Akan Studies Council [ASC] Newsletter, No. 1

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Akan Studies Council [ASC] Newsletter, No. 1 AKAN STUDIES COUNCIL NEWSLETTER NUMBER 1 September 1989 CO-CHAIRS' STATEMENT This first issue of the Newsletter is being sent by to everyone on the original list, as we really do Judith Timyan and want to include the widest audience possible. Raymond A. Silverman However, beginning with the next issue only mem­ bers (i.e. those who have returned a completed Here, finally, is the first issue of the Akan questionnaire) will receive Akan Studies Council Studies Council Newsletter. As we promised, we correspondence. What we are really after is have made Akan history the thematic focus of this information on the scholars, specialists and gen­ inaugural issue, with statements on the current eral audience who make up the Akan constituency, state of research in the various regions. We would so this is not intended as an exclusionary move like to thank Robert Addo-Fening, Jean-Noel but rather as an incentive for you to send in your Loucou, Gareth Austin, Dolly Maier, Jean-Pierre completed questionnaires. Chauveau and Claude-Helene Perrot for taking the As stated in our earlier correspondence, it is time to prepare their state-of-the-field statements. due to the generosity of Peter Shinnie, who has The inevitable difficulties involved in getting a agreed to bear the cost of duplicating and mailing new organization started are undoubtedly com­ the Newsletter, that we do not have to request pounded by the facts that we are addressing a dues from all of our members at this point in time. multi-national, multi-regional membership and are Nevertheless, it was decided at the 1988 Akan attempting to make the Newsletter bilingual. To Studies Council meeting that it would be prudent get the Akan Studies Council off the ground we to establish a small fund that could be used to have sent out two mailings-letters and question­ cover miscellaneous expenses. To avoid the naires to a total of 110 individuals. As of this date trouble associated with money transfers and cur­ we have received responses from 57 of these rency conversions, especially for relatively small people. The current membership of the ASC, a list amounts, it was decided that $5.00 be requested of which is found in the Newsletter, is composed of from those members residing in North America those who returned a completed questionnaire. only. Members living in Africa or Europe will be For all of you who have not yet responded and exempt from paying these dues for the time being. who wish to join the Akan Studies Council, a copy of the questionnaire is included at the end of the •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Newsletter. We have also included a list of all the ASC Newsletter individuals to whom we sent letters and question­ editors: Ray Silverman & Judith Timyan naires so if you know of someone who is not on production: African Studies Center, that list who might be interested in joining the ASC Michigan State University please pass along the questionnaire or ask them to distribution: Peter Shinnie contact either Judith Timyan or Ray Silverman. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• To date only ten members living in the U.S. or STATE OF THE FIELD: HISTORY Canada have sent in their $5.00. To those who have not: please send a check made out to "Akan La Recherche sur l'Histoire des Akan de Studies Council" to Ray Silverman. Thank you. Cote d'lvoire We received from our membership only a by single announcement to be included in this first Jean-Noel Loucou Newsletter. If any of you wish to publicize an Universite Nationale de Cote d'lvoire event, solicit information from other members, or bring the membership's attention to a particular Les Akan de Cote d'lvoire torment le groupe issue, please feel free to submit an announcement. ethnique le plus important du pays. lis sont com­ Finally, we would like to remind you that the poses des Abron, des Agni, des Baoule et de Ia second meeting of the Akan Studies Council will quasi-totallite d es groupes dits lagunaires. Leur be held during the upcoming African Studies Asso­ histoire a fait l'objet de nombreuses etudes ciation meetings in Atlanta, Georgia. The meeting mem~es aussi bien par des chercheurs ivoiriens will take place on Saturday, November 4, 1:00-2:30 que des chercheurs etrangers. Le present papier p.m. in