origin of the ga tribe in ghana

Among other things, they still observe how to dress during occasions and the types of food to eat. THE GROWTH OF MODERN ACCRA The building that once housed a Portuguese Catholic Church became Elminas slave market, where African dealers brought their captives, many of them victims of tribal wars. Otus area) and Ngleshi Alata (Jamestown). Notwithstanding their historical tribulations as a smaller State, by their names; cultures, traditions, national contributions and the reoccurring socio-economic complaints and probably, unattended grievances, the woes of the Ga peoples, could be perhaps, summed up as one of unfortunate or self-inflicting- at least, as peoples who have been at the forefront of Gold Coasts socio-political realignment and self-determination. themselves into two groups; one group travelled west towards mainland Nigeria to a place called Benin, where Their children learn about this culture as they grow and are expected to stick to it regardless of their status in the future. They usually make carved stools, jewellery, richly woven cloth, brass gold weights, and gold aircraft. The People of Ghana: Their Origins and Cultures - Jstor These are but a few examples we can talk Nonetheless, the Nai Wlm remained the senior Wlm with supreme authority over the Ga Mashie community: though he could not associate himself with temporal affairs of the community, being a holy man charged with spiritual duties and the welfare of his people. Here the Gas divided Trading is generally in the hands of women, and a husband has no control over his wifes money. Elmina, 93 miles west of Accra, at the western edge of Ghanas central region, is different. down orally in the history of others like the Hebrews, Ethiopia and Egypt the super power. They once had a very famous and strong They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana New Series, No. Thus, the arrival of the refugee emigrant families changed the landscape when the people of Wo Sagba, Wo Doku, Wo Krowor and Wo Kpele established the coastal towns of Ga Mashie, La Boni, Nungua, Tema and later on Osu and Teshie respectively. Confirming the extent of the Guan settlements, Reindorf noted that, the aboriginal race all along the coast and inland were nearly all of the Guan, Kyerepong, L and Ahanta tribes, speaking different dialects of the Ahanta, Obutu, Kyerepong, Late and Kpshi languages. So he decided to let them go with Moses so that his people I searched the name in Google and found they are descendants of the Ga tribe from Accra Ghana. They believe that they did not have any crops left in the past centuries due to the inadequate seasonal rains that made the people experience severe hunger. Priests can either be male or be female. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Ashanti Tribe. Most of these narrations are based on oral traditions, myths, legends, folklores, music, religious songs and many other sources; including archaeological findings. today its part on Angola. Ga language according to Henderson-Quartey (2001, p.38) conveys oral traditions through which the history of its speakers are revealed, and the means by which the members of the society share their collective experience and knowledge through common bond. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! According to him, the Ga refers to the Guans as Shits mi (landowners) and on this basis, acknowledged seniority to them for being first to settle in the territory. They mainly live in the Greater Accra region. It is believed that one of the They speak the Ewe language (Ewe: Eegbe) which belongs to the Gbe family of languages. Between 1700-1250 BC, the then Egyptian king, King Thuthmos 2 ruled over the Hebrews who were slaves of e oldest area of settlement in Accra, now known as Central Accra, is composed of seven quarters, among which Asere, Abola, and Gbese are oldest and considered to be the most traditionally Ga. Otublohum originally was settled by people from Akwamu and Denkyera to the northwest. The Ga-Adangbe people inhabit the Accra Plains. Bible(Numbers 1 vs 26-47). One of the reasons for this is the belief by the Ga people that the dead are powerful and can be benevolent or disastrous, depending on how you treat them in death. Several questions have been asked about the Ga-Adangbe people. According to oral tradition, the whole structure of the Asante army that was started by Nana Osei Kofi Tutu l and helped the Asantes through many wars, was a replicate of the well organised Akwamu army. Moses and his brother Having corroborated the assertion of Field about the earliest Ga-speaking emigrants of the Ga Mashie community along the coast of Accra, Henderson-Quartey further indicated that apart from the Ga coastal community, the Ga Mashie inland community could be about four times that of its present littoral area with most of the surrounding hills having big towns on them. He further posits that while in Nigeria, these groups once again separated, with one part moving west to the land of the ancient Benins, while the rest moved north-west to Ife in the Yoruba land. Ghana, country of western Africa, situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Shamanism was their first belief when they worshipped their ancestors and gods. For more than 100 years the area around Elmina was the center of a thriving trade in gold, ivory and peppers, which the Africans supplied in abundance, and