UNIVERSITE D’ANTANANARIVO ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE DEPARTEMENT DE FORMATION INITIALE LITTERAIRE C. E. R. EN LANGUE ET LETTRES ANGLAISES ASPECTS OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE IN GHANA DURING THE POST COLONIAL PERIOD AS SEEN THROUGH THE HOUSEMAID BY AMMA DARKO, NO SWEETNESS HERE BY AMA ATA AIDOO AND THE MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA BY EFUA SUTHERLAND WITH SELECTED TEXTS FOR PEDAGOGICAL USE A CAPEN DISSERTATION PRESENTED BY: RAZAFINDRATOVO Mbolatianasoa DISSERTATIOND ADVISOR: Mrs ANDRIAMANANA Voahangy Date de sustenance : 30 November 2007 ACADEMIC YEAR: 2006-2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 4 PART ONE : HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND GENERAL NOTION OF CULTURE AND SOCIETY IN GHANA Introduction to Part One ......................................................................................................... 9 1.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 1.1.1 Pre-colonial history...................................................................................................... 9 1.1.2 The British rule .......................................................................................................... 10 1.1.2.1 Britain and the Gold Coast .................................................................................. 10 1.1.2.2 The structure of Native Authority and Indirect Rule .......................................... 12 1.1.2.3 Town Councils .................................................................................................... 14 1.1.3 The Growth of Nationalism ....................................................................................... 14 1.1.3.1 Early manifestation of Nationalism .................................................................... 15 1.1.3.2 The Politics of Independence movements........................................................... 17 1.1.4 Independent Ghana ................................................................................................... 19 1.1.4.1 The Regime of Nkrumah ..................................................................................... 19 1.1.4.2 Ghana since Nkrumah ......................................................................................... 20 1.2 GENERAL ASPECTS OF GHANAIAN CULTURE AND SOCIETY ...................... 21 1.2.1 General aspects of Ghanaian society ......................................................................... 21 1.2.1.1 Definition of society ............................................................................................ 21 1.2.1.2 Post-colonial social situation in Ghana ............................................................... 21 1.2.1.3 Socio-cultural structure ....................................................................................... 22 1.2.2 General aspects of Ghanaian culture ......................................................................... 23 1.2.2.1 Definition of culture ............................................................................................ 23 1.2.2.2 Cultural value in Ghana ...................................................................................... 24 1.2.2.3 High-culture versus general culture .................................................................... 24 1 1.3 THE GHANAIAN REALITIES ...................................................................................... 25 1.3.1 The main cities in Ghana ........................................................................................... 25 1.3.1.1 Accra ................................................................................................................... 25 1.3.1.2 Kumasi ................................................................................................................ 29 1.3.1.3 Cape Coast .......................................................................................................... 32 1.3.2 The major ethnic groups ............................................................................................ 33 1.3.2.1 The Ashanti tribes ............................................................................................... 33 1.3.2.2 The Fante Tribes ................................................................................................. 40 1.3.2.3 The Akan Tribes .................................................................................................. 42 1.3.3 The situation of women in Ghana.............................................................................. 44 1.3.3.1 The situation of women before the independence............................................... 44 1.3.3.2 The situation of women after the independence ................................................. 45 Conclusion to Part One .................................................................................................... 48 PART TWO : ASPECTS OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE IN GHANA DURING THE POST-COLONIAL PERIOD THROUGH THE HOUSEMAID BY AMMA DARKO, NO SWEETNESS HERE BY AMA ATA AIDOO, THE MARRIAGE OF ANANSEWA BY EFUA SUTHERLAND Introduction to Part Two ....................................................................................................... 50 2.1 SUMMARY OF THE NOVELS ..................................................................................... 50 2.1.1 The Marriage of Anansewa ................................................................................. 50 2.1.2 The Housemaid .................................................................................................... 51 2.1.3 No Sweetness Here .............................................................................................. 52 2.2 THE TYPICAL STRUCTURE OF GHANAIAN SOCIETY ...................................... 52 2.2.1 Social stratification .............................................................................................. 52 a- The upper classes ................................................................................................... 53 b- The lower classes ................................................................................................... 54 2.2.2 Family structures ................................................................................................. 57 a- The extended family ............................................................................................... 57 b- Female headed household ...................................................................................... 58 2 2.2.3 The occupation of the villagers ............................................................................ 61 a- Agriculture ............................................................................................................. 61 b- Trade and fishing ................................................................................................... 62 2.3 ASPECTS OF TRADITIONAL VALUES AND CUSTOMS ...................................... 63 2.3.1 Puberty rites ......................................................................................................... 63 2.3.2 Marriage ceremony .............................................................................................. 64 a- Outdooring ceremony ............................................................................................. 65 b- Offering gifts .......................................................................................................... 68 2.3.3 Form of marriage ................................................................................................. 70 2.3.4 Funeral ceremony ................................................................................................ 73 a- Pre-burial ceremony ............................................................................................... 74 b- Burial ceremony ..................................................................................................... 79 c- Post-burial ceremony.............................................................................................. 80 2.3.5 The practice of witchcraft .................................................................................... 81 2.3.6 Food ..................................................................................................................... 82 2.3.7 Musical instruments ............................................................................................. 83 2.3.8 Ancestor worship ................................................................................................. 84 2.3.9 Dress .................................................................................................................... 86 2.3.10 The Yam festival ............................................................................................... 87 2.4 ASPECTS OF WESTERNIZATION IN GHANA ........................................................ 90 2.4.1 Education ............................................................................................................. 90 2.4.2 Religion ................................................................................................................ 92 2.4.3 Fashion ................................................................................................................. 94 2.4.4 Entertainment ....................................................................................................... 95 Conclusion to Part Two .........................................................................................................