the English Suite of the Hyatt Regency fait sommairement l'etat des recherches. ' Hotel. If there are any items you would like to have L'etude du peuplement est mieux precisee included on the aggenda please contact either Ray grace a Ia these de Yao Anan (1984), a l'ouvrage et Silverman or Judith Timyan by November 1. We a !'article de Jean Noel Loucou (1984 et 1986a). hope to see a good contingent of you there. La civilisation, notamment les poids a peser I' or et Hopefully, future meetings of the ASC will be able le langage des tambours, est decrite dans deux to be held in other regions. ouvrages de G. Niangoran-Bouah (1981 et 1984- . Any correspondence concerning the ASC 1987). should be addressed to either Ray Silverman Les autres etudes sont des monographies [Department of Art, Michigan State University, East relatives aux differents groupes. Ainsi Albert Able Lansing Ml 48824 (USA)] or Judith Timyan (1978) retrace l'histoire et !'organisation politique (International Center for Research on Women, des Aboure. H. Diabate (1984 et 1986) etudie le ~ 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC royaume Sanwi de meme que D. Kadja (1975). Sie 20036 (USA)]. Koffi (1976) aborde l'histoire et Ia societe des Agni- Diabe. Les Baoule sont etudies par J.N. Loucou (1982-1985 et 1986b), A. Kacou (1973 et 1975) et G. Kouadio-Tiacoh (1983). Les Agni du Moronou ANNOUNCEMENTS ont ete etudies par A. Brou Tanoh (1970, B. Comoe-Krou (1977), Aka Kouame (1979) et S-P AKAN STUDIES COUNCIL MEETING M'bra-Ekanza (1983). Surles Ebrie, il n'existe pas Our next meeting will be held in conjunction with encore d'ouvrage de synthese. On peut toutefois the ASA Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The signaler les articles de G. Niangoran-Bouah (1969) meeting will take place on Saturday, November 4, et de Yao Anan (1979). Le groupe Nzema a fait 1 :00-2:30 p.m. in the English Suite of the Hyatt l'objet d'une recente these elaboree par Allou Regency Hotel. Please try to attend. Kouame (1988). From Dennis M. Warren, Iowa State University: The ex-Omanhene of Techiman, Nana Akumfi Ameyaw II, passed away while on a visit to Toronto References last January. Able, Albert, 1978. Histoire et tradition politique du pays Aboure. Abidjan: lmprimerie Nationale. Aka, Kouame, 1979. Origine et evolution du Ngatianou jusqu'a Ia colonisation. Memoire ASC Newsletter page2 de maitrise d'Hi"stoire inedit, Abidjan, Niangoran-Bouah, Georges, 1981. Introduction a Universtte Nationale de Cote d'lvoire. Ia dummologie. Abidjan: Editions G.N.B. Allou Kouame, Rene, 1988. L 'Etat de Benyinli et Ia Niangoran-Bouah, Georges, 1984-1987. L'Univers naissance du peuple Nzema, XVe-X/Xe siecle. akan des poids a peser l'orjThe Akan world These de 3e cycle d'Histoire inedite, Abidjan, of gold weights. 3 volumes. Abid­ Universite Nationale de Cote d'lvoire. jan:NEA/MLB. Brou Tanoh, Antoine, 1970. Le Moronou des M'Bra Ekanza, Simon-Pierre. 1983. Mutations migrations akan a Ia guerre Agni-Baoule. d'une societe rurale. Les Agni du Moronou. Memoire de Maitrise d'Histoire inedit, Paris, 18e siecle-1939. These de Doctorat es-Lettres Sorbonne. inedite, Aix-en-Provence, Universite de Comoe-Krou, Barthelemy, 1977. Le jeu dans Ia Provence. societe traditionnelle Agni. These de Doctorat Sie, Koffi, 1976. Les Agni-Diabe, histoire et es-Lettres inedite, Paris, Universite Rene Des­ societe. These de doctorat de 3e cycle cartes. inedite, Paris, Universite de Paris I. Diabate, Henriette, 1984. Le Sannvin. Un royaume Yao Anan, Elisab~th, 1979. "Un bref aper~u du Akan de Ia Cote d'lvoire 1701-1901. Sources groupe lagunaire, • Kasabya Kasa, Bulletin de orales et histoire. These de Doctorat es­ 1'/nstitut d'Ethno-sociologie 14. Lettres inedite, Paris, Universite de Paris I. Yao Anan, Elisabeth, 1984. Les mouvements Diabate, Henriette, 1986. Le Sannvin. Sources migratoires des populations Akan du Ghana orales et histoire. Un essai methodologique. en Cote d'lvoire, des origines a nos jours. Abidjan: Nouvelles Editions Africaines. These de 3e cycle de sociologie inedite, Abid­ Kacou, Alfred, 1973. Sagesse africaine au pays jan, Universite Nationale de Cote d'lvoire. Baoule. Mulhouse Editions Salvator. Kacou, Alfred, 1975. Le Sacrifice baoule. These de doctorat en Sciences religieuses inedite. Akan History Research in Ghana Strasbourg, Faculte de theologie Catholique. by Kadja, Daniel, 1975. Structure de Ia societe Sanwi. Robert Addo-Fening Desintegration et Resistance. These de doc­ University of Ghana tarat de 3e cycle de Sociologie, Paris, Sor­ bonne. After a period of dormancy resulting from the Kouadio-Tiacoh, Gabriel, 1983. Monographie de Ia economic difficulties of the mid-1980s and the Commune de Toumodi. Origine et Histoire. attendant dearth of publication outlets and the Abidjan: lmprimerie nationale. 