cloth, beads, metals and hardware, which the Portuguese brought from Europe. James Town. He then traced their movements from Nigeria through Dahomey (now Republic of Benin) and to Togo where they settled at Aneho, before eventually moving on to their present locations in the then Gold Coast. The Ga language as compared with other spoken words in etymology according to Greenberg (UNESCO, Vol.1, p.304), is classified among the Kwa group of languages found on the African Continent. Yes, it is, and it goes by several names in the country. of the similarities in Ga and Hebrew cultures. I really appreciate it, and I hope youll visit my blog again for more information of the Ga speaking people of Ghana; as well as recommend the blog to others. A large number of the Asantes of today originated from Akwamu especially, people from Asafo, Adum and sections of people from Bantama and Barekese. Down-town Accra; the Ga, adopted a policy of incorporating immigrants into the governmental machinery. In a case of D.P. It was in the We that a child was welcomed into the world through the custom of kpojiemo (outdooring), marriage transactions are made in the We and it was in the We that a member was laid in state and the last rites performed for him when he dies. In the Book of numbers, the Bible had made extensive references to the children of Israel, which includes Gad and Dan and their children (Numbers 1:1-54). According to him, historically, the Ga of Ghana were believed to have once lived along the eastern part of the banks of the River Nile during the reign of Thothmes II, the then Pharaoh of Egypt, circa 1700 1250 BCE. All quarters have clan houses known as, the original homes of Ga patrilineages, and chiefs called, Ham & Shem Egyptians Hebrews & Arabs in The land of the blacks Bilad al Sudan, The History of Ouidah aka Juda, Judea Judah Whydah, My Igbo & Akan slave ancestors from Jamaica & The Trans Atlantic Slave Trade connection. [5] Margaret J. The tribe believe that our ancestors guide us through life. The Kusasi people are farmers. There are many rules and regulations that girls pass through during this period compared to boys. as the other group moved south-west to Ife where they lived among the locals. Ghana | History, Flag, Map, Population, Language, Currency, & Facts Meanwhile, Astley (1968, pp.615-616) in describing the Ga towns said It stands six leagues inland, and it is called Great Akkra to distinguish it from Little Akkra situated on the coast, half way between Kormantin and Rio Volta. Since then, they sell agricultural produce. It is the largest group as compared to others. The rites of passage events for boys and girls in the Ga-Adangbe tribe are not conducted in the same way. While the Onyeni deity-worshipping group led by Nii Moi, settled behind the cliffs of the James Fort, which was later on built by an English trading company in 1672. These were the people who lived South of Goshen along the eastern parts of the Nile river. The Ga-Adangbe tribe's culture is also reflected in their sportsmanship spirit. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. [11] P. Ozanne, Notes on the Early Archaeology of Accra, Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, Vol.VI, 1962. What is the traditional food of the Ga? Each Ga town has a number of different cults and many gods, and there are a number of annual town festivals. Immigrants could also attain certain positions through achievements. Foremost among these was the need for labor; the Dutch became the slave trades masters. (Exodus 12 vs 19); Hmw celebrations on the 2nd Sunday of august. However, some Ga people became Christians after being introduced to them in 1835 by Joseph Rhodes, a Christian missioner who lived near them, while others have also become Muslims. suffering of his people at the hands of God almighty. Due to their social mobility, the Dagaaba or Dagarti can be found in almost every part of Ghana and in other West African Countries like Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. An interesting point is that for 1000s of years there have been people who believed in one God. Among which are Ngleshi (James Town), Kinka (Ussher Town), Osu (Christiansburg), La (Labadi), Teshie, Nungua (Little Ningo), and Tema. In order to protect themselves from slave raiding that has become rife, these settlements which were threatened with extinction, had to combine forces to establish towns for mutual protection; and the setting up of military organizations to fight off these invaders. These findings are supported with the quoted oral tradition below: Traditional accounts indicate that the first Alata mantse was called Wetse Kojo, who had a mantse stool carved for him by one Otublafo of Otublohum and adopted the Akan custom of odwira. The Nungua Mantse, in consultation with the Ga Mashi Mantse gave Osu lands to the KADI GBOI as people of Osu were referred to. But then we can find evidence of what was passed For example, the Otublohum of Ga Mashie originally settled in Accra as representatives of the Akwamu government. Gads fifth son was Eri who later formed a clan known as Erites (Genesis 30:9, Genesis 46:16, Numbers 26:15-19 and Deuteronomy 3:12; Genesis 30:4-83:12.The descendant of Eri, son of Gad are believed to have founded the Nri Kingdom around 900 A.D of the South Eastern and parts of the mid-western Igboland in Nigeria with other tribes of Levi, Zebulon, Ephraim and possibly