10 clans in ghana and their totems

The Seven Clans of the Fantes and their Totems: The Anona "Abusuakuw" is one of the Clans of the Fantes. When greeted by a member of the Asona, the reply should be Yaa Ofori nana. Did you know Birmingham was home to the largest black Caribbean population in the UK? These symbols also demonstrate Ghanaians ingenuity of literature or semiology where symbols are used to communicate. In such a case an uncle is able to make sure that his daughter has a decent husband in his nephew, and since he is also his possible matrilineal successor the inheritance left behind will indirectly benefit his daughter as well. The Totem symbol of the Bretuo clan is the Leopard. In the coastal areas, the central region, the town of Mankessim is ruled by an Asona lineage. And pupils at the elementary level of education are taught the meanings and colours of such totem. The eight [Asante] clans are Oyoko, Bretuo, Agona, Asona, Asenie, Aduana, Ekuona, and Asakyiri. Taboos: Totem animals may not be eaten or handled, not to use ka any piece of fishing net as sponge, not to eat a piece of egg azikak, not to eat dough prepared in aianu a wooden tray, penalty for violation is rashes. ABSTRACT This research seeks to discuss Totemism: its influence on the Akan Youth of Ghana touching on the types of totems, the philosophical and literal meanings of the totems and conservation of biodiversity. The totem is usually an animal or other natural figure that spiritually represents a group of related people such as a clan. The Ga-Dangmes are one ethnic group that lives primarily in the Greater Accra of Ghana. We will write a custom Term Paper on The Akan Clan System specifically for you for only 11.00 9.35/page. Moreover, the chief does not rule the clan by himself. The totem is any sacred object, a symbol or an emblem for a group of people, which functions as a reminder of the group's ancestry or mythical past (Goswami, 2018). In one way or the other, I think that our forefathers were very creative and particular with the choice of the totems because a lot of thinking must be considered before finally selecting a familys or communitys totem. Yes, there are seven different clans among the Ewes of Ghana, some parts of Togo and Benin. Its symbol is the leopard. Abusua is the name in Akan culture for a group of people that share common maternal ancestry governed by seven major ancient female abosom (deities). Download Opera News APP, By Adesua_Gh (self media writer) | 2 years ago. Totems in African society demonstrate the close relationship between people, animals and the environment. 30 August 2000. Totem: The totem of the Biretuo Abusua is a Leopard. When greeted by a person from the Bretuo, the reply should be "Yaa etwie nana". Animals like antelopes, eagles, lions, crows, parrots, whales, sharks, elephants, python, and many others are some of the animals which are mostly used as totems and these animals are not many in the ecology. The peculiar characteristics of Bretuo clan is exceptional bravery and aggressiveness.The Commander of the Asante army is the Mampong Hene. Klev, is a small local bird which not to be eaten. It was Tegli who advised the Ewe women to form the habit of throwing wastewater which included menstrual blood at portions of the wall to weaken it overtime for the grand escape they desired. Each chiefdom is composed of several matrilineages that are established on the basis of common matrilineal descent from a known female ancestor. Text is available under . Researcher with the University of Helsinki [Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology]. Their totem is the hawk. Opera News furthermore does not condone the use of our platform for the purposes encouraging/endorsing hate speech, violation of human rights and/or utterances of a defamatory nature. See more. In other words, there was rational interest in preserving the species. [CDATA[ Thus, the woman is the keeper of the family. Defeating the Ada People in a surprise attack and later gaining control of the Volta Lake, the Danish company set its eye on Anlo. There is no modern state of this group. Some people call it 'Ekusi ebusua' therefore members of this clan are called "Ekusifo" in some part in the Western region. Lets begin with the most powerful among these clans. Towns of this clan include Gyamaase,Adanse_Ayaase,Adanse_Ahensan,Ofoase,Abootan,Baworo,Kyekyebiase,Asenemanso,Mprem,Adudwam,Donyina,Yonso,Nintin,Tewobaabi,Adibinsokese,Atasemanso,Gyamase_Kyekyewere,Bedomase,Apaa,Domeabra,Agogo_Hwidiem and Adankranya. The Agona Clan predominantly occupy the Denkyira area. Content created and supplied by: Adesua_Gh (via Opera It is also important to note that the Akan people have preserved their major traditions and beliefs. The