Ghanaian Culture Research Articles

Symbols of a new nation: Ghanaian artists’ expression of cultural identity after independence

ABSTRACT The paper discusses the way Ghanaian visual artists Atta Kwami, Kane Kwei, and Saka Acquaye, used the art to express and narrate the cultural identity during the one decade of independence of Ghana (1957). Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country which got independence from British colonialism. Besides, the nation wanted to promote the pan-Africanist dream of a new African people. But, the country faced a colonial and traditional dilemma. The research uses the archival method and visual discourse analysis as the main methodological instrument to examine the way artists used traditional symbols from African art, like Adinkra, to modern art by mixing plural personalities. The artworks they created were empowered themselves and allowed a collective story to be told of Ghanaian culture’s recovery, self-sufficiency, and the togetherness of the country. The study shows how these artists applied art as a significant catalyst in the process of nation-building and the creation of a new culture by getting rid of the misconceptions about the negative effects of colonialism on the cultural situation. Their art forms became semiotic kits for the beginning of cultural self-organization through the coherent state of Ghana.

Impact of COVID-19 on pets and pet owners: A survey conducted in selected veterinary clinics in Accra, Ghana

The study explores the impact of Covid-19 on pets and their owners using a structured questionnaire. One hundred fifty-seven (157) respondents were recruited from six veterinary clinics at strategic points within Accra. Only a third of owners gave their pet(s) special attention out of fear of contracting Covid-19 from their pet(s). 68.2 % of the respondents were interested in learning healthy pet-keeping tips from the electronic media and evident in their willingness (75.2 %) to embrace tele-veterinary services; a potential drift from traditional in-person way of providing veterinary services in Ghana. The decrease in household income (46.5 %), loss of employment for at least one person in the household (17.2 %) and associated spike in prices of pet related commodities affected the feeding of pets in about 44 % of respondents and ability to afford veterinary pet products (17.2 %). This is reflected in a 12.7 % reduction in the ability of pet owners to afford veterinary services. The observations made could be used as a basis for future research exploring the pet culture in Ghana and its evolution as a direct consequence of the pandemic.

Inked Expressions: An appreciation of selected contemporary tattoo art among Ghanaians in Kumasi and Accra metropolises

Tattooing has been practiced for several years across the world. It is considered an art form that transmits cultural expressions and reflects the differences between groups of people globally. In Ghana, the popularity of contemporary tattooing has soared for various reasons. However, there is little scholarly research on tattoo culture in Ghana. Therefore, the study attempts to appreciate the aesthetic elements of selected contemporary tattoos in Kumasi and Accra metropolitan areas to reveal their social, philosophical, and other underpinnings. Qualitative ethnographic approach was employed in which a total of twenty-two (22) tattooed respondents were obtained for data collection using homogenous purposive and exponential discriminative snowball sampling techniques. Unstructured-Interviews and naturalistic observations constituted the data collection instruments. The study found that contemporary tattoo designs in Kumasi and Accra metropolises diversely included minimalist designs, religious symbols, portraits, decorative designs, philosophical symbols, among others, which aesthetically convey the religious identity, philosophy of life, and self-expression of tattoo wearers. While the study concludes that contemporary tattoo art in Ghana (Kumasi & Accra) is an embodiment of a dynamic and evolving art form that symbolically resonates with the persona, philosophy of life, sociocultural and religious expressions of tattoo wearers, it is recommended that further research should be conducted on the side effect of tattoo art on the health of tattoo wearers in Ghana. This will help determine whether or not tattoo art should be formalised as an acceptable academic field of study as well as be promoted by art institutions, galleries and museums in Ghana.

Cultural Perceptions, Emotional Intelligence, and Conflict Resolution Abilities of High School Students: A Study on the Influence of Ghanaian Traditional Culture

Significant gaps in understanding perceptions of traditional Ghanaian culture affect secondary school students' emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills. This study was conducted to analyze the influence of conventional Ghanaian culture on students' perceptions of their own culture, as well as how it impacts their emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills in the school setting. To assess these relationships, the study utilized a quantitative research design with partial least squares structural equation modeling. The study targeted a diverse sample of 674 students aged 16-18 from various educational institutions. The data collection method used was a questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings showed that emotional intelligence significantly mediated the relationship between perceptions of traditional culture and conflict resolution skills. This study emphasizes integrating cultural elements into the educational framework to enhance conflict resolution skills. The implications of this study include actionable recommendations for educators and policymakers to develop culturally responsive strategies to encourage more effective conflict management in schools.

