Trading is generally in the hands of women, and a husband has no control over his wifes money. Reindorf (1895, p.18) in tracing the origin of the Ga indicates that F. Romer, a Dutch resident of the Christiansborg in about the middle of the Eighteenth Century states, that the Gold Coast was once part of the western division of the territory of the Emperor of Benin. To buttress this point, Romer further argues that, the insignia of the kings of the Akras were like those used in Benin, and most of their religious ceremonies, e.g. Alata was settled by Nigerian workers imported to construct a European fort. A severe earthquake in 1939 destroyed much of Central Accra and gave added impetus to settle in new suburban settlements such as Kaneshie and Adabraka. 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. Several questions have been asked about the Ga-Adangbe people. Prof Irene Odotei is right: The external factor is crucial element in the development of Ga society and culture [and] The reaction of the Ga went beyond mere tolerance and the desire for more to join them as expressed in their libation prayer- Ablekuma aba kuma wo- May strangers come to settle among us. So, Kormantse na Abandzefo, what are the true origins of your twin-towns? Stay tuned. The Guan tribe, also known as Gonja, Guang, or Ngbanya, is one of the many ethnic groups in the Republic of Ghana. Although both languages are derived from a common proto-Ga-Adangbe ancestral language, modern Ga and Adangbe are mutually unintelligible. http://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/anthropology-and-archaeology/people/ga. They are also used to enforce particular virtues. The People of Ghana: Their Origins and Cultures - Jstor Unlike other scholars and historians, Amartey tracing the itinerary of the Nubians indicted that this group separated into the Ethiopian and Ga ethnic groups after they had left Egypt, with each group following different direction. There are other celebrations and festivals that these people have to prepare for every year. According to oral traditions, the migration of the various groups of Ga-speakers into the Accra plains took place at different times. The girls found not to be virgins or impregnated by a community member cannot get a man from the tribe. At about 1250BC, the then king of Egypt, King Amenhotep 2 ( 7 th Pharaoh of Egypt ) couldnt stand any longer the It is the largest group as compared to others. But then we can find evidence of what was passed Of course, the Guans also on the other hand, had contributed extensively to the lexicological development of the modern Ga language through the formal principles of inflexion of Ga words; and grammatical features such as the usage of verb forms for the present progressive and the future tenses, which are not found in the Adangme verb forms. In 1850, they bought the Danish forts and possessions and in 1872 the Dutch possessions on the Gold Coast. This castle was used in Ghana to ship the slaves across the continent. These four quarters make up Ussher Town, the area placed under Dutch jurisdiction in the seventeenth century. Stride and Ifeka (1971, p.203) while corroborating these assertions of Field, further noted that it was at the end of the Fifteenth Century that the social organizations of the Ga towns began to change. Professor Odotei argues that the influx of non-Ga immigrants affected the composition of Ga traditional society which is, still the We- an ancestral house to which all those who trace descent through the male line of a common ancestor belong. These are but a few examples we can talk They compete in sports like football, basketball, handball and lawn tennis, as witnessed in the Ga Adangbe Youth Sports Festival and Tourism launched in 2019 in Accra, Ghana. Besides, this led to the effective control of the local population and the maintenance of law and order within these trading enclaves to safeguard the traffic of goods between the hinterlands and the coast for the benefit of their respective companies. The rites of passage events for boys and girls in the Ga-Adangbe tribe are not conducted in the same way. PDF Ga People and Homowo Festival - carleton.ca The Ga-Dangbe, G-Dab, Ga-Dangme, or GaDangme are an ethnic group in Ghana, Togo and Benin. The tribe of Ga are descendants of GAD and are the hebrew Israelites. Of those, 10,000 left Elminas shores when the castle was operating at full capacity, according to Ghanas Museums and Monuments Board. the Nile which is the south of Sudan. It is argued that whereas the systems of marriage and the naming of children are uniform among the Akans, this differs from the traditions virtually common to the Ga-Adangbe and Ewe peoples. The tribe believe that our ancestors guide us through life. Field, Social Organization of the Ga People, 1940. THE GROWTH OF MODERN ACCRA A section of Osu trace their origin to Osudoku in the Adanme area. Oral traditions had it that after the destruction of the Ayawaso Township by the Akwamu, and the death of the then Ga Mants Okaikoi in 1660, remnants of the Ga decided to come down from their hilly abode and join their friends and relations along the coast. This is part of the Gur language that is also dominant in northern Ghana. 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. 