The Importance Of Ethnic Groups In Ghana

Throughout the ages, Africa has been populated by a diverse array of peoples, whose cultural, ethnic, and sociological differences have been shaped by the continents varied landscape ( ). Known for being the three magnificent trading territories in West Africa. Ghana, Mali, and Songhay were three very closely associated, but separate African civilizations that prospered and dominated West Africa for more than 300 years. Ancient Ghana was a rich and powerful empire. Despite the name Ancient Ghana is not related to the country we know today.

Ghana established the model that allowed the region to flourish for two centuries. They had different classes of people. Slaves were at the bottom; farmer and draftsmen above them; merchants above them; and the king, his court, and the nobility on the top. Although the Ghanaian king was not Islamic, they arrange special accommodations

The Ashanti people live in central Ghana in western Africa approximately 300km. away from the coast. This is a major ethnic group of the Akans in Ghana, colonized by British until 1957. To this particular group, the family and the mother’s clan are most important. A child is said to inherit the father’s soul or spirit (ntoro) and from the mother a child receives flesh and blood (mogya). Instrument such as talking

The Ashanti tribe, is located on the gold coast of West Africa in the center of Ghana it is known to be one of the largest tribe of the entire region. According to David Luca the author of the article The Ashanti Legal System says that the Ashanti tribe was under British control from the year 1873 until 1951, but had little or no effect on the way their society was developed since they were free to develop their own laws, religious, and etc. (Luca 2005). British domination had no effect on their way the society was able to be built is because Ashanti tribe had the freedom to make the society the way they wanted it since British people did not intervene on the way it was being built. According to Buzz Ghana the Ashanti tribe dominated most of the modern province of Ghana from 1670-1902 (BuzzGhana 2016). The Ashanti tribe was known to dominate most of Ghana since it was one of the largest and most powerful tribe in the region since it was one of the most indigenous groups of the Akans (Ashanti and Fanti) of Ghana. They were also dominant because they were very rich in gold so they were able to start their own state without any financial issues, but then came the time of the 19th century, when trade of the slaves was completely abolished, and this was the major reason for the Ashanti Kingdom’s downfall (BuzzGhana 2016). The Ashanti had a major downfall when the slaves were abolished because they relied on the slaves in order to get things done around the kingdom and they used

In the form of African culture, the country Ghana has its own definitive form that is somehow similar with other African country’s culture but different in various elements. This is why it is the most intrinsic characteristic of Ghananese culture; with its deployment of systems, structures and social elements, it is set apart from other African cultures. But what should be given importance is its original context, which also sprung from the African importance of culture. According to Steven J. Salm and Toyin Falola (2002), “Africans regard culture as essential to

Slaves who arrived on our shores were characterized by a strong attachment to their traditions and ancestral beliefs, intimately linked to their dances and music. Among the African groups that influence ethnic and cultural formation of the island are the Ashanti and Fante of Ghana, Carabalis southern shore of the Niger River, the Congos and Equatorial Africa from the late eighteenth century until the middle nineteenth century and the Yoruba of West Africa.

In tribal Africa, the most important aspect of life and survival was the family. Unlike the

Ghana itself is on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and south of the Atlantic ocean. Burkina Faso is to the north of the country, and Togo is to the east. It has three important regions that are the coastal, forest and Savanna regions. The forest region is about one third of the country. The land of Ghana is mostly flat plain, but has many forests.

The concept of family is one of many universal priorities amongst all Africans in all regions. Family is something that African families genuinely value and is considered the foundation for their standing in society. No matter how old you are, you are not considered an adult until you have had children. African parents do not feel complete until they become grandparents. And even if you are married you are not considered to have a family until you have children. African families have very strong foundations because they cherish their families, and are all very close knit. It is considered to be very common and normal to live in a household with both of your grandparents and sometimes even aunts and uncles.

Family structure plays an important role within the African American culture. TIP #39 (2005) states, that a

Wouldn’t you love to visit this country Located in West Africa, Liberia has a land mass of 11,369 square kilometers and a population of about four million. The capital is Monrovia. The official language is English and over thirty home-grown languages are also spoken in the country. You may wonder why I selected this country; I do not know truly myself, but the more I researched about it the more fascinated I became. I assume that will happen to you, too, to see how far this country has come. (Forced Migration Online: Liberia, 2011)

CV: So in Ghana West Africa country located a little above the equator in the central part of West Africa. Is a small country the size of Oregon Ghana never would I have known where it was other than Africa or that I wanted to go there.

Each individual has a clearly defined role and position in the family hierarchy. Each person is expected to function within that role, submitting to the larger needs of the family. Rituals and customs such as ancestor worship, family celebrations, funeral rites, and the maintenance of genealogy records reinforce this concept. To achieve peaceful coexistence with the family and others, harmonious interpersonal relationships and interdependence are emphasized. Mutual obligations and shame are the mechanisms that help to reinforce societal expectations and proper

In the texts, the Kingdom of Ghana during the 6th and 12th centuries was a very vast Texas sized area north of the Senegal and Niger rivers. The kingdom had a very large population of 200,000 and depended on a diverse economy based on gold, farming, and international trade. In the texts, there were observations that were collected by a Muslim Spaniard named Al-Bakir, who traveled through the kingdom of Ghana in the 11thcentury. Al- Bakir discusses Ghana and how it is divided into two towns. The city itself was very fortified and had a huge fence like wall. The people of the towns wore wrappers of cotton, silk or brocade according to their means. Most men shaved their beards and women their heads. The kingdom was inhabited by Muslims and contained

Ghana has the richest gold mines on earth still today. There is a myth that goes on telling that the wealth of ancient Ghana was because of the black snake, Bida. This snake demanded an annual sacrifice of a virgin and the snake guaranteed prosperity and wealth, therefor each year a virgin was sacrificed until one year the fiancé of the intended victim rescued her. Feeling that the people had cheated him the black snake took his revenge on the region, a