Jesus Christ of Frafraland: a Study of the Interface of The
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JESUS CHRIST OF FRAFRALAND: A STUDY OF THE INTERFACE OF THE GOSPEL AND THE FRAFRA CULTURE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR EVANGELISATION IN THE FRAFRA CONTEXT By: Bayeti, Samuel Zuul (Dip. Th. Legon, B.A Th. Hons August 2011 i JESUS CHRIST OF FRAFRALAND: A STUDY OF THE INTERFACE OF THE GOSPEL AND THE FRAFRA CULTURE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR EVANGELISATION IN THE FRAFRA CONTEXT By Bayeti, Samuel Zuul (Dip. Th. Legon, B.A Th. Hons A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES August 2011 i DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis is my own work towards the M.Phil in Religious Studies and that to the best of my knowledge; the content has not been previously published by another person or submitted for any degree in any University. Due acknowledgement has been made for all citations and references in the text. Bayeti, Samuel Zuul ……………… …………………. Students Name Signature Date Student Number Student Exam Number 20068812 PG.3499309 Certified by Rev. J. E. T Kuwornu-Adjaottor ……………….. …………….. Supervisor Signature Date Certified by Rev. J. E. T Kuwornu-Adjaottor ………………….. ………………… Head of Department Name Signature Date ii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my dear wife Asibi and the children Wunammi, Yinmanna, Yinsonnam and Yinmalya whose prayer and moral support contributed immensely to the success of this work, and who had to bear with my continuous absence from home during the field work of this study. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Glory be to God for His abundant grace that enabled me to complete this thesis. I acknowledge with special gratitude the invaluable contributions of Rev. Dr. Solomon Sule-Saa (Ecumenical and Social Relations Director of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana) Rev. Fr Dr Samuel Atinga (St Victor‘s Seminary- Tamale) and Rev. Dr. Nathan Sanwini (Head of the Dept of Religious Studies, KNUST) whose advice and encouragement kept me going in the course of the project. Special thanks also go to Rev. J.E.T Kuwornuu Adjaottor for his invaluable contribution to this work. His supervision of the work by way of advice, corrections and encouragement has gone a long way in producing this work. I also wish to commend with special gratitude Rev. Job Tindanbil, Rev. Mongs. Roger Aboteyuure, Rev George Apasera, Rev. Peter Awane and Mr. Simon Azaa for providing much of the data for this project. My deepest appreciation also goes to my mothers in Chirst, Mary Mensah Gyan, Veronica Boateng, Rachel Damali, Dorcas Zoogah, and Akosua Antwiwaa, as well as my friends - Isaac Nkrumah, Florence Pokuaa, Augustine Asuemi, Charles Osei, Benard Asewie, Mr. Abebe, and Rev. Diseh Kwotua,- for contributing emensely in terms of moral and financial support towards this project. May the good Lord richly bless them all. I cannot end this acknowledgment without expressing my deepest appreciation to my dear wife Asibi and my Children Wunammi, Yinmanna, Yinnsonam, and Yinmalya for their prayer and moral support and for coping with my absence from home during the field work for this project. Several others whose names are not mentioned in this acknowledgement, but who in diverse ways contributed to the success of this project, I say Yin mal ya (God bless you). Nte Yinam fara (To God be the Glory). iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS BONABOTO – Bolgatanga, Nangodi, Bongo, Tongo Students Association PPHCP – Presbyterian Primary Health Care Programme NIV- New International Version GILLBT – Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation KNUST - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology AD – Anno Domini C.Y.O - Catholic Youth Organisation A.O.G – Assemblies of God W.V – World Vision FRALIDEP – Frafra Literacy and Development Project WEC—World Evangelistic Crusade FGM---Female Genital Mutilation v ABSTRACT This thesis, Jesus Christ of Frafraland: A study of the Interface of Gospel and Culture and Its Implications for Evangelisation in the Frafra Context, is a study on the engagement of the Gospel with the Frafra of Northern Ghana. It examines the patterns of evangelisation among the Frafra with particular reference to the methods used in the proclamation of the Gospel. It also addresses the response of the Frafra to the proclamation of the Gospel as well as the impact of the Gospel in Frafraland. The researcher contends that despite the challenges, indigenous Frafra Christianity is possible through the recognition of traditional or cultural categories as significant preparation for the Gospel. In this way the Christian faith can be articulated in the Frafra cultural context with the use of its thought forms in a relevant worship of God. The major finding of the research is that the proclamation of the Gospel among the Frafra often produces different responses ranging from full embrace to partial embrace as well as conflictual or negative embrace depending on how the Gospel is proclaimed and how the people understand it. There is the need for the people to perceive and respond to the Gospel in way that are meaningful to their own understanding and experience. The significance of culture in the evangelistic task of the church is therefore very crucial. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Title page i Declaration ii Dedication iii Acknowledgement iv List of Abbreviations v Abstract vi Table of contents vii CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Information 1 1.2 Statement of Problem 2 1.3 Objectives of the Study 3 1.4 Scope of the Study 4 1.5 Study Approach and Methodology 4 1.6 Significance of the Study 5 1.7 Limitation of the Study 5 1.8 Challenges Envisaged 6 1.9 Review of Related Literature 6 1.10 Organisation of the study 13 CHAPTER TWO: BACKGROUND TO THE FRAFRA LIFE AND THOUGHT 2.0 Introduction 15 2.1 The Frafra 15 2.2 Geographical Location and Economic Profile 17 2.3 Social Structure and Organization 18 2.3.1 Settlement and Clanship 18 2.3.2 The Family 19 vii 2.3.3 Marriage 21 2.4 Political Organization 23 2.4.1 Chieftaincy 23 2.4.2 The Office of the Tendana 25 2.4.3 Religious Personalities 26 2.5 Religious Beliefs and Practices 26 2.5.1 The Supreme Being 27 2.5.2 Divinities 29 2.5.3 Ancestors 30 2.5.4 Other spirits 32 2.5.5 Divination 34 2.5.6 Sacrifice, Offerings and Prayer 35 2.5.7 Traditional Festivals 37 2.5.8 Child Naming and Initiation Rites 38 2.5.9 Death, Funeral and the Hereafter 39 2.5.11 Sickness and Healing 41 2.6 Conclusion 44 CHAPTER THREE: THE GOSPEL AND THE FRAFRA 3.0. Introduction 45 3.1 Definition of Concepts 46 3.1.1 Gospel 46 3.1.2 Evangelization 47 3.1.3 Culture 48 3.1.4 Salvation 50 3.1.5 Sacrifice 52 3.1.6 Church 54 3.1.7 Inculturation 56 3.2 Gospel and Culture from Biblical Perspective 58 viii 3.2.1 The Case of Early Israel 58 3.2.2 Gospel and Culture in the New Testament Period 63 3.2.3 Gospel and Culture in the Early Church Period 69 3.3 Gospel and Culture from African Christian History 76 3.4. The Gospel in the Frafra Context 83 3.4.1 Patterns of Evangelization of the Frafra 84 3.4.2 Mono Ethnic Churches Planting in Southern Ghana among Migrant Frafra (the case of the Kumasi Metropolis) 90 3.4.3 Responses of the Frafra to the Proclamation of the Gospel 94 3.4.3.1 Full Embrace 95 3.4.3.2 Syncretism (Partial Embrace) 98 3.4.3.3 Conflictual or Negative Embrace 99 3.4.4 Challenges 101 3.4.4.1 Personal Challenges 102 3.4.4.2 Societal Challenges 104 3.5 The Impact of the Gospel in Frafraland 105 3.5.1 Social Significance of the Church 105 3.5.2 Preservation of Frafra Culture 107 3.5.3 Transformation of Community Life 108 3.6 Conclusion 110 CHAPTER FOUR: A THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION FROM THE FRAFRA PERSPECTIVE 4.0 Introduction 112 4.1 The Gospel and the Frafra Culture 112 4.1.1 Spiritual Realities 113 4.1.2 Spiritual Relationship with Nature 116 4.1.3 Social Arrangements 119 4.1.4 Religious Systems 124 ix 4.2 Towards an Authentic Frafra Christianity 128 4.2.1 Frafra Culture as Preparatio Evangelica 129 4.2.2 Language and it‘s Implication for Theology and Evangelisation 134 4.3 The Gospel as Fulfiller of the Frafra Culture 137 4.3.1 Christ as Tendana Par Excellence 138 4.3.2 Christ as Bakologdana (Diviner) 140 4.3.3. Christ as Yidan (Lineage Head) 141 4.3.4 Christ as Nyadaan (Healer) 142 4.4. Conclusion 143 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, ISSUES EMERGING OUT OF THE STUDY, AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.0. Introduction 145 5.1 Summary of Findings of the Study 145 5.2 Issues Emerging out of the Study 148 5.3 Recommendations 149 5.3.1 Training and Support of Indigenous Leaders 150 5.3.2 Pastoral Care and Counseling 151 5.3.3 Literacy Development 151 5.4 General Conclusion 152 Bibliography Appendices x CHAPTER ONE GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Information The Great Commission of Jesus Christ enjoins all Christian believers to go and make ―disciples of all nations‘‘. (Matthew 28:19). The term ―nations‘‘ from the Greek word ethnos does not refer to present day geographical areas like Ghana, Togo, Benin and Brazil; rather it refers to groups of people with languages and cultural distinctives of their own and who share common ideologies and common ethnic identity.