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. This Ga settlement areas is bounded on the East by the Tshemu lagoon near Tema, on the West by the Sakumofio River, the North by Akuapem Mountains and the South by the Gulf of Guinea. Existing traditional accounts of the origin of the Ga according to Reindorf, indicates that the ancestors of the tribes of Akras, Late, Obutu and Mowure are said to have emigrated from the sea, arriving at the coast tribe after tribe. These tribes he believe arrived together with the Adangbes either from Tetetutu or from Sam, located beyond the Volta in the east, and situated between two rivers. It does not matter whether the deceased's family is impoverished; they must ensure that their departed is ushered from the physical realm to the ancestor's realm with fanfare. Biblical history suggests that Jacob, whom God named YISRAEL had Leah as his wife who gave birth to four sons for him. The tribe of Ga are descendants of GAD and are the hebrew Israelites. Yes, Professor Adu-Boahen(1975) sates that the Ga-Adangbe differ not only linguistically but also culturally from the Akans. Field on her part, states that these group of Ga emigrants mainly fishermen, consist of seven families led by Nii Tete and Nii Moi: Wlmi of the Nai and Onyeni deities respectively. 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. At puberty, the girls go through a training called Dipo, which is known to be the formal rite of passage. This was at the time when the Israelites had settled on the land of Goshen, from the eastern part of the River Nile to its estuary. Jacob has two sons with Rachel. Around the turn of the twentieth century Accra experienced a series of disasters, including famines, a fire in 1894, an earthquake in 1906, bubonic plague, and the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919, as well as continuous emigration of skilled laborers. Corrections? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Ga and Dangbe people are grouped respectively as part of the Ga-Dangme ethnolinguistic group. Yen.com.gh also discussed how Christians celebrate Easter in Ghana. Among other things, they still observe how to dress during occasions and the types of food to eat. 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. Sections of Ga Mashie trace their origins as Far East as the southern part of modern Nigeria, though so far no confirmatory evidence has been established for this. Hammond vs Mantse Ababio and others, the Alata mantse Kojo Ababio IV declared: my predecessors in title have been recognised as Mantse and in going to war, he always went in front of them. Dangme is the language that is most used in the Greater Accra Plains. Due to this, the Ga and Hebrew cultures greatly influence each others. This assertion has been upheld by Kilson (1971, p.24) in her ethnographic study of the Ga, and had indicated that the shikwbii (aborigines) of the Ga countryside were the Kpshi people, whose dialects have survived only in the Kpele religious songs of worship and festivals. This in their view began with the establishment of a more centralized administration system, and military companies (Asafoi) under captains (Asafoiatsmi) that played prominent and important roles in the maintenance of law and order, as well as governance of these towns. 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. 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. The other three quartersAlata or Nleshi, Sempe, and Akanmadzeare said to be of later origin. ORIGIN OF THE GA-SPEAKING PEOPLE These are the Tarbon of Ga Mashie. The three groups of people that left Egypt were:-, Auditing and Assurance Services: an Applied Approach (Iris Stuart), Principles of Marketing (Philip Kotler; Gary Armstrong; Valerie Trifts; Peggy H. Cunningham), Mechanics of Materials (Russell C. Hibbeler; S. C. Fan), English (Robert Rueda; Tina Saldivar; Lynne Shapiro; Shane Templeton; Houghton Mifflin Company Staff), Frysk Wurdboek: Hnwurdboek Fan'E Fryske Taal ; Mei Dryn Opnommen List Fan Fryske Plaknammen List Fan Fryske Gemeentenammen. However, as early as 1557, Ga Mashie had already developed a well-organised trading system. Having accepted that in examining the true historical triumphs of the Ga country and its peoples, some historical events remain unchallenged: Like many emerging smaller states surrounded by powerful neighbours, during state formation, the Gas did not escape the threats of cultural dilutions and contaminations. 2, (Lon), 1968. Then, any man interested in one of the girls can start talking to the girl's family. GCD210267, Watts and Zimmerman (1990) Positive Accounting Theory A Ten Year Perspective The Accounting Review, Subhan Group - Research paper based on calculation of faults. They also eat and sell fish, maize, and beer. It must also be noted that, in those days, Gas didnt have scholars Ghana, country of western Africa, situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. There they sojourn for some time, before moving on to the Boni Island in the Niger Delta Basin. He postulates that since there was no existing written record of the Ga language prior to the Eighteenth Century, it would be difficult to know the difference between the forms of the language spoken now and say 2000 years ago. History of the Krobo - The GaDangme They left Egypt and migrated to Ghana via Nigeria and Ethiopia there is much discussion around this on the internet. After two unsuccessful attempts to take it, the Dutch captured the castle in 1637 with an assault from the land. African Linguistic Classification in General History of Africa 8 Vols. 