'brain-drain', Akan history research in Ghana is Loucou, Jean-Noel, 1982. "La mathematique chez showing signs of recovery especially at the les Baoule de Cote d'lvoire, • Annales de University of Ghana, Legon. The refreshing thing I'Universite d'Abidjan (serie I Histoire) IX. about current Akan research is its scope. Loucou, Jean-Noel, 1984. Histoire de Ia Cote Up to about 1970 Akan history research d'lvoire Tome 1: La formation des peuples. focussed almost exclusively on Asante and her Abidjan: Ceda. one time satellite, Akwamu.
Recommended publications
  • Negotiating Elder Care in Akuapem, Ghana: Care-Scripts and the Role of Non-Kin
    Please do not remove this page Negotiating Elder Care in Akuapem, Ghana: Care-Scripts and the Role of Non-Kin Coe, Cati https://scholarship.libraries.rutgers.edu/discovery/delivery/01RUT_INST:ResearchRepository/12643433240004646?l#13643528290004646 Coe, C. (2017). Negotiating Elder Care in Akuapem, Ghana: Care-Scripts and the Role of Non-Kin. In Africa (Vol. 87, Issue 1, pp. 137–154). Rutgers University. https://doi.org/10.7282/T3D50Q24 This work is protected by copyright. You are free to use this resource, with proper attribution, for research and educational purposes. Other uses, such as reproduction or publication, may require the permission of the copyright holder. Downloaded On 2021/09/29 21:13:19 -0400 Negotiating Elder Care in Akuapem, Ghana: Care-Scripts and the Role of Non-Kin Cati Coe1 Abstract. In contemporary Ghana, adult children are considered responsible for the care of aged parents. Within this idealized framework, two aspects of elder care are overlooked. First, such a narrative obscures the role of non-kin and extended kin in providing elder care in southern Ghana historically and in the present. Secondly, it hides the negotiations over obligations and commitments between those who manage elder care and those who help with an aging person’s daily activities. It is in this latter role in which non-kin and extended kin are significant in elder care, while closer kin maintain their kin roles through the more distant management, financial support, and recruitment of others. This paper examines recruitment to elder care and the role of kin and non-kin in elder care in three historical periods—the 1860s, the 1990s, and the 2000s— centered on Akuapem, in southern Ghana.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of Matriarchal Traditions on the Advancement of Ashanti Women in Ghana Karen Mcgee
    The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Listening to the Voices: Multi-ethnic Women in School of Education Education 2015 The mpI act of Matriarchal Traditions on the Advancement of Ashanti Women in Ghana Karen McGee Follow this and additional works at: http://repository.usfca.edu/listening_to_the_voices Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation McGee, Karen (2015). The mpI act of Matriarchal Traditions on the Advancement of Ashanti Women in Ghana. In Betty Taylor (Eds.), Listening to the Voices: Multi-ethnic Women in Education (p. 1-10). San Francisco, CA: University of San Francisco. This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Education at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Listening to the Voices: Multi-ethnic Women in Education by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Impact of Matriarchal Traditions on the Advancement of Ashanti Women in Ghana Karen McGee What is the impact of a matriarchal tradition and the tradition of an African queenmothership on the ability of African women to advance in political, educational, and economic spheres in their countries? The Ashanti tribe of the Man people is the largest tribe in Ghana; it is a matrilineal society. A description of the precolonial matriarchal tradition among the Ashanti people of Ghana, an analysis of how the matriarchal concept has evolved in more contemporary governments and political situations in Ghana, and an analysis of the status of women in modern Ghana may provide some insight into the impact of the queenmothership concept.
