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Traditional Religion
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Despite the presence of Islam and Christianity, traditional religions
in Ghana have retained their influence because of their intimate relation
to family loyalties and local mores. The traditional cosmology expresses
belief in a supreme being (referred to by the Akan as Nyame, or by
the Ewe as Mawu). The supreme being is usually thought of as remote
from daily religious life and is, therefore, not directly worshipped.
There are also the lesser gods that take "residency" in
streams, rivers, trees, and mountains. These gods are generally perceived
as intermediaries between the supreme being and society. Ancestors
and numerous other spirits are also recognized as part of the cosmological
order.
For all Ghanaian ethnic groups, the spirit world is considered to
be as real as the world of the living. The dual worlds of the mundane
and the sacred are linked by a network of mutual relationships and
responsibilities. The action of the living, for example, can affect
the gods or spirits of the departed, while the support of family or
"tribal" ancestors ensures prosperity of the lineage or
state. Neglect, it is believed, might spell doom.
Veneration of departed ancestors is a major characteristic of all
traditional religions. The ancestors are believed to be the most immediate
link with the spiritual world, and they are thought to be constantly
near, observing every thought and action of the living. Some ancestors
may even be reincarnated to replenish the lineage. Barrenness is,
therefore, considered a great misfortune because it prevents ancestors
from returning to life.
To ensure that a natural balance is maintained between the world of
the sacred and that of the profane, the roles of the chief within
the state, family elders in relation to the lineage, and the priest
within society, are crucial. The religious functions, especially of
chiefs and lineage heads, are clearly demonstrated during such periods
as the Odwira of the Akan, the Homowo of the Ga-Adangbe, or the Aboakyir
of the Efutu (coastal Guan), when the people are organized in activities
that renew and strengthen relations with their ancestors. Such activities
include the making of sacrifices and the pouring of libations.
The religious activities of chiefs and lineage heads are generally
limited to the more routine biweekly and annual festivities, but traditional
priests--given their association with specific shrines--are regarded
as specialized practitioners through whom the spirits of the gods
may grant directions. Priests undergo vigorous training in the arts
of medicine, divination, and other related disciplines and are, therefore,
consulted on a more regular basis by the public. Because many diseases
are believed to have spiritual causes, traditional priests sometimes
act as doctors or herbalists. Shrine visitation is strongest among
the uneducated and in rural communities. This fact, however, does
not necessarily suggest that the educated Ghanaian has totally abandoned
tradition; some educated and mission-trained individuals do consult
traditional oracles in times of crisis.
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