A HANDBOOK OF EWELAND : The Northern Ewes in Ghana - Volume II

KODZO GAVUA

Description

A HANDBOOK OF EWELAND e Northern Ewes in Ghana Volume II Edited by KODZO GAVUA WOELI PUBLISHING SERVICES ACCRA 2017 Published by Woeli Publishing Services P. O. Box NT 601 Accra New Town Ghana Tel:[phone] Email:[e-mail] © Organization for Research on Eweland 2000 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ISBN 978-9964-978-65-0 PRODUCED IN GHANA Typeset by Woeli Publishing Services Contents Preface and Acknowledgements List of Contributors v vii 1. eLand and the People (Francis Agbodeka) 1 2. ABrief History (Kodzo Gavua) 5 3. eEwe Language (Gilbert Ansre) 22 4. SocialInstitutions (Ansa Asamoa) 50 5. PoliticalSystems (Gilbert K. Bluwey) 62 6. LegalProcesses and Institutions (A. K. P. Kludze) 73 7. ReligiousPractices (Kodzo Gavua) 87 8. Festivals(Dan Dzide) 102 9. Symbolism(Kodzo Gavua) 116 10. PerformingArts (Kenn Kafui) 126 11. NaturalResources and Economic Activities (Augustine F. Gockel) 135 12. TourismFacilities (Frank Koigah) 164 13. Educationand Development (Francis Agbodeka & V. K. Ametewee) 179 14. Foodand Cuisine (Laetitia A. P. Hevi-Yiboe) 192 15. HealthCare (S. Koi Bonsi) 205 List of Tables 11.1 SomeMineral Resources of the Area138 11.2 ClayDeposits and their Location153 11.3 QuarrySites and Reserves in Northern Eweland153 13.1 Statisticsof Second Cycle Institutions in the Ho District189 14.1 EssentialNutrients 193 14.

Sujets

• Ghana

Informations

• Publié par: Woeli Dekutsey
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789964978650
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

A HANDBOOK OF EWELAND

e Northern Ewes in Ghana

Volume II

Edited by KODZO GAVUA

WOELI PUBLISHING SERVICES ACCRA 2017

Published by Woeli Publishing Services P. O. Box NT 601 Accra New Town Ghana Tel:[phone] Email:[e-mail]

© Organization for Research on Eweland 2000 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ISBN 978-9964-978-65-0

PRODUCED IN GHANA Typeset by Woeli Publishing Services

Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements List of Contributors

v vii

1. e Land and the People (Francis Agbodeka) 1 2. A Brief History (Kodzo Gavua) 5 3. e Ewe Language (Gilbert Ansre) 22 4. Social Institutions (Ansa Asamoa) 50 5. Political Systems (Gilbert K. Bluwey) 62 6. Legal Processes and Institutions (A. K. P. Kludze) 73 7. Religious Practices (Kodzo Gavua) 87 8. Festivals (Dan Dzide) 102 9. Symbolism (Kodzo Gavua) 116 10. Performing Arts (Kenn Kafui) 126 11. Natural Resources and Economic Activities (Augustine F. Gockel) 135 12. Tourism Facilities (Frank Koîgah) 164 13. Education and Development (Francis Agbodeka & V. K. Ametewee) 179 14. Food and Cuisine (Laetitia A. P. Hevi-Yiboe) 192 15. Health Care (S. Koî Bonsi) 205

List of Tables

11.1 Some Mineral Resources of the Area 138 11.2 Clay Deposits and their Location 153 11.3 Quarry Sites and Reserves in Northern Eweland 153 13.1 Statistics of Second Cycle Institutions in the Ho District 189 14.1 Essential Nutrients 193 14.2 Foods and Dishes 194

Volume I Volume II Volume III

Titles in the Eweland series

e Ewes of Southeastern Ghana e Northern Ewes in Ghana e Ewes of Togo and Benin

General Editor FRANCIS AGBODEKA

Preface and Acknowledgements

is work is the second of a three-volume Eweland handbook project that was launched in 1993 by the Organization for Research on Eweland (ORE). Like the îrst volume, which is on the Ewes of Southeastern Ghana, the work provides additional information about the land and cultural heritage of the people of Eweland. Its focus is on the Ewe people found north of those in southeastern Ghana. In îeen different chapters, the natural and cultural resources as well as the life styles of these people are discussed in detail. While the topics covered are generally similar to those in the îrst volume of the handbook, a few articles address other aspects of life that were missed in the îrst volume. Most of the articles are presented in simple, non- technical language. Following the objectives of ORE, information provided by the handbook is intended to stimulate policy formulation, planning and development that would ensure improvement in the conditions of life of the people of Eweland. It should assist the different groups of people to understand themselves, foster harmony and co-operative interaction among them. e contents of the book should also minimize misunderstanding and encourage an appreciation of the material, social and ideological behaviour of the Ewe by their neighbours of the world. e task of preparing the book has been arduous. I would like to acknowledge the contributors sincerely, as the successful completion of the book cannot be celebrated without recognition of their efforts. Donations received by ORE towards the production of this particular handbook have not been adequate. We are, however, grateful to the following sponsors and all other supporters of the “Studies on Eweland” project:

