AKAN WEDDING

       Marriage is a legally recognized union between a man and woman. In Ghana marriage is conducted according to custom of ethnic group of which the couple belong. The purpose of marriage is to provide companionship for the couple, the means to offer support for each other and a legitimate avenue for sexual satisfaction. 

                          However, in selecting and accepting a potential spouse certain important conditions have to be met. The family is being screened for incurable disease, criminal backgrounds, violent behavior etc. Many Ghanaians prefer a spouse who is hardworking, respectful, peaceful and also with the same or compatible religious background.There are three criteria in classifying the marriage process customary marriage, civic registration and religious marriage. The customary marriage forms the basis of all three types, therefore we are going to throw more light on the customary marriage of the larger ethnic group in Ghana. That is the Akans.

                   In the Akan tradition when a man wants to get married he first has to seek the consent of the female i through secret meetings known as "kasasie" after which the man would tell his family members to carry out investigations on the girl and her background. After this the family of the guy would make their intentions known to the parent of the lady in question. This is the first step in the marriage rites known as "opon akyi bo" (knocking ceremony). They go to see the family with a bottle of schnapps sometimes some amount of money is added.

                   A list is given to the family of the man, before they set a day for the wedding. The list consists of the required gifts for the bride which include clothings, jewelry, trunk box, a mat and stool. Formally the bride price of was being paid the father of the man. 

                 On the day of the wedding, the two families come together to witness the ceremony. The family of the groom presents the gifts that was required include the bride price which is called "tri adea" and also gifts for the bride parents. Then if she has brothers they would ask for a protection fee literally known as "akonta bye sikan" this is another form of payment that has to be paid before the bride can be allowed to leave her parents house.

 

                 When all this is done, drinks are poured out before she leaves her home(a sign of respect) The bride is adorned in minimal jewelry and beads and they tie kente just the as groom adorn his head with beads or gold

 

                                                                                              BY: Stephanie Yeboah 

My name is Amese Freda Xoese. I hail from srogboe in the Volta Region. I attended Amazing Love Schools primary and JHS and furthered to Keta Senior High school. Currently studying communication studies at Ghana Institute of journalism.

 

Gabriella Blay is from Eikwe in the Western Region of Ghana. She completed Ekiw Junior High School in 2010. She attended Ahantaman Senior High School and currently a student of Ghana Institution of Journalism. She is a Christian and she speaks Nzema and English.  

PUBERTY RITES IN VOLTA REGION (DIPO)

          The Ewes of the Volta Region migrated from Notsie in Togo into Ghana in the fifteenth century. In both Ghana and Togo, the Ewes speak the following dialects; Anlo, Awuma, Hudu and Kotafoa which belong to the Kwa Group of Sudanic languages. The Ewes have two main occupations that are farming and fishing but they also engage in pottery making, black-smiting as well as trading.

             Puberty is defined as the age or period at which a person is first capable of sexual reproduction. Entering puberty is a critical period of the ongoing communal assimilation into the cultural tradition of society. The young child develops the capability of reproducing sexually and must know the social responsibility of that biological maturity.



               This puberty rite in Ewe is known as NUGBETO. During this period, much respected female elders of the society officiates the rite. Their wisdom, life experiences, self-esteem and self-confidence provides good models for the young girls. They are also given lessons in sex education, birth control and acquire the needed skills for motherhood. They are also taught how to relate to men properly so they can maintain a good marriage and their dignity in society.

                     This act is an honour to the girl to have stayed chaste and avoided pregnancy before the initiation ceremony. Pregnancy before this ceremony is an abomination and the girl is considered a disgrace to her family and the whole society.

                    After the lessons, a durbar is held which is attended by all the people of the community to welcome the newly initiated women into the society. They are adorned with very beautiful beads showing off their vital places to young men of marriageable age troupe. These young men feast their eyes of the beautiful new women and select their prospective wives.

                  

 After the ceremony, gifts are presented to the girls as a way of congratulating them. The gifts may come in a form of cash, jewelries, cooking utensils and cloths. The female elders declare the girls ripe for marriage and gives the men the opportunity to ask for their hands in marriage.

                  This rite serves as a way on encouraging young girls to stay chaste and abstain from sex until they have gone through the puberty rites.
                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                   Amese Freda Xoese

A JOURNEY WITH THE WHITE 1.

 

                  Dear white man,  I heard you are the first to see the Victoria Falls.  Hope you enjoyed the spray from the 108 meters high cascade which flows 12,800 Cubic meters per second?  Well,  you haven't seen much yet.  Hold my hand as I take you through a journey of exploration through the beauty of Africa. 

                  First, let's go to the Sphinx temple in Egypt and say a prayer for a successful journey.  May I whisper to you that this temple is thought of as female but the 20 meter tall and 70 meter long temple has the body of a lion and the face of King Chefren.  Alright! Hope you prayed well?  Our journey starts. 

 

        Still in Egypt, let's start with a wonder,  the Wonders of the Nile. A cruise down the Egyptian Nile, on a romantic felluca rather than a crowded tourist boat.  Get exposed to the relics of one of the world's ancient civilizations. We climb up to the high point of the Valley of Kings and admire the monumental statues. Do you need another prayer? Kom Ombo temple is right at the North of Aswan on the East bank. As we stand on the apex of the Pyramids of Giza still in Egypt, take an overview of the beauty of the Egyptian civilizations. 

 

              Like the great migration of Tanzania, let's migrate to Morocco and have fun at the Djmaa el Fna. The world's most exciting town square.  Let's take an orange juice from the stall and enjoy the performance of snake charmers, henna painters, story tellers and date sellers.  Should I teach you how to dance to the beats of tribal drummers and have a taste of grillled meats? 

 

       I hope you took a lot of water because we are going to the Sahara dunes of Morocco. The most user friendly part of the Sahara is accessible from the Northern edge of Morocco. We trek with Berbers from the town of Zagoura. Oh!  I can see the enthusiasm in your eyes but the frailty in your body is conspicuous.  Time to rest my friend. We camp in Tazzarine till day breaks but till then, shall we gaze at the stars till sleep envelopes us. 

 

                                                                                                            Blessing Bliss