The Iconography of Pop Culture in Ghana: Black Sherif’s Music in Perspective

The Iconography of Pop Culture in Ghana: Black Sherif’s Music in Perspective

The Perceptions of Indigenous Language and Cultural Synergy in Ghana and Sierra Leone: A Cross-Cultural Study

This study examined how young people perceive the revitalization of indigenous languages in multicultural environments. The research team gathered data from a stratified random sample of 200 participants hailing from diverse rural and urban areas in Ghana and Sierra Leone. Employing a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, the study employed questionnaires and interviews to gauge local community perceptions toward indigenous language revitalization in Ghana and Sierra Leone. The team also conducted focus groups to gain qualitative insights. The two data sets were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as thematic qualitative analysis to reveal the perspectives of study participants on the importance of indigenous language in maintaining cultural legacy. The findings underscored the significance of indigenous languages beyond communication, emphasizing their exposure to external threats such as cultural assimilation and the dominance of foreign languages. The research team calls on the Ministries in charge of culture in Ghana and Sierra Leone to prioritize initiatives aimed at recovering and safeguarding indigenous languages, as a critical step for cultural transmission and preservation. Keywords: Native Culture, Linguistic Traditions, Cultural Ecosystems, Language, Indigenous Languages, Cultural Synergy

Assessing the Influence of Modern Music on Ghanaian Lifestyles and Culture

The study focused on the influence of modern music (Hiplife, Dance Hall, Drill, Afrobeat) on the youth, other patrons and culture. The researchers are of the view that the impact of modern music and its related practices, including lifestyles on most consumers particularly the youth, has culminated into a plethora of vices which the fundamentals of Ghanaian culture frowns upon. Data was gathered through the use of the descriptive survey, purposive sampling and unstructured interviews to elicit information from Tertiary students, High school students, Heads of schools, Parents and Guardians in the Greater Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. The findings showed that music and daily human activities are inseparable, therefore, as patrons consume the brand they are easily attracted to the visuals, lyrics of the music, utterances and the general behaviour of the artist, which are mostly emulated by fans. The authors recommend that since music and the activities of the artist massively affect patrons holistically, steps must be taken by the appropriate state institutions to put in measures to check what musicians or artists put across as music, dress code, lyrics, actions on stage to the audience as part of their performances. This is to check the levels of acculturation and its negative effects to safeguard the foundations of Ghanaian culture and to protect its identity. Keywords: Social life, Modern music, Culture and Crime, Lifestyle, Impact.

A systematic review of the socio-cultural and economic value of Ghanaian weaving art tradition

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the value of Ghanaian weaving art tradition to humanity from socio-cultural and economic points of view. This study sought to answer questions such as “What is the interest of researchers regarding Ghanaian textile weaving art tradition?”, “To what extent has weaving art tradition projected the Ghanaian culture?” and “What is the socio-economic value of Ghanaian weaving art tradition?” Design/methodology/approach The systematic literature review approach was used to analyse data obtained from the Scopus online database. The PRISMA framework was adopted to select 22 relevant studies for analysis and conclusions. Also, the VOSviewer software was used to analyse and understand the co-occurrence of keywords. Findings It was revealed that Ghanaian weaving art tradition stands as a major craft that projects Ghana globally. Researchers around the world keep adding knowledge on Ghanaian traditional weaving and its value to humanity, resulting in a significant rise recently in the publication trend. Also, the rich cloth from the art is celebrated annually to invite people around the globe to learn the Ghanaian culture for social development. This study again found that traditional weaving serves as a major source of income for weavers and marketers of indigenous Ghanaian woven fabrics. Practical implications The findings of this study serve as a wake-up call to the Government of Ghana, institutional actors and national leaders to practically engage in the projection of the local art by playing individual roles such as financially supporting the craftsmen, initiating and implementing appropriate policies and displaying the local cloth on international occasions. This will make the local art more attractive for effective marketing and cultural preservation. Originality/value With reliable information extracted from the Scopus online database, this study presents original results and makes appropriate suggestions worth adopting for the improvement of the Ghanaian weaving art tradition.