Oyoko clan is the clan in which the King of the Asante Monarch His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu ll hails from. This group arrived in Ghana in 1500. These are Asona, Agona, Aduana, yoko, Asenee, Biretuo, kona and Asakyiri. Today, up to 25 different totems can be identified among the Shona ethnic grouping, and similar totems exist among other South African groups, such as the Zulu, the Ndebele, and the Herero in Botswana and Namibia. The best known of the Akan polities is the kingdom of Asante (Ashanti), which is a union of a number of autonomous chiefdoms under one king, the Asantehene. He is accompanied by a queen mother and is guided by a council of divisional chiefs or elders who are the representatives of the resident matrilineages of the chiefdom. They believe their ancestors brought fire to people. Membership of a clan carries many distinguishing characteristics in the form of names, food taboos, clan totem which is associated with stories about its origins or their founding ancestors.var cid='5593179472';var pid='ca-pub-2915741758334785';var slotId='div-gpt-ad-ghlinks_com_gh-medrectangle-3-0';var ffid=1;var alS=1021%1000;var container=document.getElementById(slotId);var ins=document.createElement('ins');ins.id=slotId+'-asloaded';ins.className='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adClient=pid;ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;ins.style.display='block';ins.style.minWidth=container.attributes.ezaw.value+'px';ins.style.width='100%';ins.style.height=container.attributes.ezah.value+'px';container.style.maxHeight=container.style.minHeight+'px';container.style.maxWidth=container.style.minWidth+'px';container.appendChild(ins);(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'stat_source_id',44);window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'adsensetype',1);var lo=new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent);lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId+'-asloaded'),{attributes:true}); Totems: Monitor lizard eve, Antelope se and Sparrow atsutsre. []. If a member is licked by a dog, he must kick it to ward off supernatural retribution. The historical values of totems in Ghanaian societies cannot be underestimated. The Ekuona clan were the first settlers in Adansi Fomena. For instance, the picture with a head on three heads, a totem of the Eguafo Traditional Area called Tsi kor mmpam means two heads are better than one or governance is a collective of ideas. I personally had to make some efforts before I was told the meanings of the totems used in the story. Totems identify the different clans among the Shona that historically made up the dynasties of their ancient civilization. [Accessed 24 May 2005], Nordic Journal of African Studies [Helsinki]. Totems are revered by members of a particular social group because of a mystical or ritual relationship that exists between them. Guang people - Wikipedia The falcon is the symbol of the Oyoko. Other towns are Bekwae, Mamponten, Bogyae, Dadieso, Obogu, Asaaman Adubiase, Pampaso, Kontanase, Kenyase, and Ntonso. To Europeans, the animal (or plant) painted on a special background was known as a coat of arms. They are popularly referred to as Ogyaasefuo which means descendants of fire. Some people of the Aduana Abusua believe that at the time of creation, their ancestors descended from the skies with a golden chain and others also believed that they originally came from Asumanye and they were led by a duiker with a flame in his mouth and gold in his cheeks. n.d.a. Many people in the diaspora prefer coming to the country to experience what the African culture is all about. Members of this clan are hardworking,clever and brave. Its main towns are Kumasi and Dwaben. Opera News does not consent to nor does it condone the posting of any content that violates the rights (including the copyrights) of any third party, nor content that may malign, inter alia, any religion, ethnic group, organization, gender, company, or individual. People of the same Abusua share a common ancestor somewhere within their bloodline, which may go back as far as thousands of years. Violation of the taboo may result in your demise.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'ghlinks_com_gh-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ghlinks_com_gh-medrectangle-4-0'); Clan cults: Aadoaklo, Kodzikli, Aadatsi, Tsiamitsi. Clan Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Below is an in-depth knowledge on the eight Abusua of the Akans and their totems (animals they are represented by); Totem: The totem of the Agona Abusua is a Parrot Known as "Akoo" among the Akan ethnic group. by The Tena-Bretuo arrived from the north. The Asona clan founded a number of kingdoms. Every child when born is initiated into a family through a naming ceremony and the name given to him or her shows the family he or she is from. They are also committed to their clans as well as families. Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Others believe that the totems protect them against their enemies or they are being protected by the powers in such objects. He suggested that for the current generation to learn the importance of the totems in our societies, teaching of culture with our local language should be included in the educational curricular. i is also believed to be of foreign origin. The rationale behind this is that, parrots are vocal and could even speak human language with time when reared in the house. When a member of this Abusua greets you, your respond should be "Yaa Ofiri nana" and some towns that belong to this Abusua are Apeadu, Asokore, Ayaase and among others. It is often said that the Akan political order provides a classic example of a chiefdom. These names of the various clans are very unique. Thus, the Aduana group is one of the clans. Your privacy is extremely important to us. "The Akan Clan System." The result was that other Dukowo like Dzodze, Klikor, Fenyi and Wheta began to identify themselves with Anlo and regarded them as their champion against foreign imperialism. The third group settled in the coastal region of the new homeland. Published online: 7 October 2011. In some part of the western region, the symbol of the Oyoko clan is rat. Apart from its unique designs, the totems are communication channels that chiefs, families and communities use to communicate their identity to other people. Many young people see this form of marriage as unattractive because they feel that cross-cousins are more like full siblings than prospective spouses. The Yoruba founded Ketu by the fourteenth century. It is also one of the oldest kingdoms of people in the country. IvyPanda. This clan has its totem to be a Plantain tree that supplies staple food and it signifies excellence and Ambition. Note that, among the Asante people, every child automatically belongs to the clan of his/her mother. It is forbidden to marry someone from the same clan as you. 6.Aduana Clan. PDF THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLEDGE - ResearchGate The Akan people live in the coastal and forest areas of Ghana and Cte d'Ivoire. Membership of a clan carries many distinguishing characteristics in the form of names, food taboos, clan totem which is associated with stories about its origins or their founding ancestors. It is therefore not surprising that Ghana has become the pinnacle of the African continent in many aspects due to its monumental cultural heritage. I feel very proud when I see my totem which is the crow, but I dont understand its meaning, Kwamena said laughing, when I asked him about how he sees the usefulness of totems as family and clan symbols. The principal towns are Adansi Akrofuom, Kyebi, Edweso and Offinso. Their legendry ancestor, Atsu enya, was reputed to have led the Anlo on their migration to their present country. This is majorly because one of the clans sharing the totem maybe a group that broke off another to start an independent clan. Already in a survey conducted in the 1940's only 8 % of all married women were or had once been married to a cross-cousin. Other towns of the Asona are Akyem Begoro, Akyem Asiakwa, New Juaben, Akyem Wenchi, Kukurantumi, Akyem Tafo, Akuapem-Akropong, Akuapem Amanokrom, Akyem Kwarbeng, Ejura, Feyiase, Manso-Nkwanta, Bonwire, Atwima-Agogo, Abrakaso, Trabuom, Beposo, Toase, and Odumase Ahanta Ntaakrom, Gomoa Asin The head of all Asona towns is Adansi Akrofuom. Lae Clan The child inherits courage, talents and wisdom from the father. For instance, traditional belief systems such as totems and taboos have been successfully adopted to promote natural resource management and conservation in several communities in Ghana (Diawuo . Their totem is the bat. Agona Clan - Wikipedia The remaining 4% of the Gonjas are Christians. The ancestors of the Aduana clan are said to have descended from heaven on a golden chain. 1996. Bodomo, A. They are ready to cooperate and listen to different viewpoints. Taboos: Not to breed, handle or destroy a dog, Members are not to be licked by dogs. Their totem is the leopard. 