Mr. A. K. Deku Maj. Gen. Ben Akaîa Commander A. A. Anatsui Rev. (Crd) & Mrs. P. F. Quaye Togbi Osei Tutu Brempong III Prof. Ansa Asamoa Mrs. Awo Amorin Dr. K. Sena Rev. Emile D. Dogbe-Gakpetor

Special thanks go to Professor Francis Agbodeka, Professor G. K.

vi

A Handbook of Eweland

Nukunya and Mr. Woeli Dekutsey for toiling incessantly to get this book completed. Although it is part of their responsibility, as ORE executive members to ensure the publication of the book, they deserve to be commended for their commitment and dedication to the work. ORE wishes to extend its appreciation to T. H. S. Kwami for taking time to proof read the book at short notice. We can certainly not mention all the people who need to be acknowledged. However, the staff of Woeli Publishing Services as well as the executives and members of ORE UK cannot be le out. To everyone that owns or reads this book, ORE Ghana wishes to thank you sincerely.

List of Contributors

1.Agbodeka, Francis:Chairman, Organization for Research on Eweland, General Editor, “Studies on Eweland Series.” Formerly Professor of History, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast. 2.Ametewee V. K.:Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast.

3.Ansre Gilbert:Former Professor of Linguistics, Institute of African Studies, Language Centre, University of Ghana, Legon; Bible Translation Consultant, United Bible Societies, Lome, Togo. 4.Asamoa Ansa:Formerly Professor of Sociology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast. 5.Bluwey Gilbert:Senior Research Fellow, Legon Centre for International Affairs, University of Ghana, Legon. 6.Bonsi Koî S.:Consultant at Agricultural and Industrial Management Services, Accra. 7.Dzide Dan:Press/Information Officer, United Nations Educational, Scientiîc and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO) Accra, Ghana.

8.Gavua Kodzo:Lecturer, Department of Archaeology, University of Ghana, Legon. 9.Gockel Augustine F.:Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Ghana, Legon. 10.Hevi-Yiboe Laetitia A. P.:Senior Lecturer and Head of Department of Home Science, University of Ghana, Legon.- 11.Kafui Kenn:Instructor of Music, Achimota Secondary School, Achimota, Accra. 12.Kludze A. K. P.:Distinguished Professor of Law, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, USA; formerly of the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon. 13.Koîgah Frank:Regional Director, Ghana Tourist Board, Ho, Volta Region.

vii

General

CHAPTER 1 e Land and the People

FRANCIS AGBODEKA

A look at Eweland as a whole reveals a picture of a territory beginning as coastal sandbars, lagoons and southern plains rising gradually into the interior and being eventually transformed into part of West Africa’s central highland ranges, some one hundred and îy kilometres from the Atlantic Coast. Our area of study in this volume, i.e. Northern Eweland in Ghana ( E3eme orE 3 edomein local parlance), embraces most of the features described above except the low-lying wetlands of the coast, and of course the other physical features of Eweland outside Ghana. e study area is therefore bounded in the south by Eweland in southeastern Ghana, (see Vol. I), in the north by Buem-Krachi districts of the Volta Region, in the east by the Republic of Togo and in the west by the Volta River and Lake. Northern Eweland forms a substantial part of Ghana’s Volta Region, which has an area of 20,344 sq. km.

e Central Highlands

e core of our study area is what we call the central uplands. e West African sub-region is endowed with a series of mountain ranges and those that traverse the Ewe territory belong to the Togo-Akwapem range. It is the Ewe portion of this range that we shall refer to in this work as the central highlands (uplands) orE 3 etowo(Ewe mountains). ey stretch from the Volta River eastwards. Starting from the southern plains and moving inland is an undulating plain, gradually transformed into the higher ground of the southern foothills where the isolated Adaklu mountain lies. In the same area exist a few isolated hills, some of which are Ahunda and Hodzo. Aer this lie the central uplands dominated by two parallel highland ranges, namely:

(i) Abutia-Taviefe-Dodome range (ii) Peki-Avatime range

1