Ethnomus Performative Analytical Tool: A Conceptual Thought in Performance Analysis of School Music in Ghanaian Cultural Context

One of the areas of school music that have drawn attention to researchers is how music performances can be analysed by way of assessment to obtain objectivity in awarding specific grades to students involved in the performance. This paper highlights Ethnomus assessment tool, a culturally contextualised analytical tool for analysing and assessing school musical performances objectively. Additionally, it sheds light on prevalent notions of discussing music using Western musical discourse theories. Simultaneously, it establishes specific analytical frameworks that are adapted to the cultural context for the evaluation of music performances in Ghanaian educational institutions. The paper was approached topically and deductively in order to unravel situations of subjectivity and narrowness of the Westernised analysis and projects a thought that comprehensively situates itself within an African context for music performance assessment. The core of the Ethnomus assessment is in how the cultural elements have been used in the performance as well as the thoughts of audience about the performance. Three people are involved in the assessment procedure: the teacher, the student (performer) and the audience. The paper establishes the Ethnomus assessment tool for school music performance, aiming to contribute to the ongoing discourse in this field and promote objectivity within the specific context of Ghanaian culture. The recommendation is made for educators and musical analysts to adopt a holistic approach, drawing upon the Ethnomus assessment presented in the paper as a foundation for their assessments and analyses. This approach is envisioned to enhance the depth and objectivity of evaluation of musical performances in schools within the Ghanaian cultural milieu.

Does Culture Matter in the Tax Compilance Behaviour of SMEs? Evidence from Ghana

Several studies have shown that culture affects individual ethical behaviour, but very few studies have looked at the cultural influences of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on their tax compliance practices. Tax non-compliance has been a major cause of revenue shortfall in many nations including Ghana. SMEs represent the majority of businesses in Ghana, thus non-compliance by SMEs may be the major cause of revenue shortfalls in the country. Scholars have adduced various factors for the non-compliance. Although some of these studies examine how specific cultural values impact tax compliance, there has not been any research in Ghana that examines the possibility of culture impacting SMEs’ tax compliance usingmajor national frameworks such as Hofstede Cultural Dimension theories. The paper uses Hofstede’s (2001) Cultural Dimension theories to examine the relationship between Ghanaian culture and the tax compliance behaviour of SME operators. Data were gatheredthrough a survey of 211 SMEs in the two major regions in Ghana, and analysis was conducted with structural equation modeling and ordinary regression. We found that the SME Owners exhibited some moderate levels of tax compliance behaviours. Again, SMEs arecharacterised by a high degree of uncertainty avoidance, a culture of femininity, a high degree of power distance, a long-term orientation, and a collectivist culture. The findings suggest that the power distance and longterm orientation cultures of SMEs accounted for their tax compliance behaviour. The study also found that older businesses that were very acquainted with the Ghanaian Culture were less likely to be tax-compliant than newer firms. This paper presents the Ghanaian perspective and bridges thecontext and issue gap identified in the body of knowledge.

Dance, Movement and Songs as Mechanisms for Promoting Social Control and Social Cohesion: A Study of Kpashimo in Teshie Homowo and Fontomfrom in Adukrom Akuapem, Ghana

The claim that dance is present in practically all events in the Ghanaian life cycle is not entirely mythical but indeed verifiable in most cases. Festivals and funerals are social events that are held in public to express, reflect and strengthen community social relationships, as well as celebrate the lives of significant relations who have died. They are two of the experiential rites of passage in the Ghanaian culture and are observed through the use of special forms of language, dance and music. These art forms have important roles to play in Ghanaian traditional events, their main function being that they engender unity and cohesion and discourage deviant and irresponsible behavior within the society. Kpashimo is usually celebrated as the climax of the Teshie homowo festivities. Fontomfrom, in addition to being the name of an Akan drum, is also the name given to an important Akan ceremonial dance. This paper examines the socio-cultural significance and relevance of the kpaashimo and fontomfrom dances and their utility in the Teshie and Adukrom social contexts, respectively. The study was done using the functionalist approach, utilizing dance as a medium to stimulate social control, cohesion, and unity in two geographically different cultures. Despite the disparate cultures, dance was used successfully to achieve the required goals and, in essence, validate the claims about the universality of dance in the Ghanaian context. It was a qualitative research employing essentially observation and interviews. Photos and videos were also used for efficient illustration and accurate recall.

