first-century Mediterranean society, as well as some concepts of personality of the Akan people of Ghana. It further discusses the portrait of the persons addressed in Hebrews through the lens of some relevant aspects of an Akan concept of personality.

Reading Hebrews through Akan ethnicity and social identity

The Akan people of Ghana have concepts of ethnicity and social identity which are similar to those found in the Mediterranean world, which find expression in the issues addressed in the letter to the Hebrews. This similarity makes the reading of Hebrews in light of Akan ethnicity and social identity possible, giving one the expected meaning from the perspective of those concepts as within the original context of the audience. This article therefore discusses some theories on ethnicity and social identity as well as the Akan people of Ghana and their concepts of ethnicity and social identity. It further explains the social context of the letter of Hebrews against which Hebrews is then read in light of Akan ethnicity and social identity. The focus of this reading is on how the ethnic identity of the readers presented in Hebrews enhances the social identity of the readers and provides the means by which the author’s appeal to his readers for their faithfulness to God becomes meaningful and urgent.

Caracterisation Des Pratiques Agroforestieres A Base De Cacaoyers En Zone De Foret Dense Semi- Decidue : Cas De La Localite De Lakota (Centre- Ouest, Cote d’Ivoire)

In the area of Lakota (Midwest, Côte d'Ivoire), where the vegetation is a semi-deciduous forest, cacao growing is practiced by people from different origins. Cacao cropping techniques seem to be influenced by some social and cultural habits, according to the people and the agroecological areas. The present study aimed to understand(1) the cacao cropping systems and to identify(2) the reasons underlying the choice of vegetal species combined to cacao trees in these rural communities. To achieve this goal, interviews were realised with cacao farmers of four villages of the area. These interviews concern farmers’ profiles, the former agriculture practices, the variety of the cultivated cacao and the plants combined to cacao trees. The results show that among the 223 interviewed farmers, 72 (32.3% of the farmers) are natives, 42 (18.8% of the farmers) are immigrants and 109 (48.9% of the farmers) are non-native Ivorians. In total, 77 species regularly combined to cacao trees were named by the farmers and they can be divided into local species and exotic species. Plots ordination shows three agroforestry systems according to ethnic group of the locality. Cacao farms with the large proportion of local species are owned by Lakota native people "Dida". The exotic species are dominant in cacao farms that belong to immigrants (Malian, Burkina Faso and Guinean people) and "Malinké" people (a non-native ivorian ethnic group). The Akan people (a non-native ivorian ethnic group) combine in a same proportions exotic and local species in their cacao farms.

Traditional Akan Ethics and Humanist Ethics: A Comparative Study

Since Traditional Akans are Africans, one can logically deduce that the former share in the notorious religiosity that characterize the later. This notwithstanding, it seems that religion is not the sole determinant of the ethics of the Akan people even though it is a sine qua non factor/source of Akan ethics. In addition to religion, the Akan Tradition is an important determinant of Akan ethics. Similar to Akan ethics, Humanist ethics is based on human reason, intellect and the experience of human society but unlike Akan ethics, Humanist ethics debunks religion and any supernaturalism. This study examines Akan ethics and Humanist ethics endeavouring to unravel how two different ethics can have many similar moral values despite differences in their respective sources.

On the Rationality of Traditional Akan Religion: Analyzing the Concept of God

This paper is an attempt to show how logically acceptable (or rational) belief in Traditional Akan religion is. The attempt is necessitated by the tendency by some scholars to (mis) treat all religions in a generic sense; and the potential which Akan religion has to influence philosophical debates on the nature of God and the rationality of belief in God – generally, on the practice of religion. It executes this task by expounding some rational features of the religion and culture of the Akan people of Ghana. It examines, in particular, the concept of God in Akan religion. This paper is therefore a philosophical argument on the sacred and institutional representation of what humans have come to refer to as “religious.” Keywords: rationality; good; Akan religion; God; worship