more. Biblical history suggests that Jacob, whom God named YISRAEL had Leah as his wife who gave birth to four sons for him. JusticeGhana, Galamsey report: Ken Agyapongs lawyer accuses Kwaku Baako of perjury, Prepare for price hikes on some goods from May 1 GUTA to Ghanaians, NPP activist disproves Ken Agyapong's 'Akufo-Addo appointing northerners' claim, Sammy Gyamfi 'schools' presidential staffer on social interventions, Adams Mahama murder case: AG reacts to verdict delivered by jury, Col. Damoah eyes Jaman South Parliamentary seat, Majority leader questions Prof Frimpong-Boateng's report, NDCs Baba Sadiq drags Coffee Shop Mafia over Frimpong-Boateng report, It will be a curse for John Mahama to hold the state sword again - Koku Anyidoho. Nii Oka Coins placed in the coffins of the deceased believing that. There are other celebrations and festivals that these people have to prepare for every year. At this point, it The Ga-Dangme of Ghana | Black History & Culture The other three quarters, are said to be of later origin. The three groups of people that left Egypt were:-. According to the Prof, the change in economic policy from free trade to the protectionist policy which the Ga peoples dictated brought them into conflict with their neighbours- notably, the Akwamu- former vassals of the Ga, who defeated the Ga in 1680. western parts of the Nile river. Commenting further on the evolution of the Ga language, Henderson-Quartey postulates that though it is closest to the Adangme and share a great deal of similarities not only in root-words but also in language structure; it has under gone some form of changes by borrowing words from the Yoruba, Guans, Akans, Portuguese, and English languages to enhance the Ga vocabulary. They mainly sell fish, maize, beer, and even prepared foods. Competition to secure land for farming, control trade . Bereku quarters. It is also to be noted that the tribe of Ga are no longer just found in Africa. The Ga-Dangmes claim to be descendants DAN and GAD, the fifth and seventh sons of Jacob. By the beginning of the nineteenth century Accra had a population of approximately 7,500 to 10,000 and was well developed, with extensive interior and exterior trade connections. [12] T. A. Astley, New Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. These and ancient traditional customs still observed by Ga-Dangmes clearly lend credence to their claim that they are of Hebrew Israelites origins. The leader of the kingdom, Osei Tutu, defeated Denkyira in 1701 and named his area of influence "Asanti." Some Ga peoples believe that they were part of Israel- migrating from south through Uganda, then along the Congo River, westward through Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and finally to Greater Accra. Updates? This is by far the largest tribe in Ghana numbering about seven million in total and nearly half the population of the entire country. Ghana is among the West African countries with rich traditions and cultures. number did not include women, children, old people nor the house of Levi (priests). [8] G. T. Stride and Ifeka, C. People and Empires of West Africa: West Africa in History 1000-1800, 1971. Due to this, the Ga and Hebrew cultures greatly influence each others. GA STATE AND SOCIETY African Linguistic Classification in General History of Africa 8 Vols. Needful to note also is that Ga women have been traders since the sixteenth century. Many people would have you believe that all of these people worship deities and animals and spirits which is not the case. [1] Carl C. Reindorf, History of the Gold Coast and Asante 3rd Ed., 2007. These areas stretched northwards to the boundaries of the plains of Accra and were under the control of their own governments and administrations. The report that came back confirmed that this was indeed a good place for habitation and the mountain later became known as "Klo yo" (Krobo Mountain). These Africans were from The slavery Gold Coast and would likely have spoken a number of languages which are still in use today. Initially, they went to Nigeria through Ethiopia before settling in Ghana. The Ga-Adangbe people have a unique culture with many traditional economic and social benefits, which is still observed to date. A documentary I watched discussed this very point and even the indigenous Igbo of the land are aware of this and confirm the difference in the 2 religions. They later migrated to West Africa and eventually stopped in Ghana, becoming their permanent home. So who could actually be called a pure Ga? It is believed that the Ga-Dangmes Kingdom at AYAWASO was the first Kingdom in GHANA. Ga-Adangbe tribe: language, traditional wear, dances, food, religion - Yen Komi or Kenkey are their stable food. However, their staple food was, and is still, Komi or Kenkey, made up of fermented steam corn dough. What language does the Ga-Adangbe tribe speak? Despite the long history of the use of traditional financial tools, many people still do not fully understand the full scope of these financial tools and are either using the available financial . The Ga Mashie community as it is known today comprise of the seven Akutsii (quarters) made up of Asr, Sempi, Abola, Gbs, Akumadzei, Otublohum (Otubronu i.e. Below is a quote from their blog. In the Book of numbers, the Bible had made extensive references to the children of Israel, which includes Gad and Dan and their children (Numbers 1:1-54).Biblical history