Arts in Modern Ghanaian Festival: Kwahu Easter in Context

This paper explores modern art forms and tourism products associated with Ghana's Kwahu Easter festival using a large qualitative sample of 30 stakeholders. Findings reveal continued cultural vibrancy across artistic genres, including handicrafts, cuisine, dance, Music, sculpture and storytelling. Youth incorporates modern narratives, materials and technologies to augment heritage arts, signalling evolution rather than erosion from globalisation. Strategic development opportunities centre on participatory workshops showcasing living culture, community-based ecotourism capitalising on natural assets, enhanced destination events, grassroots adventure sports establishment, and nuanced hospitality/lodging that sustains regional character. Key constraints around access, infrastructure and controlled scaling require acknowledgement. Overall, braided traditional and emerging creative production persists through intergenerational transmission, with targeted support around mentorship continuity, policy funding and coordinated promotion consolidating these strengths. Artistic reinvention and participation, not rigidity, underpin the Kwahu Easter celebrations' resilience and accretion of meaning over generations. The festivals showcase Ghanaian culture's systemic ability to dynamically nurture heritage on its own evolving terms through embracing internal diversity and global exchange.

Cultural Policy in Action: An Examination of the Centres for National Culture in Ghana

The cultural sector provides hundreds of thousands of employment opportunities in Ghana and serves as a driver of the tourism industry in Ghana. Globally, the cultural sector is estimated to be in excess of a trillion dollars; therefore, it is a significant sector for socioeconomic development. Culture is a multidimensional concept; thence, cultural policy plays a significant role in operationalising and actualising the culture of Ghanaian society. The cultural sector employs tens of thousands and contributes about 1.53% to the Ghanaian Gross Domestic Product. Extant literature exists on cultural policies in developed economies, with few scholars having examined the cultural policies of Ghana with a focus on performing arts. However, a lacuna exists in the literature on the operationalisation and impact assessment of the cultural policies in sub-Saharan Africa. The research article evaluates the role and challenges of the actions of the Centre for National Culture, the implementing agency of the Ghanaian Cultural Policy, using a qualitative approach by deploying historical, textual analysis and ethnomethodology approaches. The study focused on textual analysis of documents of the National Commission on Culture and sampled seven management members to understand the working experiences, factors and challenges that they face in operationalising the Cultural Policy as an agency. The study sampled respondents from the Central Regional Directorate of the Centre for National Culture (CNC).

The Centre for National Culture, Accra: History, Contributions and Challenges to the Development of the Arts and Culture in Ghana

The Centre for National Culture, Accra: History, Contributions and Challenges to the Development of the Arts and Culture in Ghana

‘Uncleanliness’ of Menstruation: An African Feminist Reading of Lev. 15:19-24

In Ghana, as in many other countries in Africa, the natural phenomenon of menstruation is considered taboo. People cannot speak freely about it but resort to the use of euphemisms, which made it difficult if not impossible to sensitize the public on the health effects of using unsanitary products like rags and used cloths as pads. This attitude is not only contemporary but can also be found in the Bible. It is against this backdrop that the article investigates the perceived ‘uncleanness’ of menstruation through a literary analysis of Lev. 15:19-24. To engage the text and Ghanaian reality, the paper employs the Communicative approach to African Biblical Hermeneutics from a feminist perspective. Major findings are that both Jewish and Ghanaian cultures regard menstruation as a time that restricts women’s movement in cult, society, and the home. The article advocates for a change of perspective knowing that what God has created cannot render the physical sacred space impure. The focus of the church should be on the ‘new’ sacred space, which is the human body (1 Cor. 6:19). Therefore, caring for the body implies personal hygiene but entails creating an inclusive environment, free from any form of discrimination perpetuated by cultural traditions that are not only anachronistic but harmful and against the Gospel’s message.

Same-sex relationships and recriminalisation of homosexuality in Ghana

Most Ghanaians conveniently ignore or vehemently deny the existence of homosexual relationships in precolonial Ghanaian cultures. The denial of these relationships in precolonial Ghanaian cultures has gained attention due to section 104 of the Criminal Offences Act of Ghana which criminalises ‘unnatural carnal knowledge’ and the ‘promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values bill, 2021’ (anti-LGBTQI+ bill), currently being debated in Ghana’s Parliament. Historical evidence suggests, however, that Western European researchers who first visited Africa and Ghana suppressed evidence of homosexuality, while indigenous people unwittingly concealed homosexual relationships because of a ‘culture of silence’ surrounding sex and sexuality in precolonial Ghana. From a decolonial theoretical perspective, this article argues that the non-appreciation of precolonial Ghanaian (homo)sexual history partly accounts for the criminalisation of same-sex sexual relationships, homophobia, violence, and violations of the rights of sexual minorities in contemporary Ghana. The paper connects the presence of same-sex sexual intimacies in the Gold Coast (now Ghana), and the absence of criminal sanctions as a basis for rethinking current attempts in Parliament to recriminalise homosexual relationships, in order to chart a path of the equal legal protection of every person, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Kwesi Gyan: A Cross-Cultural Artistic Impression on Apatampa Musical Resources

