(Copyright © Jacob Crawfurd )
Environment
Photo © Danny Coyne (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture)
The Akan inhabit most of the Ghana area and part of Cote d'Ivoire. It is believed that the Akan migrated from North Africa to this area around the 13th century. Over the years "Slash-and-burn agriculture and overcultivation of cleared land have resulted in widespread soil erosion and exhaustion. Overgrazing, heavy logging, overcutting of firewood, and mining have taken a toll on forests and woodland. About one-third of Ghana's land area is threatened by desertification"(Encyclopedia of the Nations). They also have several pollutants such as arsenic which is from gold mining, noxious fumes, water pollutants such as agricultural wastes and chemicals, industrial sources, and poor treatment facilities (Encyclopedia of the Nations). Although they have a tropical climate it is considered to be mild for its location (Encyclopedia of the Nations). The Akan people that live through several climates that go from dry savanah to wetforest. Their main crops like that of many Afican clututres are yams, grains, cocoa, oil palms, kola nuts, and timber (Ghana-AGRICULTURE). The two main crops produced by Cot d’Ivoire are coffee and cocoa (Wikipedia). Both Ghana and Cote d”Ivoire seem to rely on agriculture. This is their primary source of success and failure. It seems that they are having some difficulties from the issues they are having as the land is being over used. In the past they have done quite well with the environment in which they inhabit and live off of and hopefully they will be able to continue to use it to get out of their hard times and continue to once again be successful.
Political Aspects Before Invasion
(Akan Political Beliefs)
The Akan people are currently under the rule of a headman that is elected from one of the lineages, a council of elders who are also elected, and a head of constituent lineage. Each lineage has different god or gods. The main political units are matrilineal, which are from the females ancestors which are put into subdivided local matrilineages. Matrilineal descendents controls inheritance, land tenure and succession. Paternal descent is also used but only to determine the membership in to the Ntoro group that shares certain surnames, taboos, forms of etiquette, and ritual purification ceremonies. Although the clan is matrilineal the leadership roles are all preformed by men (Encyclopedia Briticanna).
There is a few names associated with these leadership roles. One is Abusua Pauyin which is the head of the family or clan. Another is Odekuro of village or town chief; there is also the sub chief or the Ohene. The last is the Cheif of state or the Omanhene."The stool is the most important of the king's regalia; as matter of fact, the term "stool" means chieftaincy. When a person becomes a king, he is said to be enstooled in the office and he is the one "who sits on the stool" and when he dies in office, it is said the "stool has fallen"(Akan Ohene). The Akan people are split up in to different sub-groups for example the Ashante and the Fante.
There is a few names associated with these leadership roles. One is Abusua Pauyin which is the head of the family or clan. Another is Odekuro of village or town chief; there is also the sub chief or the Ohene. The last is the Cheif of state or the Omanhene."The stool is the most important of the king's regalia; as matter of fact, the term "stool" means chieftaincy. When a person becomes a king, he is said to be enstooled in the office and he is the one "who sits on the stool" and when he dies in office, it is said the "stool has fallen"(Akan Ohene). The Akan people are split up in to different sub-groups for example the Ashante and the Fante.
Intellectual Aspects Before Invasion
(Ghana)http://www.peacegallery.org/africa/ghana/photos-ghana-05.htm)
Another Aspect of intelligence is their housing which is called a Fihankra or a compound house. It is in the form of a central quadrangular and is enclosed on all four sides and multiple rooms. It is a symbol of protection, security and spirituality. It is not only a private place but a public space as well because the open courtyard. The houses are all well ventilated and can hold up through rough weather such as storms, rainfall and hot weather (Akan Architecture).
The Akan people use many tools in which they use to help them in their environment. “The Akan have a rich tradition in metal casting. Brass, copper, gold and iron have been the major metals with which Akan artisans shaped their tools for hunting and war, farming and domestic use, personal adornment, and for use as money”(Akan Metal Casting Symbols). It is stated that the first centralized state of the Akan was Bron, which were pass down from generation to generation and are still used today in the Akan clan. The most common items that were cast in brass were their gold weights, jewelry, grease containers or kuduo and forowa as they are known and spoons. The casting of metals was thought to be a completely different occupation than blacksmiths which produce locks, swords, knives machetes and agricultural tools such as axes and hoes among other important materials (Akan Metal Casting Symbols).
