Well known as a cultural melting pot, family home to much more than hundred tribes and ethnic groups, Ghana attracts a huge number of international volunteers each year, nearly all keen to see this particular unparalleled culture.
Ghana is among the world’s most diverse nations, with particular areas mostly inhabited by particular tribes or maybe the descendants of theirs. Despite variations in customs, lifestyles and values, tribe members reside side by side in harmony – Ghanaians are recognized for their friendly and peaceful attitudes.
Before you volunteer in Ghana, why not brush up on the past and characteristics of several of the nation’s primary tribes? Based on the place you will be based on your volunteer vacation, a comprehension of many tribal traditions can be useful in being used to hometown life. Keep reading to learn more aproximatelly five of Ghana’s best known tribes.
The Ashantis
Comprising around one half of the country’s public, the Ashanti tribe on the Akan is the biggest in Ghana. Building an empire in 1670, the Ashantis named Kumasi their capital 10 years later, and also the locations around the community became a part of this particular influential and wealthy empire. Most Ashanti tribe people speak the dialect Twi, also as a second or first language.
The tribe is presided over by a king or maybe queen, who provides political rule over the Ashanti homeland & other people. Centuries after the tribe’s establishment, the Ashantis and now number an estimated eleven million individuals, keeping the money of theirs as an outcome of the countless efforts others can make on the overall economy, including agricultural exports as cocoa and coffee, diamonds, timber and industrial minerals.
The Fantes
The Fante are individuals of southern Ghana just who settles down the coastline between Sekondi Takoradi and Accra, particularly residing in and around Cape Coast. Migrating from the Techiman region during the 17th century, the tribespeople proceeded to settle in several small states in america, each one of with its very own Fante chief, descended from royalty. Under this principal chief are several other much more lower ranking subchiefs.
There are aproximatelly 2.5 million Fante many people in Ghana these days, based on estimates, many of whom are descended from 12 patrilineal clans. Each clan has associated family names & amp; most tribespeople speak a dialect of Akan – a Kwa language. Every lineage also offers a sacred stool, that forms a vital component of standard ceremonies, thought to support the spirits of each and every clan’s ancestors.
The Ewes
Comprising aproximatelly eleven per cent of Ghana’s population, the Ewe tribe is among the best known all over the nation because of its regular practices and musical dynamics. Originating in Togo and the Volta region, the Ewe many people are largely farmers and fishermen but have, in much more recent years, branched out into weaving and various other trades when rainfall is reduced.
Ewe tribe members invest many time with extended family members – which forms the primary social group for lots of people. Drumming and dancing are a few of various other important attributes of the tribe, and hunting dances, peace dances and war dances are usually performed to the beat of drums on very special events. It’s the Ewe perception that if a part of the tribe is a great drummer, they’ve been filled with the spirit of an ancestor with the very same ability.
The Mole-Dagbonians
Mole-Dagbonians make up a seventh of the Ghanaian population, making this particular tribe the second most populous in the nation. Mainly inhabiting the northern areas of Ghana, wherever they account for over fifty per cent of the area public, the Mole Dagbona tribe comprises a selection of subgroup tribes, like the Mamprusi and the Dagoma.
The predominant religion in the northern area is Islam as well as, as such, you will find a lot of beautiful old mosques to be observed around these components, like the Larabaga Mosque dating to the 13th century. Mole-Dagbonians speak a range of languages based on the district, with Dagbani, the vocabulary of the Dagomba tribe, spoken across 9 out of the thirteen northern districts. Other tongues are the Gonja language plus Kokomba.
The Guang
Guan tribespeople live all over Ghana and are believed to have begun disseminating over a 1000 years ago. Various subtribes are well known to have descended from the Guan individuals, like the Gonja, who predominantly live in northern Ghana and create about a quarter of the Guan population in total.
The Guang are thought to were the first inhabitants of Ghana; today, the tribe encompasses around twenty six ethnic groups. Both Guan dialects and also Fante tongues are utilized by several of the tribal subgroups. Several of the subgroups, like the Gonja, are famous for the historical prowess of theirs as fighters, even though the Anum tribe are well known craftsmen.
Ghana is culturally different, with many indigenous tribes & influences from neighboring peoples and locations. Each and every tribe has its own unique qualities and there are various cultural groups spread all across the nation. Anywhere you go to when you volunteer abroad, watch out for tribal presentations plus demos of ceremonies and dancing to experience the mixed culture of Ghana firsthand.