Interculturalism has played a significant role in influencing societies’ artistic identity, particularly in Africa’s music. This phenomenon seems to be no exception in the choral, art-song, and instrumental music spheres despite the untapped nature of orchestral music in this part of the world, especially among Ghanaian art/scholar musicians. Orchestral music as a genre in the Neo-African art music space appears deficient in terms of its usage of African resources for creation. The less-to-zero exploitation of this art form has roughly marked a gap in its ingenuous disposition; thus, affording the opportunity for similar works. “Kwesi Gyan”, the 3rd Movement of the ‘Sankɔfa Symphony’ is a 21st-century chamber orchestra piece that merges traditional rhythms and a folk tune from Apatampa music with scholarly compositional techniques. The orchestral form of this music speaks to its Western nature. Likewise, the main melodic and rhythmic structures originate from Ghanaian culture, which illustrates the concept of interculturalism through the aforementioned merger. This paper presented the composition through a practice-based research approach, drawing on theories of cross-cultural music-making and Neo-African art music. It also provided a deeper understanding of the composer’s thought process and provides insight into understanding the piece. Additionally, the article aimed at inspiring creative research into Ghanaian musical arts, potentially contributing to the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage for future generations. Keywords: Interculturalism, composition, African music, Apatampa, Ghanaian musical arts, cultural heritage

Gendered mourning: A perspective of Akan death culture in Ghana

Death is the commonest, incomprehensible, and inescapable reality confronting humanity in all nations and cultures. However, cultures vary in their conceptions of death, grieving and mourning rituals. Among the Akan of Ghana, mourning and funeral obsequies are essential cultural and spiritual practices. In this article, we draw insights from our reflective lived experiences and critical literature review to explore mourning and death rituals among the Akan as a stratified cultural system that reflects and reproduces broader gender patterns of masculinity and femininity in Ghana. We discuss the concept and cultural significance of mourning and bereavement practices, and further examine how socio-cultural notions of gender shape mourning and death rituals in Ghana. We argue that, as in many social and economic spaces in Ghana, funeral obsequies and bereavement practices represent sites for enacting and reproducing masculinity and femininity. The deleterious health and psychological consequences for men and women are further discussed.

Public Theology and Democratic Consolidation in Ghana: Challenges and Responses

This study is a review of the challenges of democratic consolidation in Ghana and how Public Theology provides theological insights for the church in its responses to the democratic consolidation challenges. Democratic consolidation in Ghana has been considered relatively successful. However, it has been noted that democratic consolidation in Ghana is being undermined by challenges like dictatorship of the majority, the culture of silence, disregard of democratic institutions, and neglect of bread and butter issues among others. The church has played a significant role in democratic consolidation in Ghana through advocacy, civic education, election observation, social services, and interfaith dialogue. By promoting democratic values and good governance, the church has contributed to the growth and stability of Ghana’s democracy. According to this study, the challenges that threatened democratic consolidation in Ghana persist. It is important for the church therefore to continue to build on its successes and address these challenges in order to further contribute to the strengthening of the nation’s democratic culture. The study used a qualitative approach to gather data. The study concluded with the recommendation that theological insights from Public Theology like human value, dignity, the sovereignty of God, fallibility of human nature, and democracy as a way of life must be concentrated on in the church’s search for responses to the challenges of democratic consolidation and culture in Ghana. Keywords: African Christianity, Public Theology, Democratic Consolidation, Ghana

Ghanaian Languages: An Essential Regulatory Instrument that Promote Culture

This investigation examined the Ghanaian language is an essential regulatory instrument that promotes the culture of the Ghanaian people. This is because language is the primary means through which culture is transmitted from one generation to another. The design adapted for this study was descriptive and the approached was qualitative. Fifty (50) participants were interviewed for the investigation. The participants were drawn from Ashanti region and Bono East region to foster evidential generation. The theory that underpinned the investigation was socio- cultural theory which was propounded by Lev Vygotsky in (1978). The investigation revealed that promotion of Ghanaian language and culture is crucial in today's globalized world, where Western cultural values dominate. The government and other stakeholders have recognized the importance of language as a means of preserving Ghanaian culture and have implemented policies and programs aimed at promoting the use of local languages. The Ghanaian media is increasingly using local languages in programming, such as news and entertainment shows. This has helped to promote the use of local languages among the general population, including the youth. The Ghanaian government has made it mandatory for all public schools to teach and learn local languages, especially in the primary schools.