    [Show full text]
  • GHANA STUDIES COUNCIL Newsletter Number 14 Spring 2001
    GHANA STUDIES COUNCIL Newsletter Number 14 Spring 2001 are hopeful that several of these contributions will become future articles for our journal, Ghana Studies. Chair's Remarks By David Owusu-Ansah I was also very pleased to see so many of us at the Women's Caucus-sponsored panel on I extend my thanks to all of our association Yaa Asantewaa. Whilhemana Donkor members who attended the 43rd annual ASA (KNUST at Kumase), Linda Day (Hunter meeting in Nashville TN. Special thanks to College), Jean Allman (Illinois at Urbana) Akosua Adomako-Ampofo of the University and Ivor Agyeman-Dua (Journalist) presented of Ghana) and Rebecca Laumann (University on this panel. (See an update on Ivor of Memphis) for helping with the several Agyeman-Duah’s report on the Yaa travel grant applications we sent out. The Asantewaa documentary in this issue of GSC African Studies Association Visiting Scholars Newsletter.) Fund contributed to bringing Professor Francis Agbodeka’s to participate in the GSC For the November 2001 ASA conference at panel. The Spencer Foundation and Ghana Houston, TX, Ghana Studies Council has Airways were also among our supporters. submitted two panels. "Of trees, travelers and Certainly, it was a delight to have the chiefs" will be a panel discussion of recent presence of a sizeable contingent of our scholarship on the history of the timber colleagues from Ghanaian universities. industry, the current state of the tourism Professors Akilagpa Sawyerr (former Vice industry and a discussion the state of Chancellor of the University of Ghana) and chieftaincy in Ghana. Dr. Irene Odotei Agbodeka (former Dean of the Faculty of (Director, Institute of African Studies at the Arts and Letters at Cape Coast), and Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Ghana Poverty Mapping Report
    ii Copyright © 2015 Ghana Statistical Service iii PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Ghana Statistical Service wishes to acknowledge the contribution of the Government of Ghana, the UK Department for International Development (UK-DFID) and the World Bank through the provision of both technical and financial support towards the successful implementation of the Poverty Mapping Project using the Small Area Estimation Method. The Service also acknowledges the invaluable contributions of Dhiraj Sharma, Vasco Molini and Nobuo Yoshida (all consultants from the World Bank), Baah Wadieh, Anthony Amuzu, Sylvester Gyamfi, Abena Osei-Akoto, Jacqueline Anum, Samilia Mintah, Yaw Misefa, Appiah Kusi-Boateng, Anthony Krakah, Rosalind Quartey, Francis Bright Mensah, Omar Seidu, Ernest Enyan, Augusta Okantey and Hanna Frempong Konadu, all of the Statistical Service who worked tirelessly with the consultants to produce this report under the overall guidance and supervision of Dr. Philomena Nyarko, the Government Statistician. Dr. Philomena Nyarko Government Statistician iv TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................... vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Emmanuel Nicholas Abakah. Hypotheses on the Diachronic
    1 Hypotheses on the Diachronic Development of the Akan Language Group Emmanuel Nicholas Abakah, Department of Akan-Nzema, University of Education, Winneba [email protected] Cell: +233 244 732 172 Abstract Historical linguists have already established the constituent varieties of the Akan language group as well as their relationships with other languages. What remains to be done is to reconstruct the Proto- Akan forms and this is what this paper sets out to accomplish. One remarkable observation about language is that languages change through time. This is not to obscure the fact that it is at least conceivable that language could remain unchanged over time, as is the case with some other human institutions e.g. various taboos in some cultures or the value of smile as a nonverbal signal. Be that as it may, the mutually comprehensible varieties of the codes that constitute the Akan language group have evidently undergone some changes over the course of time. However, they lack adequate written material that can take us far back into the history of the Akan language to enable any diachronic or historical linguist to determine hypotheses on their development. Besides, if empirical data from the sister Kwa languages or from the other daughters of the Niger-Congo parent language were readily available, then the reconstruction of the Proto-Akan forms would be quite straightforward. But, unfortunately, these are also hard to come by, at least, for the moment. Nevertheless, to reconstruct a *proto-language, historical linguists have set up a number of methods, which include the comparative method, internal reconstruction, language universals and linguistic typology among others.
