School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology-Kumasi Department of Religious Studies an Apprais
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SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES, KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-KUMASI DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES AN APPRAISAL OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES IN GONJALAND SINCE 1950 MPhil IN ISLAMIC STUDIES BY DANIEL KWESI BEDIAKO (REV) OCTOBER 2016 DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis is in submission to the partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award Master of Philosophy degree. To my best of knowledge it contains no material previously published by another person for an award of a similar or other degree of any University. Student No: 20366230 Exam No: PG1955914 Daniel Kwesi Bediako (Rev) ...................................... ......................................... Student Name and ID Signature Date Certified by: Rt. Rev. Dr. Nathan Iddrisu Samwuni ........................................... ...................................... Supervisor (s) Name Signature Date Certified by: Rev Dr Fr Appiah Kubi .................................... ....................................... Head of Dept. Name Signature Date i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My first appreciation goes to the Almighty God for the strength, protection and guidance without which this study could not be possible. The same goes to the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, who granted me the scholarship to study. I would like to appreciate the immense support and encouragement given to me by Rev. Dr. Sam Prempeh, Rev. Prof. D. N. A. Kpobi and Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey to pursue research in this area which has been left unattended. I acknowledge the tremendous support by other persons, whose names I can not list due to their numbers. To the Rt. Rev. Dr. Nathan Iddrisu Samwini, who was not only my supervisor, but also influenced my interest in Islamic studies, I own much gratitude. Sheikh Seebaway Zakariah was more than a co-supervisor, to my main supersor and equally deserves my appreciation. To all members of the Faculty, Senior and Junior members of the Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, this acknowledgement would be deficient if you are not mentioned. Finally, to colleagues in the M.Phil programme who helped in one way or the other in shaping this work I say a big thank you. ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my wife Mrs Georgina Akua Bediako and our daughter Nhyira Abena Bediako, who made a lot of sacrifices to help me complete this work. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Declaration……………………………………………………………………………..i Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………............ii Dedication……………………………………………………………………………..iii List of Abreviations…………………………………………………………………..viii Abtract…………………………………………………………………………………ix CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 1:0 Introduction.............................................................................................................1 1.1 Background..............................................................................................................1 1.2 Statement of the Problem.........................................................................................2 1.3 Research Question(s)................................................................................................4 1.4 Objectives of Study..................................................................................................4 1.5 Relevance of the Study............................................................................................5 1.6 Scope of the Study...................................................................................................5 1.7 Motivation of the Study.................................................................... ......................6 1.8 Delimitation of Study...............................................................................................7 1.9 Methodology.............................................................................................................8 iv 1.10 Literature Review...................................................................................................9 1.11 Organisation of Work............................................................................................17 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................19 CHAPTER TWO: A RELIGIO-HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE GONJA STATE 2.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................20 2.2 Profile of the Study Area.........................................................................................20 2.3 Brief History of Gonja Before 1950........................................................................22 2.4 Gonja Political Systems...........................................................................................23 2.5 Traditional, Cultural and Belief Systems................................................................27 2.6 Gonja Cultural.........................................................................................................29 2.6.1 Definition of Culture?..........................................................................................29 2.6.2 Marriage and naming ceremonies.....................................................................31 2.6.3 Death and funeral..............................................................................................32 2.6.4 Chieftaincy and Royalty....................................................................................35 2.6.5 Gonja drumming.................................................................................. ……….36 2.6.6 Ancestors Veneration........................................................................................37 2.7 Gonja after 1950....................................................................................................38 2.8 Conclusion……………………………………………………….........................39 v CHAPTER THREE: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAMIC ACTIVITIES IN THE GONJA AREA 3.0 Introduction............................................................................................................41 3.1 Islam’s Encounter with Gonja before 1950...........................................................41 3.2 Christian Encounter with Gonjas before 1950.......................................................46 3.3 Islam and Christianity as Missionary Religions in Gonja......................................52 3.4 Christian responses to the Cultural Beliefs of the Gonja.......................................54 3.5 An examination of the effects of these responses to Christianity today................55 3.6 Mechanism to Evaluate Christian impact on Gonja...............................................56 3.7 Some Contributors to Christian Mission in the Area.............................................57 3.8 Exploring Colonial Directive and its impact on Gonja Christianity......................58 3.9 Demography of Respondents.................................................................................59 3.10 Ethical Consideration...........................................................................................60 3.11 Conclusion............................................................................................................60 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION 4.0 Introduction...........................................................................................................62 4.1 General information of respondents......................................................................62 4.2 Non- Gonjas who have worked in the area as missionaries...................................63 vi 4.3 Some Christian leaders in the area.........................................................................72 4.4 Views of some Chiefs (Bewura) in some traditional areas………………………74 4.5 Some Muslims Leaders in the area........................................................................80 4.6 Individuals who are not Gonjas and living in the area...........................................81 4.7 Gonjas who are living in the area and not Christians.............................................81 4.9 Conclusion.............................................................................................................82 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, REFLECTION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 5.0 Introduction..........................................................................................................84 5.1 Summary of findings............................................................................................84 5.2 Discussion of the Research Findings……………………………………………86 5.3 Reflection on findings...........................................................................................90 5.4 Recommendations.................................................................................................96 5.5 Conclusion.............................................................................................................99 BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................100 vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AIC African Independent Churches ASV American Standard Version BGL Bureau of Ghanaian languages ECG Evangelical Church of Ghana GEC Ghana Evangelism Committee GILBT Ghana Institute of Linguistic and Bible Translation GSS Ghana Statistical Service UK United Kingdom USA United States of America UCC University of Cape Coast WEC Worldwide