A study in the transformation and continuity of Akan religious ritual and ceremony in Gomoa, central Ghana
The study is about the transformation and continuity of religious ritual and ceremony in Gomoa, an Akan society in Ghana. It is examined partly in terms of the strong influence of a mission-connected church, the Wesleyan/Methodists and partly in terms of colonialism; especially the changing political and economic structures and their effect on Akan sooio-religious institutions and their functional equivalent.The study offers two divergent, yet Complementary examples in this process. In the first, a detailed account is given of the stool festival in five Gomoa towns, as it takes place each year between July and September, and the expression it provides of chieftainship and priesthood. The description covers rituals, religious texts and iconography. The second example, a conscious Christian representation or adaptation of the indigenous Akan chieftaincy and priesthood function as seen in an independent church, Musama Disco Christo Church, also contains some ritual texts and iconography. Some of the texts are given in full in the appendix.In the first model, we point out that the cycle of religious festivals unites participants and acts as the sanction of their loyalty, amity, co-operation and respect of one
Antwi, S. A.
Philosophy
A study in the transformation and continuity of Akan religious ritual and ceremony in Gomoa, central Ghana. The study is about the transformation and continuity of religious ritual and ceremony in Gomoa, an Akan society in Ghana. It is examined partly in terms of the strong influence of a mission-connected church, the Wesleyan/Methodists and partly in terms of colonialism; especially the changing political and economic structures and their effect on Akan sooio-religious institutions and their functional equivalent.The study offers two divergent, yet Complementary examples in this process. In the first, a detailed account is given of the stool festival in five Gomoa towns, as it takes place each year between July and September, and the expression it provides of chieftainship and priesthood. The description covers rituals, religious texts and iconography. The second example, a conscious Christian representation or adaptation of the indigenous Akan chieftaincy and priesthood function as seen in an independent church, Musama Disco Christo Church, also contains some ritual texts and iconography. Some of the texts are given in full in the appendix.In the first model, we point out that the cycle of religious festivals unites participants and acts as the sanction of their loyalty, amity, co-operation and respect of one
study transformation continuity religious_ritual ceremony central ghana study transformation continuity religious_ritual ceremony society ghana examine partly term strong_influence mission connected church wesleyan methodists partly term colonialism especially change political_economic structure effect religious institution functional study offer divergent yet complementary example process first_detailed account_give festival town take_place expression provide priesthood description cover ritual religious text_iconography second example conscious christian representation adaptation indigenous priesthood function see independent church church also_contain ritual text_iconography texts give_full first model point cycle religious_festival unite participant act sanction loyalty co_operation respect