    [Show full text]
  • ETD Template
    CREATIVE PROCESSES IN AKAN MUSICAL CULTURES: INNOVATIONS WITHIN TRADITION by Eric Odame Beeko Dip. Mus., National Academy of Music, Winneba, Ghana, 1984 Post-Dip. Mus. Edu., University College of Education, Winneba, Ghana, 1988 B.Ed. Mus., University of Cape Coast, Ghana, 1996 M.Phil. Mus., University of Ghana, Legon, 2000 Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Arts and Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree University of Pittsburgh 2005 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES This dissertation was presented by Eric Odame Beeko It was defended on April 19, 2005 and approved by Dr. Mary Lewis Dr. Nathan Davis Dr. V. Kofi Agawu Dr. Joseph Adjaye Dr. Akin O. Euba Dissertation Director ii This work is copyright, and no part of it may be reproduced by any process, manually or electronically, without the written permission of the author. Copyright 2005 by Eric Odame Beeko iii CREATIVE PROCESSES IN AKAN MUSIC: INNOVATIONS WITHIN TRADITION Eric Odame Beeko, PhD University of Pittsburgh, 2005 The aim of this dissertation is to explain the creative processes in composition and performance of traditional music, and the subsequent innovations that emerge out of these processes in the musical traditions of the Akan people of Ghana. The study is premised on the fact that, traditional musicians in the Akan culture, like most people on the surface of the earth, also have the natural capacity to consciously or unconsciously effect changes in their environments, play significant roles in most human-initiated change processes, and make contributions to both the material and institutional aspects of their culture, as their creative sensibilities or tendencies continue to bring about various forms of innovations from time to time.
    [Show full text]
  • Dangerous Spirit of Liberty: Slave Rebellion, Conspiracy, and the First Great Awakening, 1729-1746
    Dangerous Spirit of Liberty: Slave Rebellion, Conspiracy, and the First Great Awakening, 1729-1746 by Justin James Pope B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science, May 2000, Eckerd College M.A. in History, May 2005, University of Cincinnati M.Phil. in History, May 2008, The George Washington University A Dissertation submitted to The Faculty of The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy January 31, 2014 Dissertation directed by David J. Silverman Professor of History The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University certifies that Justin Pope has passed the Final Examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy January 10, 2014. This is the final and approved form of the dissertation. Dangerous Spirit of Liberty: Slave Rebellion, Conspiracy, and the Great Awakening, 1729-1746 Justin Pope Dissertation Research Committee: David J. Silverman, Professor of History, Dissertation Director Denver Brunsman, Assistant Professor of History, Committee Member Greg L. Childs, Assistant Professor of History, Committee Member ii © Copyright 2014 by Justin Pope All rights reserved iii Acknowledgments I feel fortunate to thank the many friends and colleagues, institutions and universities that have helped me produce this dissertation. The considerable research for this project would not have been possible without the assistance of several organizations. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the Maryland Historical Society, the Cosmos Club Foundation of Washington, D.C., the Andrew Mellon Fellowship of the Virginia Historical Society, the W. B. H. Dowse Fellowship of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Thompson Travel Grant from the George Washington University History Department, and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Research Fellowship all provided critical funding for my archival research.
