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Panoply of Selected Asante and Ijaw Cultural Practices: Comparative and Descriptive Study

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Panoply of Selected Asante and Ijaw Cultural Practices: Comparative and Descriptive Study Vol. 5(4), pp. 78-86, June, 2013 African Journal of History and Culture DOI: 10.5897/AJHC12.018 ISSN 2141-6672 © 2013 Academic Journals http://www.academicjournals.org/AJHC Full Length Research Paper Panoply of selected Asante and Ijaw cultural practices: Comparative and descriptive study Kquofi, S.*, Olowonirejuaro, A. and Asante, E. A. Department of General Art Studies, Faculty of Art, UPO Box 50, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Accepted 3 April, 2013 Even though Ghana and Nigeria have a myriad of diverse cultures, which highlight the philosophical foundations of the existence of the people, most of these cultural elements are similar in practice. By virtue of the proximity of the two nations, their practices are vital to foster unity as well as create a healthy cultural relationship for socio-cultural development of the two West African nations. This paper is a descriptive and comparative account of Asante and Ijaw of Ghana and Nigeria respectively, to establish their unique similarities for socio-cultural cohesion. The synthesis of the findings highlights that an in-depth cultural equilibrium exists between the two nations in terms of the economic, religious, political and social aspects of the cultural life of the Asante and Ijaw. Key words: Asante, cultural practices, ethnic, Ijaw, socio-cultural. INTRODUCTION Ghana and Nigeria have had cordial political and socio- 2005). Long before Ghana attained political economic relations over the years by virtue of their independence, the people of Nigeria had started making geographical proximity as well as cultural similitude. This Ghana the preferred destination for a myriad of reasons, relationship has remained in spite of the changes in many of which bordered on socio-economic connections governance, economic and societal demands. The and ancestral linkages (Linck, 2007:3). Besides, the Asante, whose major language is Twi, are a part of a cultural policies of both countries provide for the people known as Akans living in the central part of preservation of the arts and culture of the people which is Ghana. The Asante have lived through several years of foundational of their history and of utmost relevance for ethnic rivalry, conflicts and clashes and have discovered growth and development (Towse, 1999; Barinaga, 2007). over the years that there is strength in unity (Kwadwo, For developing societies, the crucial question has been 2004; Kyerematen, 1994). The Ijaw ethnic group, on the how to preserve and extend indigenous traditions, which other hand, is the largest minority group in Nigeria who root them strongly in the past and provide their deepest are predominantly fishermen and they speak Ijaw as their sources of energy and inspiration; and at the same time, main language. They are located at the south-eastern to take what is more appropriate from the industrialized coast of the country and some parts of the south-west world without being inundated by it. Most developing coast, including the Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Ondo and societies have been struggling to overcome a long history Lagos States (Derefaka, 2003; Hesmondhalgh and Pratt, of cultural colonization. *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 233-24-2730446. Kquofi et al. 79 Cultural policies and the preservation of culture observation became necessary to allow the researchers to get fully immersed in the culture of the people. This was done to critically appreciate the cultures of the Asante and Ijaw. The objective of cultural preservation is to ensure Unstructured interviews were conducted at the work places and harmony with contemporary realities and the demands of homes of the respondents. A mobile phone, tape recorder and change and development and to prevent a mindless camera were used to save information and capture pictures. The sweeping away of the cultural heritage (Singh, 2010; interviews were conducted in English, Ijaw and Twi where Effa-Ababio, 2005). If this situation is allowed to happen, applicable with the aid of an interpreter for the Twi and Ijaw it results in disorderly change, societal instability and a languages. Most of the respondents were well versed in the cultures of the Asante and Ijaw. There were face-to-face interviews people completely cut off from their cultural roots. The and telephone interviews. The unstructured nature of the preservation of culture as provided for in the cultural conversations helped the researchers to lead the respondents to policies of Ghana and Nigeria relates to the promotion of provide information relevant to answer the research questions as cultural property whether of concrete or non-concrete well as to allow more freedom and time for the respondents to nature, past or present, written or oral in so far as it provide detailed information. relates to the values and facts of history (Singh, 2010; Miller and Yudice, 2001). The important roles which certain