The Akan people use many tools in which they use to help them in their environment. “The Akan have a rich tradition in metal casting. Brass, copper, gold and iron have been the major metals with which Akan artisans shaped their tools for hunting and war, farming and domestic use, personal adornment, and for use as money”(Akan Metal Casting Symbols). It is stated that the first centralized state of the Akan was Bron, which were pass down from generation to generation and are still used today in the Akan clan. The most common items that were cast in brass were their gold weights, jewelry, grease containers or kuduo and forowa as they are known and spoons. The casting of metals was thought to be a completely different occupation than blacksmiths which produce locks, swords, knives machetes and agricultural tools such as axes and hoes among other important materials (Akan Metal Casting Symbols).
Invasion of the Akan
(Copyright © 1996-2009, FRANK BOATENG)
The Akan's place of was first occupied by the Portuguese when they reached the coast in the 15th century where they established a fort at Elmina where they traded with the natives for gold. In fact the costal Akan also known as the Fente were the first to encounter the Europeans. After the division of Africa Cote d'Ivoire was colonized by France. Togo and the eastern part of Ghana were colonized by Germany and the British Gold Coast which is now Ghana was colonized by the United Kingdom. The main thing that attracted to the Europeans was that it was on the coast and one of the first places they arrived. The other thing they had was deposits of gold in the soil and other materials such as metal ores, diamonds, ivory, pepper, timber, grain and cocoa. It was also a good place to trade slaves, gold, weapons and other items. The natives were used for workers on plantations and mines that produced crops and minerals that were making the British money. Once the Africans decided they were done taking the cruelties of the colonizers they decided to revolt and with the help of an educated leader by the name of Kwame Nkrumah they gain independence in 1957.
Politics Aspects Today
(Barrcany and Weblogs.us)
In Ghana the production of their agriculture has fallen. Farmers have to pay more to produce important food crops. Ghana was near finacial destruction so the the government has to step in and established the ERP to save them. They have giving several grants and loans to support them. They were focused more on exports and fixing and improving the transportation and distribution of those crops as well instead of focusing on food crops. Some other projects were put in place to improve the production of cocoa and timber. The government also was allowing the free market they have in place to raise prices to raise efficiency. The next step was established in the PDNC and the Medium Term Agricultural Development Program which was put in place to improve food sufficiency and security. Even though the food crops production was still worrisome the focus was still on the markets and paying back what they owe, and the industrial materials they needed. Finally the government started to put the focus on helping farmers and lower the high market prices (Ghana - Agriculture). The government and politics are very important when it comes to environmental aspects such as agriculture which has been proven to be highly important in Ghana and throughout the Akan Clans who depend on those crops and support from their government.
Intellectual Aspects Today
Nea onnim - The one who does not know(Akan Knowledge)
“The Akan people believe that knowledge is a life long process”(Akan Knowledge). and that the older you are the more experience and wisdom you have achieve and the elders are looked highly upon for this reason and many.
One of the most interesting things about the intellectual aspects of the Akan people is their language. "Much of what we know about ancient Akan customs comes to us in the form of oral histories which have survived for several hundred years"(Akan Information). Another one of the unique ways they communicate is through drums. The are drums are mainly for ceremonial purposes for the king or chief. The three main drums that are used are the homs and mmintia drums. the dundun drums can be used for ceremonial and non ceremonial purposes (Music as Speech). That’s not the only way they communicate. The akan people actually use a variety of languages such as Twi, the most widely spoken through out Ghana. Some others is the Fante language which is poken through out the east coastal Ghana., Brong which is spoken throughout west central Ghana and along the border in Cote d’Ivorie, Baule which is spoken Primarily in Cot d’Ivorie, Nzema which is west central Ghana and eastern Cote d’Ivorie, and the Anyi language which is spoken throughout Eastern Cote d’Ivoire (Wikipedia).
Ghana has many education opportunities for the people who live there. It is also relativley easy to attend the primary and secondary schools that are provided. Impressivly Ghana has one of the highest enrollment rate in all of West Africa. Some of the classes taught at the Primary schools are languages such as english, the Ghaninian language and culture, along with mathmatics science, religious education and physical activiteis like dance. The high school students can choose from electives such as general, agricultural, vocational, business and technical programs along with the main subjects. “Presently, Ghana has 21,530 primary schools, 8,850 junior secondary schools, 900 senior secondary schools, 52public training colleges, 5 private training colleges, 5 polytechnical institutions, 4 non-university public tertiary institutions, 8 public universities and over 45 private tertiary institutions”(Wikipedia).