    [Show full text]
  • Some Translation and Exegetical Problems in the Pastoral Epistles of the Kronkron (Akuapem-Twi Bible) By
    Some Translation and Exegetical Problems in the Pastoral Epistles of the kronkron (Akuapem-Twi Bible) By Emmanuel Augustus Twum-Baah July 2014 Some Translation and Exegetical Problems in the Pastoral Epistles of the kronkron (Akuapem-Twi Bible) A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of Master of Philosophy Degree in Religious Studies By Emmanuel Augustus Twum-Baah July 2014 i Declaration I hereby declare that this thesis of which is a record is the result of my own work and that no part of it has been presented for another degree in this university or elsewhere, and that all sources of information used have been duly referenced by way of footnotes. Emmanuel Augustus Twum-Baah …………………… ...………………………. (Student) Signature Date Certified by: Rev. Jonathan E. T. Kuwornu-Adjaottor …………………… ......………………………. (Supervisor) Signature Date Certified by: Rev. Dr. Nathan Iddrisu Samwini …………………… ........….……………………. (Head of Department) Signature Date ii Abstract The present 2012 Akuapem-Twi Bible had been the labour of several revision exercises from its existence as fragments of Bible books till the New Testament was completed and later the first full version published in 1871. Over the years the task of revision work had aimed at eliminating ambiguous phrases and words in the Akuapem-Twi Bible that are not translated in accordance with the thought pattern and worldview of the Akuapem people. However after the 2012 publication of the Akuapem-Twi Bible, there still exist a number of translation and exegetical problems in the translated text; clear examples are 1 Timothy 6:10a, 2 Timothy 1: 10b, 2:20b, Titus 1: 7, 11b which are in focus for this study.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Akim' Or 'Achim'
    The African e-Journals Project has digitized full text of articles of eleven social science and humanities journals. This item is from the digital archive maintained by Michigan State University Library. Find more at: http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/africanjournals/ Available through a partnership with Scroll down to read the article. RESEARCH REVIEW KS 4.2 1988 THE 'AKIM' OK •ACHHT IM 17TH CENTURY AMD 18TH CENTURY HISTORICAL CONTEXTS: WHO HERE THEY? R. Addo-Fening Modern Akyen territory comprises over 3,120 square miles of land.1 Its boundaries are marked by river Pra and Asante to the west, to Asante, the north-west, Asante-Akyem and Kmwu to the north, New Dwaben and Krobo to the east, and Agona to the south. Modern Akyem consists of three sub-divisions: Abuakwa. Kotoku and Bosome. The largest sub-division, Abuakwa, occupies about two-thirds of Akyera territory.2 Kotoku and Bosome share the remaining one-third to the west. Traditions of the three sub-divisions point to Adanse as their aboriginal home. According to Kotoku tradition, Adanse was ruled in the 17th century by three independent kings: King Korangye ruled at Fomena over the ancestors of the modern Adanse; Xing Danso Brepong ruled at Ahwiren, a few miles south-west of Lake Bosumtwi, over the ancestors of the modern Kotoku who were originally immigrants from Twifo Atoam; while King Aninkwatia ruled at Sebenso over the ancestors of the modern Abuakwa.3 The ancestors of Bosome 'lived in close connection with the Kotoku near Ahuren [Ahwiren]1.4 In the 19th century the Kotoku nostalgically recalled that they, as well as the Abuakwa, 'originally came from Adansi' and that 'King Inkansah and his people [i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • A COMMUNITY PARK for the TOWN of AKYEM ODA, GHANA By
    THE THREE AKYEM: A COMMUNITY PARK FOR THE TOWN OF AKYEM ODA, GHANA by ALEXANDER NAGEL (Under the Direction of Pratt Cassity) ABSTRACT This thesis presents a program and design for a new community park for Akyem Oda, a small town in the rain forest region of Ghana. The town was visited two times in 2004 and 2005 as part of the ongoing yearly Summer Service-Learning Studio during which time a site inventory was performed. Background research for the program development included geography and history of Ghana with a special focus on the Asante kingdom, traditional building techniques, land planning and an exploration of Akyem history in relationship to the dominant kingdom of Asante. A photo documentation of the main features of Akyem Oda and their spatial relationships to each other completes the research part of this thesis. The program