strongly lends support to the claim by Ga-Dangmes that they are HEBREW ISRAELITES due to the fact Ga-Dangme names are found throughout the OLD TESTAMENT. Ga includes Ga-Mashie and Ga speakers, who migrated from Akwapim, Anecho in Togo, Akwamu, and the surrounding areas. Also, the name of the hunter, KADI, who found a group people at OSU DOKU and introduced them to the Nungua Mantse, is a Hebrew name. The great castle then became the African headquarters of the Dutch West Indies Company, whose business was supplying the needs of the New Worlds great plantations. Omissions? This arrangement according to Henderson-Quartey brought these towns within the vicinity of the three forts, and under the protection of the Danes (Osu), Dutch (Kinka) and the English (Ngleshi-Alata) from the Akwamu marauders. But it is evident that they lived in Boma for a very long time, [2] [3] The Ga-Dangmes are one ethnic group that lives primarily in the Greater Accra of Ghana. The group stayed there for some years before leaving during 672-525 B.C. However, he noted that the natives called themselves Loeiabii (children of Loei). Merchants in Accra acted as middlepersons in the trade of slaves, gold, and other commodities between the Europeans and the Asante kingdom to the north. Here the highway looks out on coconut groves lining the beach, and the massive weight of St. Georges Castle, at the end of the bays long sweep, is clear even from a distance. Evidence that the Ga always leave room for reverence and incorporation of other gods is seen in the text of the libation of the wulomei. The migration route of Ga-Adangbe saw them across Ethiopia and then down to Nigeria. It is believed that Gas may have also undergone the hash treatment the Hebrews had to endure, hence the Animal-shaped coffins often represent the totem of the deceased clan. continue the search for a land of their own. The Kpehi of Tema and other Guan groups are said to be among the earliest groups who lived in the Accra plains. Others posit they are one of the cherished lost sheep of Israel. The largest population of Ewe people is in Ghana (6.0 million), and the second largest population is in Togo (3.1 million). It has a tradition of viewing time as a sequence of events instead of minutes and hours. would be free from all those calamities they suffered. These and ancient traditional customs still observed by Ga-Dangmes clearly lend credence to their claim that they are of Hebrew Israelites origins. Because of the gold and the presence of Lake Volta, the Ashanti people built an empire in 1670. Map of Ghana The Ga Adangebe started off in Egypt in a city called Goshen. They travelled south- As Professor Odotei (ibid) forcefully points out, so far no definite date has been established for the first migration into the Accra plains. Other dialects available are Fon, Gen or Mina or Phla-Phera, and Aja. The Kusasi population in Ghana is estimated to be around 646,000. We They are also used to enforce particular virtues. Elmina is conveniently located at the shore line providing a means of transporting the slaves at the time. Examples of these are Tema, which absorbed an old Kpshi town, Nungua annexing Lashbii lands, La founded partly by both Ga and La Boni people. Field, Social Organization of the Ga People, 1940. So that is where the name T shi- Copyright 2023 StudeerSnel B.V., Keizersgracht 424, 1016 GC Amsterdam, KVK: 56829787, BTW: NL852321363B01, Oral history traces our ancestry from the old Egypt empire (ie Egypt, Ethi, River). I have a friend who prefers his name to be spelt and called Ampofu; instead of the traditional Ampofo. (UNESCO) Vol. Currently English is the official language of. Although the Ga ethnic groups spearheaded the establishment of these six coastal towns, each has its own system of government and administration as well as social structures and organizations, without control from any central authority as found in other places. Thanks for your comment. There they sojourn for some time, before moving on to the Boni Island in the Niger Delta Basin. Quarteys all over the world are descendants of the Royal Family of Kpakpatse We clan of the Asr group of the Ga speaking people, which is one of the seven quarters (Akutsii) that constituted the Ashiedu Ktk District within the Odododiodioo Constituency of the Ga Mashie Community in Accra. The girls who have transitioned into womanhood are well dressed in beautiful kente clothing and accessories during the last day. PDF Ga People and Homowo Festival - carleton.ca For example, the coffin's shape used to bury a person in this culture could tell of their profession and social status. Gads fifth son was Eri who later formed a clan known as Erites (Genesis 30:9, Genesis 46:16, Numbers 26:15-19 and Deuteronomy 3:12; Genesis 30:4-8. [2] They make up 3.7% of the population of Ghana. Yen.com.gh also discussed how Christians celebrate Easter in Ghana. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see YEN.com.gh News on your News Feed! 7th-13th century). As the Gas travelled south, they came across many rivers like the Ghazal and Jebe rivers; these rivers were These people were absorbed by the Ga-speaking people. In his discourse of the establishment of two out of the seven Ga Mashie Akutsii (quarters), Reindorf avers that Ayikai Osiahene with his people settled near James Fort and founded Akangmadshe and Mereku, i.e.
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