CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by University of Birmingham Research Archive, E-theses Repository A CRITICAL STUDY OF CHRISTIAN‐MUSLIM RELATIONS IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF GHANA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TRADITIONAL AKAN VALUES BY COSMAS JUSTICE EBO SARBAH A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGIONS SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY, THEOLOGY AND RELIGION THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM SEPTEMBER, 2010 1 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. ABSTRACT This work studies Christian-Muslim relations in Ghana with special reference to the role of traditional Akan culture. It identifies and examines religious and cultural practices of the Akan people of Ghana that continue to exert strong influence on the people in the wake of the upsurge of Christianity and Islam. These practices have not only succeeded in moulding and shaping both Christianity and Islam into unique entities as found in Ghana but also toning down the ancient rivalries that have existed between them. It is concluded that Christian-Muslim exchanges go beyond theological and historical discussions. They, more importantly, include religious and socio-political practicalities and issues which are found in this work to not only have far-reaching implications for the formulation of images and attitudes of the other religious tradition but also foster effectual and meaningful Christian-Muslim encounters. It is in the context of cultural and, in fact, holistic understanding of Christian-Muslim engagements that the commonalities of the two great religious traditions could be celebrated and the differences inherent in them be deeply appreciated as an asset and not a liability. 2 DEDICATION To the Glory of God 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to His Eminence Peter Cardinal Kojo Appiah Turkson for the opportunity to study Christian-Muslim Relations. I am also particularly grateful to Missio Aachen (Germany) for granting me the sponsorship, my supervisor Dr. Jabal M. Buaben, Rev. Fr Tony Rohan (Holy Family Church-Birmingham) as well as Rev. Fr. Ton Storcken (Holland) for their support, invaluable guidance and advice throughout the period of this work. My gratitude beyond measure also goes to all those who participated in the research for their time, effort and information. Finally, my appreciation goes to my family and friends home and abroad, for always being there for me and for urging me on. 4 TABLE OF CONTENT CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTORY REMARKS............................................................10 1.1INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................10 1.1.1 The Rationale of the Study ......................................................................................10 1.1.2 Objectives of the Study ...........................................................................................11 1.1.3 The Research Instrument.........................................................................................12 1.1.4 Scope and Limitations .............................................................................................13 1.1.5 The Literature Review.............................................................................................14 1.2 THE AKAN ETHNIC GROUP......................................................................................28 1.2.1 The People ...............................................................................................................28 1.2.2 Traditional Values ...................................................................................................29 1.3 CONCLUSION ..............................................................................................................30 CHAPTER TWO: ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY IN GHANA.......................................32 2.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................32 2.2 THE PLANTING OF ISLAM IN GHANA ...................................................................32 2.2.1 Dyula Muslims and Traditional Society..................................................................32 2.2.1.1 Accommodating Attitude to Traditional Life...................................................33 2.2.1.2 Favourable Indigenous Response in Northern Ghana ......................................34 2.2.1.3 Unfavourable Indigenous Response in Southern Ghana ..................................35 2.2.1.3.1 Asante and Bono States .............................................................................35 2.2.1.3.2 Other Southern Towns...............................................................................37 2.2.1.4 Favourable Indigenous Response in Southern Ghana ......................................38 2.2.1.5 Indigenisation by Reinterpretation ...................................................................38 2.2.2. Attempts at De-indigenisation of Islam..................................................................40 2.2.2.1 Agents of De-indigenisation.............................................................................40 2.2.2.2 Puritan Attitude to Islam in Ghana...................................................................41 2.2.2.3 Failure of De-indigenisation.............................................................................42 2.2.3 The Face of Islam in Contemporary Ghana.............................................................43 2.2.3.1 The Mainstream or ‘Orthodox’ Muslims .........................................................43 2.2.3.2 The Ahmadiyya Muslim Movement ................................................................44 2.2.3.3 Ahl al-Sunna wa ‘l- Jamā‘a (ASWAJ).............................................................46 2.3 THE PLANTING OF CHRISTIANITY IN GHANA....................................................47 2.3.1. The Mission Churches............................................................................................47 2.3.1.1 The Roman Catholic Church ............................................................................47 2.3.1.2 The Presbyterian Church ..................................................................................49 2.3.1.3 The Methodist (Wesleyan) Church ..................................................................50 2.3.2 The Mission Churches and Traditional Life............................................................51 2.3.2.1 Puritan and Uncompromising Attitude.............................................................51 2.3.2.2 Opposition and Initial Challenges ....................................................................53 2.3.2.3 Redoubt of the Old Religion.............................................................................55 2.3.3 Attempts at Indigenisation.......................................................................................57 2.3.3.1 The Mission Churches and Early Efforts at Indigenisation..............................57 2.3.3.2 Indigenisation by Reinterpretation ...................................................................58 2.3.3.2.1 The Rise of the African Indigenous Churches...........................................58 5 2.3.3.2.2 Pentecostalism and the New Evangelicalism ............................................61 2.3.3.2.3 The Mission Churches...............................................................................62 2.4 CONCLUSION ..............................................................................................................63 CHAPTER THREE: A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF TRADITIONAL AKAN VALUES......65 3.1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................65 3.2 THE DYNAMICS OF AKAN RELIGIOUS IMAGINATION.....................................65 3.2.1 Belief in the Supreme Deity ....................................................................................65 3.2.1.1 Nyame, the Father of All People.......................................................................65 3.2.1.2 Danquah on the Supreme Deity........................................................................66 3.2.1.3 Nyame, the Utilitarian Deity.............................................................................68 3.2.2 Nyame, the Creator and Ruler of the Universe........................................................70 3.2.2.1 Nyame, the Creator of the Universe .................................................................70 3.2.2.2 Nyame, the Ultimate Ruler of the Universe......................................................70 3.2.3 The Universality of Divine Truth ............................................................................72 3.2.3.1 Multiplicity of the Transcendent ......................................................................72 3.2.3.2 Divine Truth transcends Religious Traditions..................................................75