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Divination and Health University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh READING THE MIND OF THE SPIRITS: DIVINATION AND HEALTH- SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AMONG THE DAGOMBA IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA SALIFU ABUKARI (10174411) THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY. NOVEMBER, 2017 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I, SALIFU ABUKARI, hereby declare that this thesis is my own work from a study carried out in the Northern Region of Ghana. This thesis was written under the supervision of my supervisors, Professors Kodjo Senah, Steve Tonah and Philip Baba Adongo. As far as I am aware, this thesis has not been submitted in part or in whole to any university for the award of any degree or certificate. ……………………………………. ……………………….. SALIFU ABUKARI DATE (CANDIDATE) SUPERVISORS ………………………………….. ……..………………………….. PROFESSOR KODJO SENAH PROFESSOR STEVE TONAH (PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR) (SUPERVISOR) DATE……………………. DATE……………… …………………………………………. PROFESSOR PHILIP BABA ADONGO (SUPERVISOR) DATE……………………………… i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT Finding explanation for the causes of ill-health and other misfortunes has been and continues to agitate the human mind. Among the Dagomba of the Northern Region of Ghana, consulting diviners for virtually every situation, good or bad, makes diviners ’critical actors in the health-seeking behaviour of the people. This study explored the significance of divination in the health-seeking behaviour among the Dagomba. Specifically, the study was guided by the following objectives: (i) To describe the practice of divination and how it affects health decision-making; (ii) To examine reasons why a sick Dagomba will shop for the services of both a diviner and an orthodox medical practitioner; (iii)To examine gender relations and its consequences in the practices of divination; and (iv) To describe the circumstances under which divination is employed. The study design was descriptive and qualitative methods of data collection were employed. In-depth interviews were held with thirteen diviners, nine health professionals, three patients of diviners, and the chief diviner and chief custodian of Dagbon culture. Thirteen focus group discussions were held with men and women groups. Observations were also used to complement the data collected. Both the IDIs and FGDs were recorded and transcribed into English language. Themes were developed based on key issues resulting from the data. The data was analysed using NVIVO 10 software. The findings of the study are that: ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Divination was used to distinguish between illnesses of supernatural origin and illnesses described as normal or natural so that appropriate therapy could be sought for patients Patients and their relatives sometimes combined diviner and modern services at the same time. This is premised on the belief that some illnesses have both spiritual and physical aspects and as such they need both therapeutic regimen. Women were not permitted to consult diviners because of patriarchy and the alleged nature of woman. However, generally, women were also not permitted to practice divination for fear of being branded witches. Various types of divination practices were identified among the Dagomba. These included soothsaying; sand-reading; occultism; and clairvoyance In addition the study revealed that agents such as witchcraft, old customs, ancestral spirits and nature spirits were responsible for the causes of most illnesses.. In conclusion, this study has documented the role divination plays in the daily life of the Dagomba. The study also articulates the importance of diviners in the health-seeking behaviour of the Dagomba and calls for consideration of the role of divination and diviners in the entire health architecture of the Dagomba. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my late parents, Mba Tinkpan Tamalnaa Abukari and Mma Pagnaa Iddi. I also dedicate this work to my lovely children; Salifu Ndeiya Hamidatu and Salifu Sa-eed Maltima. May the Almighty God shower His blessings upon them. iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In the course of writing this thesis, a lot of people assisted me in several ways and I am grateful to them. My foremost thanks go to the Almighty God for giving me the strength, endurance, confidence and guidance to write this thesis. I sincerely thank Professor Kodjo Senah of the Department of Sociology, University of Ghana, Legon, for not only supervising the thesis but also serving as a mentor and making sure I finished the work. I am thankful to him for his patience and the interest he showed throughout the writing of this thesis. I am equally grateful to Professor Steve Tonah, also of the Department of Sociology, University of Ghana, Legon for not only supervising my work but also providing me with feedback on issues related to this thesis. Also, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Professor Philip Baba Adongo of the School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, for his excellent guidance, care, patience and for providing me with materials to facilitate the completion of this work. May the good Lord guide and protect them in all their endeavours. I also wish to express my gratitude to my research assistants, Mr. Mohammed Saani, Mr. Alhassan Kayaba, Mr. Abdulai Jagbagu, Mr. Abdulai Mumuni, Mr. Shei Fuseini and Mr. Mohammed Awal who assisted me with data gathering for which I am thankful. I am grateful to all the diviners, the health personnel of Metropolitan Health Directorate in Tamale, the Tamale Teaching Hospital, the SDA Hospital, the Tamale West Hospital, and of the Yendi, Gushegu, Karaga and Zabzugu District hospitals. I would also like to express my appreciation to Miss Karimatu Mohammed of the University for Development Studies’ Credit Union Office for her support throughout the production of this thesis. v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh Finally, I wish to express my sincere thanks to my wife Mrs. Hawa Abukari for her patience, courage and understanding during my long absence in pursuit of academic laurels. vi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ..................................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. ABSTRACT ............................................................................ Erreur ! Signet non défini. DEDICATION ......................................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ....................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................ Erreur ! Signet non défini. LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................. Erreur ! Signet non défini. LIST OF TABLES ................................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................. Erreur ! Signet non défini. CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. HUMANKIND IN SEARCH FOR SECURITY ..................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. 1.1 Introduction .................................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. 1.2 Problem Statement ......................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. 1.3 Main Objective ............................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. 1.3.1 Specific Objectives .................................................. Erreur ! Signet non défini. 1.4 Research Questions ........................................................ Erreur ! Signet non défini. 1.5 Significance of the Study ............................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. 1.6 Organisation of the Study .............................................. Erreur ! Signet non défini. CHAPTER TWO ..................................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................ Erreur ! Signet non défini. 2.1 Introduction .................................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. 2.2 Divination....................................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. 2.3 Health-seeking Behaviour .............................................. Erreur ! Signet non défini. 2.4 Religion and Health ....................................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. vii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 2.5 Circumstances Influencing People’s Choice for Treatment ..... Erreur ! Signet non défini. 2.6 Disease Causation and the Spirit World ........................ Erreur ! Signet non défini. 2.7 Traditional Medicine and Religion ................................ Erreur ! Signet non défini. 2.8 Brief History of Modern Medicine in Ghana ................. Erreur ! Signet non défini. 2.8.1 Ministry of Health (MOH) ...................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. 2.8.2 Ghana Health Service .............................................. Erreur ! Signet non défini. 2.9 Theoretical Frame Work: ............................................... Erreur ! Signet non défini. CHAPTER THREE ................................................................
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