individuals such as RESULTS AND DISCUSSION chiefs, traditional leaders, women leaders and youth leaders play in the society promote the unearthing and Culture as an embodiment of the totality of the life of a preservation of cultural assets. These assets include people emphasises the philosophical foundations and the traditional sacred groves, monuments and mausoleums, historical underpinnings of the peoples’ heritage. The artistic treasures belonging to the state and individuals, cultures of the Asante people of Ghana and the Ijaw of private homes and several other cultural objects of high the Niger Delta in Nigeria present vital elements in the artistic value. economic, political, religious, and social life of these This paper draws out the similarities and differences in peoples. the two cultures to further strengthen bilateral relationship between Ghana and Nigeria by studying the Asante and Ijaw ethnic groups. Making public knowledge the Economic ramifications of the Asante and Ijaw similarities in the cultural patterns of Ghanaians and cultures Nigerians enhances mutual cooperation between the two nations on cultural matters while knowledge of the Traditionally, the Asante are predominantly farmers. By differences in the cultural practices would let them virtue of their geographical location and the natural appreciate each other’s unique cultural heritage as well vegetation, which consists of high forest, the people as providing for the adaptation of new cultural trends. engage in mixed farming of crops such as yams, corn, cassava, plantain, cocoyam, guinea corn and maize. Their major cash crop is cocoa. Others also engage in fish farming, snail farming and poultry farming. Besides METHODOLOGY the major occupation of farming, the Asante are noted for The research was conducted in Ghana and Nigeria to specifically their expertise in a variety of specialized crafts. These study the cultures of the Asante and Ijaw ethnic groups include weaving, wood carving, ceramics, and metallurgy. respectively. In order to collect detailed information about the Traditionally, Ashanti metal smiths seem to have worked cultures of the Asante in Ghana and the Ijaw in the Niger Delta in in iron, brass, bronze, silver, and gold. Agricultural Nigeria, the Manhyia palace (the palace for the King of the Asante, implements and other metal utensils were made of iron. Asantehene), the Center for Cultural Studies in Kumasi and homes of some traditionalists in Ghana; the Bayelsa State Council for Arts Brass and bronze are used for most artistic products. and Culture, the Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture and the Also, gold weights are cast in geometric, human, or palace of the Amananaowei of Bomo clan (the palace for the Chief animal forms, or in forms representing inanimate objects. of the Bomo People) all in Nigeria were visited. They were standard weights representing a quantity of As an ethnographic research, the following research questions gold dust. Trade in gold and slaves were among the key were of relevance to the researchers: a) What are the differences economic bases of the traditional Asante state (Rattray, and similarities in the cultures of Asante and Ijaw? b) How can the cultural practices of the two ethnic groups be preserved and 1959: 271, 301-02). projected for international cohesion and development? The Of all the crafts, which are important to the economic qualitative method was more appropriate to answering the above development of the people, only pottery-making is questions because it afforded the researchers time to observe and primarily a female activity. Traditionally, the other crafts record cultural practices of the two ethnic groups. (Leedy and are restricted to male specialists. Even in the case of Ormrod, 2005; Baszanger and Dodier, 1997). Using the “big net pottery-making, only men are allowed to fashion pots or approach” (Fetterman, 1989), the researchers intermingled with a lot of people to get the overall sense of the cultural context as well pipes representing anthropomorphic or zoomorphic as to identify key informants such as chiefs, traditionalists, village figures. The carvers carve symbolic items, staffs and elders and opinion leaders who provided information and deeper drums having deep philosophical meanings of the Asante insights relevant to the research questions. Also, participant culture. The drums, which are of utmost use at social 80 Afr. J. Hist. Cult. gatherings, are believed to convey messages that bind various chiefs put their heads together concerning issues the spiritual and the physical worlds (Effa-Ababio, benefitting the whole Ijaw nation. The Asante states have 2005;Sarpong, 1974) of the people. The royals as well as their own chiefs also, but they are subject to the King of the rich among the Asante make use of gold and silver the Asante states, Asantehene who is the occupant of the ornaments for decoration and body beautification which golden stool (Kwadwo, 2004; Kyerematen, 1994). The provide wealth for the gold smiths and silver smiths Ijaw chiefs, on the other hand, have sub chiefs under (McLeod, 1984). This enhances the economic life of the them.
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