Culture of Ghana

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Part of a series on the
Culture of Ghana
History Early history Bono state Ashanti Empire Gold Coast First Republic (1960–1966) National Liberation Council Kofi Busia Ignatius Kutu Acheampong Armed Forces Revolutionary Council Hilla Limann Provisional National Defence Council Jerry Rawlings John Kufuor John Mills John Mahama Nana Akufo-Addo
People
Languages
Traditions
Mythology
Cuisine
Festivals Public holidays
Religion Christianity Methodist Presbyterian Catholicism Islam Ahmadiyya Hinduism
Art
Writers
Music
Media Television Cinema
Sport
Monuments World Heritage Sites Ghana’s material cultural heritage
Symbols Flag Coat of arms National anthem
v t e

Ghana is a country of 33.48 million people and many native groups, such as:^[1][2]

• The Akans in the centre and South of the country,
• The
  Adangbe in, around and East of Accra
  ,
• The Guan peoples in the rain forest,
• The Dagombas, Mamprusi and related peoples in the North,
• The Gurunsi languages speaking peoples in the far North,
• The Gonjas in the Northern Region.

also having official status, and being taught in schools as indigenous (local) languages in the respective areas where they are predominant.

People

Akans

The Akan people primarily live in Ghana, parts of Ivory Coast and Togo, and are one of the few

unit in the veneration of its ancestors, supervised marriages, and settled internal disputes among its members.

Akan kings, once renowned for their splendor and wealth, retained dignitary status after colonization.

figures.

The various Akan groups speak various dialects of the

are also very common, especially concerning events connected with death.

The coastal Akans were the first to have relations with

Western Region

of Akanland.

Ga-Adangbe

The Ga-Adangbe people or simply Ga people (named for the common proto-Ga-Adangbe ancestral language) inhabit the Greater

Despite the archeological evidence that proto-Ga-Adangbe-speakers relied on

immigrant language

in their lands. As a result, they have dynamic

Dagomba

The Dagomba speak

Ewé

The

, and over 600 other deities. The Ewe are more traditionally inclined in terms of religion and belief. Many village celebrations and ceremonies take place in honor of one or more deities.

Coastal Ewe depend on the fishing trade, while inland Ewe are usually farmers and keep livestock. The local variations in economic activities have led to craft specialization. The Ewe also weave kente cloth, often in geometrical patterns and symbolic designs that have been handed down through the ages.[7]

Role and status of women

Women in pre-modern society were seen as bearers of children, retailers of fish, and farmers. Traditionally, women's childbearing abilities were perceived as a way for lineage ancestors to be reborn. In

]

Festival

The Akwasidae Festival (alternate, Akwasiadae) is celebrated by the Ashanti people and chiefs in Ashanti, as well as the Ashanti diaspora. The festival is celebrated on a Sunday, once every six weeks. The

with roots from the region, often visit and celebrate their heritage. Ashanti Yam Festival is observed for five days starting with a Tuesday, as dictated by the local chief priest. It marks the first harvest of yams during autumn, subsequent to the monsoon season. This festival has both religious and economic significance. Religiously, the festival is used to thank the gods and the ancestors for the new harvest and to traditionally outdoor the new yam.^[11]

The Damba festival is celebrated by the people of Dagbon and other ethnic groups in Ghana. During this festival, there is colourful and vibrant display of the Ghanaian Smock and other traditional dresses.

Also, the Fire festival is celebrated during first month of the Dagomba lunar calendar. This festival takes place at night, and involve fire procession and drumming and dancing to war songs.

When the first yam tubers are harvested, the people of Dagbon mark a ceremony to declare the opening of the yam season.

Music

There are three distinct types of music: ethnic or traditional music,

music, which is performed in concert halls, churches, schools, and colleges.°

Dance

Each ethnic group has their own traditional dances, with specific dances for different occasions. Some of these specific dances are meant for funerals, celebrations, storytelling, praise and worship. There are various dances in Ghana performed by the ten regions across the country, most frequently during festivals and occasions such as funerals, marriage ceremonies, etc. These dances are performed to entertain and educate people.( e.g. The 'Gome' dance, as performed by the Gas of the Greater Accra region of Ghana during the Homowo festival in August). Other dances in Ghana includes kpalongo performed by the Gas, Agbadza by the Ewes, Adowa by the Akans, Bambaya by the Northeners, Patsa and Dbahsh by the Ga-Adangbes, and many others. There are many dances that have originated from Ghana and their ethnic groups.

Customs

Funerals and libations are poured.^[13] African time is practiced.^[14][15] Sexuality is not discussed in Ghana.^[16][17] Being Left handed is frowned upon.^[18]

Superstition

Black magic belief is strong.^[19][20] Ghanaian churches openly promote the idea that disease and misfortune can be caused by supernatural forces.^[21][22] Superstition is so strong women who are accused of witchcraft are banished to Witch camps.^{[23][24][25][26]}

Religion

Ghana is a highly religious country where evangelical prophets are extremely popular.^{[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]}

Cuisine

The cuisine has diverse traditional dishes from each ethnic group. Generally, most dishes consist of a starchy portion, and a sauce or soup, with

Sport

.

On October 16, 2009, Ghana became the first African nation to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup by defeating Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shootout.^[40] On June 13, 2010, Ghana defeated Serbia 1-0 in first round play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup becoming the first African team to win a FIFA World Cup game hosted on African soil and subsequently became the only African team to progress from the group stage to the knock out phase at the 2010 event. On June 26, 2010 Ghana defeated the US by 2 goals to 1 in their round of 16 match, becoming the third African country to reach the quarter final stage of the World Cup after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002. A loss to Uruguay in Johannesburg on July 2, 2010 by penalty shoot-out ended Ghana's attempt at reaching the semi-finals of the competition.^[41]

While men's football is most widely followed sport in Ghana, the national women's football team is gaining exposure, participating in the

is known as the Black Queens, while the Ghana national women's under-20 football team are called the Black Princesses.

There are several club football teams in Ghana, which play in the

Asante Kotoko

, which play at the premier league level and are the dominant contenders in the tournament.

Prominent football players recognized at the international level include

.

Ghana is also the birthplace of World Wrestling Entertainment Wrestler

.

See also

• National Museum of Ghana

References

Sources

• Some of the information, where noted, was reproduced from Ghana: a Country Study edited by LaVerle Berry. Text and graphics contained in the online Country Studies are not copyrighted. They are considered to be in the public domain and thus available for free and unrestricted use. As a courtesy, however, appropriate credit should be given to the series.

Food

• National Commission on Culture (Ghana), Official Website
• Ghana: a Country Study
• People and Culture of Ghana Africa Guide
• Ghanaian Funerals and Design Coffin
• Traditional Krobo Beads
• Music in Ghana Music in Ghana.