Pre-Burial Rites in Tutu in the Akuapem Traditional Area
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University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh PRE-BURIAL RITES IN TUTU IN THE AKUAPEM TRADITIONAL AREA OF EASTERN PART OF GHANA BY SOLOMON KWAME GYAMERAH (REV.) (10395841) THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MPHIL STUDY OF RELIGIONS DEGREE JULY, 2014 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis with the exception of materials quoted from other scholarly works which have been acknowledged fully, is the original production of research work by the researcher under the supervision of Dr. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego and Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmas Ebo Sarbah towards the award of MPhil Religions in the Department of the Study of Religions, University of Ghana, Legon. ........................................................ .................................................... Solomon Kwame Gyamerah (Rev.) Date (Student) ..................................................... .................................................... Dr. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego Date (Supervisor) ..................................................... .................................................... Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmas Ebo Sarbah Date (Supervisor) i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT This study was largely inspired by a desire to illustrate the uniqueness of the Amaneb[ rite, a pre-burial rite, of the people of Tutu in the Akuapem Traditional Area in the eastern part of Ghana, and shed light on the relevance for its continuous observance in contemporary Tutu society. The phenomenological approach was employed to guide the data collection. On the research field, the researcher employed interviews, participant observation and purposive sampling techniques to gather the required data. The researcher has employed Victor Turner’s famous theory of ‘Liminality’, to ground the discussion. Among other findings, the rite is seen as a mandatory liminal rite, which encompasses some aspects of religio-cultural beliefs and practices of the people of Tutu and that any attempt to modify or change it is met with strong resistance by the custodians of the community. The performance of the rites also revealed that their resistance was due to certain values cherished and revered by the people. Among them include the resolution of conflicts and seeming contradictions to bring reconciliation between the material and the spiritual, to initiate smooth transition of the deceased to ancestral home, to advocate the solidarity and communality of indigenous living for a common purpose and as a means to enforce the moral values of the community. It can be concluded that the continuous observance of this rite and similar indigenous practices of the AIR or its functional equivalent, in spite of the contemporary social change has entrenched itself and may never wholly disappear. Indigenous religious beliefs and practices will continue to manifest its resilience over the other religious traditions. However, there is the need to perform a study to find out among other issues the correlation between such indigenous religious beliefs and practices and the development of the indigenous societies. ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my dear wife, Asafo Maame Juliet Eno Araba Gyamerah, my daughters, Maame Adwoa Kyei-Nketsia Gyamerah and Ewura Adwoa Egyafua Gyamerah and my son, Owura Kwadwo Darkwah Gyamerah. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am very grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ for his protection and guidance throughout my Postgraduate study at the University of Ghana. “But for you, O Lord, I wouldn‘t have come this far. May your dear Name be praised!” I also acknowledge my immense indebtedness and heartfelt appreciation to my dedicated and hardworking supervisors; Dr. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego and Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmas Ebo Sarbah, for having the time, in spite of their tight schedules, to meticulously supervise this work. In addition to her demanding responsibilities, Dr. Rose Mary Amenga-Etego with her good sense of humour, had time to read the work and offer meaningful suggestions. Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmas Ebo Sarbah’s, critical reading of the work and encouragement offered meaningful suggestions. I also owe tons of gratitude and appreciation to all the lecturers in the Department for the study of Religions, especially those who taught me during the course work. They include Rev. Prof. Elom Dovlo, Prof. Elizabeth Amoah (Grandma), Rev. Dr. Abamfo Atiemo, Prof. J. Christopher Thomas, Dr. Rebecca Ganusah and Dr. Lawrence Boakye. To my field work respondents and all those who provided me with other vital pieces of information concerning Tutu and the rite, I say a very big thank you. Nana Appiah Nti IV, Okyeame Oko, Nana Amane II, Ankobeahene and Mr. Alexander A Parry …, and all my respondents at Tutu Akuapem traditional area deserve a special recognition. I am very thankful to my church, The Methodist Church Ghana, for permitting me to study at Legon. To all my MPhil course mates, especially Bro. Francis Benyah, I say “thank you for being a blessing to my academic pursuit in diverse ways.” Also, I extend my gratitude to my friend, Ms. Agnes Quansah, for her editing and encouragement. To my companion and dear wife, Mrs. Juliet Eno Araba Gyamerah and my son and daughters, I say thank you very much for prayerfully supporting me and tolerating my many days of iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh absence when I was typing this work. Last but not least, I am very thankful to my parents, the late(s) Samuel Kwame Gyamerah and Grace Abu and my guardian John Kwasi Darkwah. v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page DECLARATION .................................................................................................................. i ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Study ............................................................................................ 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................... 5 1.3 Research Question ...................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study ................................................................................ 7 1.5 Scope and Focus of the Study..................................................................................... 7 1.6 Significance of Study.................................................................................................. 8 1.7 Literature Review ....................................................................................................... 9 1.7.1 Ritual Studies ............................................................................................................ 9 1.7.2 Rites of Passage ..................................................................................................... 122 1.7.3 Akan Indigenous Religion ....................................................................................... 16 1.8 Theoretical Framework............................................................................................ 19 1.9 Methodology ............................................................................................................. 21 1.9.1 Methods of Data Collection ...................................................................................... 22 1.9.1.1 Primary Sources ..................................................................................................... 22 1.9.1.2 Participant Observation ......................................................................................... 23 vi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 1.9.1.3 Secondary Sources ................................................................................................. 23 1.9.2 Samples and Sampling Techniques .......................................................................... 24 1.9.3 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................ 24 1.10 Definition of Terms .................................................................................................. 25 1.11 Ethical Organisation ................................................................................................. 29 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................... 31 THE TUTU OF THE AKUAPEM TRADITIONAL AREA ............................................ 31 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 31 2.2 History of Akuapem