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A Rite of Passage Among the Krobos of Eastern Region, Ghana

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A Rite of Passage Among the Krobos of Eastern Region, Ghana DIPO A rite of passage among the Krobos of Eastern Region, Ghana Priscilla Akua Boakye Thesis submitted for the Degree of Master of Philosophy in Indigenous Studies Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education University of Tromsø Norway Spring 2010 DEDICATION To my godson, Anton Bernhard Olaussen i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I looked up beyond what my eyes could see and He was always smiling at me. His arms carried me through Eternal Father to You, I am forever grateful. My parents – Elizabeth Quainoo and Joseph Boakye and my siblings - Rachel and Francis; Thanks for believing in me and I was always sure of your prayers for me. My father, Rev. Dr. J. O. Y. Mante and family, I always remember your prayer for me last summer – God heard you! She guided me with such diligence and encouragement Her smiles and laughter always gave me hope My supervisor - Associate Professor Jorun Braeck Ramstad Tusen hjertelig takk! My course coordinators - Professor Bjørg Evjen and Dr. Johnny-Leo Jernsletten, I have learnt so much from you. Thanks for the indispensable contributions. Though dark and cold, my Christmases were white and warm Even warmer were the people I spent it with – John, Ann-Olaug, Johan, Ingebjørg, Edvard and Anton You are a wonderful family. Tusen takk! All around me, I was surrounded by very good friends Space would not allow me to name them all but I mention a few – The Kwapong-Akuffo family, Benjamin Kwame Ahunu, Amy Asiedu, Justice Tambo, Ernestina Dankyi, Patricia Adjei… Me daase paaa! I cannot forget Prosper, Gifty, Henry, Rev. and Mrs. Odjelua Rev. Teye-Kau, Mr. Gbertey, Manyε Esther, Nomoda Ebenezer Dzaba and all my numerous informants; Thank you for your time, the information you gave, the experiences you shared The field was such an adventure! I am equally grateful to the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund Lånekkassen – the funding for my studies was of so much worth. Equally appreciative am I of the Centre for Sami Studies which provided funding for the fieldwork. My one-month sojourn at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, Sweden was a tremendous time and I am thankful to Professor Fantu Cheru, Dr. Knut Christian Mhyre and Associate Professor Mats Utas whose contributions were invaluable. ii ABSTRACT The transition from childhood to adulthood is a major one, not only for the individual but the society at large. In some societies, the rites of passage are observed to usher young people into adulthood. The Krobos in Ghana are no exception. They have the most elaborate puberty rites for girls in Ghana today. This study investigates the historical background of the practice, the changes it has undergone and reasons for these changes. The ways in which this practice forms part of the ethnic identity of the Krobos and more importantly, a Krobo woman is explored. The study draws on concepts such as gender, values, modernization, and ethnicity. The study reveals that the practice was a form of vocational training for young women in which they were taught generally how to assume their roles as responsible women in the society. This was in the absence of formal education. It was also established in a bid to increase the status of the girl-child in the Krobo society. It is however common to find girls as young as two participate in the rite. Though the rites involved bodily exposure, initiates are allowed to cover their breasts sometimes during the rites instead of having them exposed the entire time as was the case in the past. The duration of the rites has also reduced from about a year to four days. Christianity, modernization, formal education and environmental changes have been attributed to these changes. The changes however serve to encourage its continuity. The custom is however adept with symbols, the major one being that initiates are transformed into women. It also depicts the typical traditional life of the Krobos and the cultural construction of who are woman should be and what her roles and responsibilities are. The study shows that the custom is a means of female empowerment in a patrilineal society as it is aimed at bringing females into the limelight. People adhere to the practice mainly because it is tradition and the desire to have a place in their family home in Kroboland. The deep sense of belonging therefore becomes part of the motivation to engage in the practice. Christianity and modernization are however factors that make people refrain from the practice. The practice was however described as a rich custom and an ethnic hallmark of the Krobos. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DIPO: RITE OF PASSAGE AMONG THE KROBOS OF EASTERN REGION, GHANA..................FEIL! BOKMERKE ER IKKE DEFINERT. DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................................ i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................................................. ii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................. iiv CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction 1.1 The ritual discourse......................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Rites of passage............................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 The issue of Dipo in Ghana today................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Motivation for the study .................................................................................................................. 6 1.5 Research approach.......................................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Research objective .......................................................................................................................... 9 1.7 Significance of the study.................................................................................................................. 9 1.9 Outline of the thesis....................................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................................................ 11 Methodology 2.1 The native anthropologist discourse ............................................................................................. 12 2.2 Country background and study area ............................................................................................. 12 2.3 Field methods................................................................................................................................14 2.4 Data collection methods................................................................................................................ 15 2.5 Reflections on my roles.................................................................................................................. 18 2.6 Influence on respondents............................................................................................................... 19 2.7 Challenges ..................................................................................................................................... 19 2.8 Reflections on my use of research assistant/interpreter ................................................................ 21 2.9 Research population and sampling ............................................................................................... 22 2.10 Data analysis................................................................................................................................. 22 2.11 Ethical considerations................................................................................................................... 23 2.12 Study limitation ............................................................................................................................. 24 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................................................ 25 Dipo in time and through time 3.1 On the issue of origin of Dipo ....................................................................................................... 25 3.2 The ‘ancient’ form of Dipo............................................................................................................ 28 3.3 Culture is not static but dynamic - changes in the Dipo custom ................................................... 29 3.4 Description of the Dipo ceremony................................................................................................. 34 CHAPTER FOUR............................................................................................................................................... 46 Analytical frame of reference 4.1 The structure of Dipo and symbolism............................................................................................ 46 4.2 Dipo
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