One of the most interesting things about the intellectual aspects of the Akan people is their language. "Much of what we know about ancient Akan customs comes to us in the form of oral histories which have survived for several hundred years"(Akan Information). Another one of the unique ways they communicate is through drums. The are drums are mainly for ceremonial purposes for the king or chief. The three main drums that are used are the homs and mmintia drums. the dundun drums can be used for ceremonial and non ceremonial purposes (Music as Speech). That’s not the only way they communicate. The akan people actually use a variety of languages such as Twi, the most widely spoken through out Ghana. Some others is the Fante language which is poken through out the east coastal Ghana., Brong which is spoken throughout west central Ghana and along the border in Cote d’Ivorie, Baule which is spoken Primarily in Cot d’Ivorie, Nzema which is west central Ghana and eastern Cote d’Ivorie, and the Anyi language which is spoken throughout Eastern Cote d’Ivoire (Wikipedia).
Ghana has many education opportunities for the people who live there. It is also relativley easy to attend the primary and secondary schools that are provided. Impressivly Ghana has one of the highest enrollment rate in all of West Africa. Some of the classes taught at the Primary schools are languages such as english, the Ghaninian language and culture, along with mathmatics science, religious education and physical activiteis like dance. The high school students can choose from electives such as general, agricultural, vocational, business and technical programs along with the main subjects. “Presently, Ghana has 21,530 primary schools, 8,850 junior secondary schools, 900 senior secondary schools, 52public training colleges, 5 private training colleges, 5 polytechnical institutions, 4 non-university public tertiary institutions, 8 public universities and over 45 private tertiary institutions”(Wikipedia).
Works Cited
"Akan Architecture". http://www.marshall.edu/akanart/akanadansie.html
"Akan Information". http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/Akan.html
"Akan Knowledge". http://www.marshall.edu/akanart/akanknow.html
"Akan Metal Casting". http://www.marshall.edu/akanart/abrammoo.html
"Akan(people)". http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/11369/Akan
"Akan Symbols" .http://www.africawithin.com/akan/akan_symbols.htm
"Ghana". http://www.peacegallery.org/africa/ghana/photos-ghana-05.htm
"Ghana-AGRICULTURE". http://countrystudies.us/ghana/77.htm
"Ghana-CLIMATE". http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Ghana-CLIMATE.html
"Ghana-ENVIRONMENT". http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Ghana-ENVIRONMENT.html
"Ghana Life". http://www.library.yale.edu/~fboateng/fbhp.htm
"Ghana The Akan Group". http://www.photius.com/countries/ghana/society/ghana_society_the_ak
an_group.html
"Music as Speech". http://crawfurd.dk/photos/akan2007.phphttp://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CCX3035500042&v=2.1&u=mnssoes&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
"Wikipedia". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_people
"Wikipedia". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B4te_d%27Ivoire
"Wikipedia". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana
"Wikipedia". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_language
"Akan Information". http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/Akan.html
"Akan Knowledge". http://www.marshall.edu/akanart/akanknow.html
"Akan Metal Casting". http://www.marshall.edu/akanart/abrammoo.html
"Akan(people)". http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/11369/Akan
"Akan Symbols" .http://www.africawithin.com/akan/akan_symbols.htm
"Ghana". http://www.peacegallery.org/africa/ghana/photos-ghana-05.htm
"Ghana-AGRICULTURE". http://countrystudies.us/ghana/77.htm
"Ghana-CLIMATE". http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Ghana-CLIMATE.html
"Ghana-ENVIRONMENT". http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Ghana-ENVIRONMENT.html
"Ghana Life". http://www.library.yale.edu/~fboateng/fbhp.htm
"Ghana The Akan Group". http://www.photius.com/countries/ghana/society/ghana_society_the_ak
an_group.html
"Music as Speech". http://crawfurd.dk/photos/akan2007.phphttp://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CCX3035500042&v=2.1&u=mnssoes&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w
"Wikipedia". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_people
"Wikipedia". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B4te_d%27Ivoire
"Wikipedia". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana
"Wikipedia". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_language