for the proposed ‘Three Akyem Community Park’ integrates a Parade Ground, a Cultural Center and three Groves representing each of the three Akyem people on the 8.9 acres rectilinear site. INDEX WORDS: Africa, Akyem Oda, Architecture, Asante, Cultural Center, Community Park, Courtyard House, Diaspora, Ghana, Grove, Land Planning, Parade Ground, Service-Learning, Tourism THE THREE AKYEM: A COMMUNITY PARK FOR THE TOWN OF AKYEM ODA, GHANA by ALEXANDER NAGEL Diploma, Tuebingen University, Germany, 1996 M.S., The University of Georgia, 2003 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ATHENS, GEORGIA 2007 © 2007 Alexander Nagel All Rights Reserved THE THREE AKYEM: A COMMUNITY PARK FOR THE TOWN OF AKYEM ODA, GHANA by ALEXANDER NAGEL Major Professor: Pratt Cassity Committee: Mary Anne Akers Karim Traore Jennifer Perissi Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia May 2007 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many people who in different ways helped me along the way towards completion of my program and this thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • Re-Examining the Akan Gold Weight and Its Possible Reuse
    Global Journal of HUMAN-SOCIAL SCIENCE: C Sociology & Culture Volume 20 Issue 6 Version 1.0 Year 2020 Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Online ISSN: 2249-460x & Print ISSN: 0975-587X Re-Examining the Akan Gold Weight and its Possible Reuse By Andrew Richard Owusu Addo (MFA) & Ronit Akomeah Education Kwame Nkrumah University Abstract- Generally, Gold weights(called mrammou in the Akan language) are weights made of brass and used as a measuring system by the people of Akan in West Africa. This was used for weighing gold dust which was the currency until that was replaced by paper money and coins. These gold weights look like miniature models of everyday objects. In the Akan society, gold weights have played a significant part so far as the tradition and culture and the economy are concerned. The gold weights have several cultural and symbolic undertones that require a study and an understanding by modern society. Hence the study was conducted to revealed philosophical, cultural, and an outstanding value attached to the gold weights. This was attained by using qualitative research design and research instruments such as purposive and convenience sampling techniques. Interview and observation were the two main data collection tools used. However, the long hours of inquiry with key respondents in the naturalistic fieldwork which was peculiar of phenomenological study such as this aided the researcher in gaining in- depth information and understanding of what gold weights represent and its significance in the tradition and customs of the people of Akan. Keywords: gold weight, akan.
    [Show full text]
  • Articulating an African Feminism Through the Nana Esi Archetype
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by ASU Digital Repository Malezile Defy Master Narratives: Articulating an African Feminism through the Nana Esi Archetype by Portia Nana Essuman A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Approved November 2012 by the Graduate Supervisory Committee: Akua Duku Anokye, Chair C. Alejandra Elenes Gloria Cuàdraz ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY December 2012 ABSTRACT Oral history methodologies are used to conduct fifteen interviews with Martha Akesi Ndaarko Sennie-Tumi over the course of three months. Research responded to the following questions: How do African women defy master narratives? When do African women defy master narratives and move from the margins to the center? What roles do African women take on to defy master narratives and why? To what extent does the concept of malezile (women who stand firm) address human rights? Twelve stories of defiance (three of which are folktales) are analyzed for recurring themes, concepts and motifs. Research showed that African women defy master narratives when the system worked to their detriment through the Nana Esi archetype. The stories also showed that women adopt nontraditional roles during defiance by using whatever means available to them at the time of defiance. i DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to my beloved grandmother, Martha Akesi Ndaarko Sennie- Tumi. ii ACKNOWLEDMENTS This work is a communal women’s effort and must be viewed as such. This thesis is dedicated to my beloved grandmother, Martha Akesi Ndaarko Sennie-Tumi, who raised me and taught me my first feminist lessons.
    [Show full text]