27 May 2005. A person can be an Asante or Akan only by virtue of the fact that his or her mother is an Asante and this is because of their matrilineal system of inheritance. Members of Asenie clan are said to be diplomatic and very brave. The impression that I got is that the young people of the urban areas are likely to marry later in life and they are also less dependent on (but certainly not indifferent to!) Their totem animal is the Falcon. Taboos: Antelope may not be destroyed or handled. VIDEO: Watch how Stephen Appiah announced a Philadelphia Eagles NFL draft pick, State remains committed to battling drug use - Vice President assures public, COCOBOD refutes former President Mahama's claims of collapsed cocoa sector. Together they form a legislative and executive body, and most importantly function as a judicial court. The totem of the Agona people is the parrot hence their linguistic prowess. They must not set foot on the creeping branches of a sweet potato plant ti-ka. Kona-Ebiradze is one of the seven "Ebusuakuw"(clans) of the "Mfantsefo"(Fantes) in Ghana. If there is no woman in a family, the family disappears (Nkansa-Kyeremateng, 1996). Totem: Kona-Ebiradze Ebusuakuw has it totem to be a buffalo and this totem signifies the avidity to see what is in water and on land? Totemism and Tribes: A Study of the Concept and Practice - ResearchGate This is the senior of the two royal clans. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you The Totem symbol of the Ekuona family is the Buffalo. Typical family names include Yankah, Osam, Aidoo, etc. Below are the List Of Akan Clans In Ghana The eight [Asante] clans are Oyoko, Bretuo, Agona, Asona, Asenie, Aduana, Ekuona, and Asakyiri. When greeted by a person from the Asenie, the reply should be "Yaa adu nana". Totem: The totem of the Aduana Abusua is a Dog. Other information on whether men are forced to marry their uncle's daughter, the age of marriage, the reasons for marriage, the consequences of refusal and available state protection was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. provides information on the geographical areas covered by the Asona clan of the Asante kingdom, a "polity" of the Akan people (Researcher with the University of Finland 25 May 2005): The eight [Asante] clans are Oyoko, Bretuo, Agona, Asona, Asenie, Aduana, Ekuona, and Asakyiri. 7.Ekuona Clan. They were also used as a seal or symbol for covenant. 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Although totems are popular spiritual symbols throughout the global society, their use in textile design is not so pervasive particularly in Ghana (Steven and Salm, 2006;Studd, 2002 and Von Stamm . The Seven Clans of the Fantes and Their Totems - Opera News When someone from this Abusua greets you, the reply should be "Yaa go naa.". 2.Bretuo Clan. In some part of the western region, the symbol of the Oyoko clan is rat. Nkansa-Kyeremateng, K. (1996). I know you are now responding to the greeting or mentioning your clan or thinking about it. Internet sites, including: AllAfrica.com, Africa-Express, The Ghanaian Times, WNC. The Akan traditions have it that the Asona clan is originally from a place called Adanse Akrofrom in the southern Ashanti Region, from where they have spread all around the Akan country. The 15 clans are Lae, Amlade, Adzovia, Bate, Like, Bamee, Tovi, Klevi, etsofe, Agave, Tsiame, Am, Dzevi, ifeme and Blu. It is important to know that the taboo of the Asona is the red snake since the presence of it means death in the family. Matrilateral cross-cousin marriages are also practised by the chiefs, who marry the daughter(s) of their predecessors in order to uphold the alliances between the ruling lineage and the other matrilineages in the community. View all posts by billpurna, Your email address will not be published. Other principal towns of Aduana in Asante are Kumawu,Asumanya,Kwaman,Boaman,Agogo,Apromaase,Tikurom,Kaase,Apagya,Bompata,Kwaso,Akyease,Takyiman,Nsuatre,Drobo,Manso-mmem,Manso-Abodim,Ampabame,Danyaase,Akwaboa,Adokwae,Dumaase,Agyamasu,Worakese,Kwaman,Banso,Offinso-Dantin,Kwatwema,Awua-Domase,Amoaten-Gyaakye and Nyinahen. It founded Tsevie, Be which later gave birth to Agoenyive, Bagida and Lome, Abobo, Wheta, Anlo, Klikor, Ave, Fenyi, Afife, Tsiame, Game, Tavia, Tanyigbe, and so on. The totem of this group symbolizes bravery and even aggressiveness of these people. December 19, 2020, 3:35 pm, Every Anlo male and female is said to belong to one of 15 clans known as hlwo and each clan or hl is identified by a number of paternal line called t-ome.. Volta Region: Anlo clans and their Totems - Ewe Ghana It is thus possible to use ones name to trace his/her patrilinealclan. Some towns that belongs to this Abusua are Berekum, Abenkyem, Adanse Fomena and among others. When properly utilised, Ghana can earn foreign exchange from people coming to learn about these historical totems of our clans, communities, kings and chiefs. In Zimbabwe the Mutupo (plural Mitupo) (wrongly called totems by colonial missionaries and anthropologists) are a system of identifying clans and sub-clans, which are named after and signified by emblems, commonly indigenous animals.
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