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. Henderson-Quartey on his part observed that, prior to the Ga domination of the Accra Plains the Guan settlements within these areas might have been considerable. They decided to stay when they realised that the Ga were reluctant to help them. In our globalized world, who dare you to tag a citizen as slave? Needful to note also is that Ga women have been traders since the sixteenth century. But then, although there are different Gbe languages, the common one is the Ewe. suffering of his people at the hands of God almighty. These and ancient traditional customs still observed by Ga-Dangmes clearly lend credence to their claim that they are of Hebrew Israelites origins. However, despite the independence of these towns they unite in times of war to protect their common interest. Join YEN.com.gh's Telegram channel for more! Examples are: NIIKOILAI (Rev:2, 6, 15); AMASA (2 Samuel 17, 25; 1 Chronicle 33 20-21 DJAANI/JANNE, 2 Timothy 3: 8; AMON, 2 Chronicle 33: 20-21; ASHALE (ASAHEL), 1 Chronicle 2:16, 2 Samuel 2: 18-19. Biblical history suggests that Jacob, whom God named YISRAEL had Leah as his wife who gave birth to four sons for him. From the 1820s on European missionaries arrived in the area and had a substantial impact. It is interesting that Queen Dode (Dodi) Akabis name DODI is a Hebrew Name. They further indicated that the coastal towns established by the wandering Ga tribes from west to east are Accra, Osu, Labadi, Teshie, Nungua, Tema and Kpong. tributaries of the Nile on the north. This is for the deceased victors who fought on the battlefield for the Ga people to be where they are today. It is believed that Gas may have also undergone the hash treatment the Hebrews had to endure, hence the The Dagaaba People of Ghana - Ghanaian Museum [9] Margaret J. (Exodus 12 vs 19); Hmw celebrations on the 2nd Sunday of august. way; long after they left Egypt(S/Ethiopia). They were once defeated and ruled by the Akwamus (1680-1730); the Akyems (1730-1742) and the Asantes (1742- 1826). While Ozanne (1962) also noted that archaeological findings from the middens or organized refuse dumps stretching from the Nsaki River and across the village of Amanfro in the present Ga-West district have revealed large quantities of pottery and iron slag from foundries as evidence of the advancement of this community. Oral history traces our ancestry from the old Egypt empire (ie Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan and the tribes along the Nile on the western path and the second, which was the GaDangbe travelled south-west. 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. Osu Forest) to the East.. Here the contrasts that characterize Europes first footholds on the continent make themselves felt: the gray and white of the stone against the turquoise and green of the sea, the fortified solidity of the structure against the airy openness of the horizon. 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). Among the early migrants from the Asr and Abora groups to the coast were Saku Olenge, Akotia Owosika, Oshamra, Ayikwei Osiahene, Osu Kwatei (whom I believe established the Kpakpatse We dynasty), Anyama Seni, Amantiele Akele and others. I will be exploring their heritage and other tribes later in this blog. I have a friend who prefers his name to be spelt and called Ampofu; instead of the traditional Ampofo. The HOMOWO FESTIVAL (the PASSOVER) celebrated by the Ga-Dnagmes supports their claim that they are Hebrew Israelites, descendants of children of Jacob (Exodus 13: 1-10); Exodus 12: 1-50; Numbers 9:1-5, According to Abbey in his book KEDZI AFO JORDAN (1968), Ga-Dangmes tradition during which they put money in the coffins of their deceased relatives prior to burial is an ancient Hebrew Israelites custom. Ga-Dangmes custom of circumcision of their male born and their patriarch traditions further lend support to their Hebrew Israelites origins (Genesis 17: 1-12). The largest tribe are the Ashanti, with their traditional capital at Kumasi. western parts of the Nile river. Currently English is the official language of. The leader of the kingdom, Osei Tutu, defeated Denkyira in 1701 and named his area of influence "Asanti." 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). Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in, Get the news that matters from one of the leading news sites in Ghana, BP back in Q1 profit after record loss on Russia exit, 2023 Met Gala: Burna Boy and Tems make fashionable debut as they attend the prestigious event, Japan Airlines' annual net profit returns to black, 'Godfather of AI' quits Google to warn of the tech's dangers, Asian markets open higher as investors weigh Wall Street losses, Child serial killers: 10 of the youngest serials killers in history. This first group was made up of the 12 Tribes of Israel and we can find the history/story in the Holy The Ga-speaking peoples were organized into six independent towns ( Accra, Osu, Labadi, Teshi, Nungua, and Tema). Through my own research I have found that the Ga-Dnagmes believe in one supreme being and an evil being who we would call Satan in Europe society. Ghana - The Ga-Adangbe - Country Studies 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. Each town had a stool, which served as the central object of Ga ritual and war magic. The abayan, cloth belonging to the deceased, which is torn to pieces, and each piece placed on the left wrist of the deceased relatives and very close friends, is an ancient Jewish custom. Each Ga town has a number of different cults and many gods, and there are a number of annual town festivals. On entertainment, it is said that Ga recreational music such as asoayere and adowa are entirely in Akan, whilst others like tuumatu, kaadiohefeosee, siolele, adaawe and kpanlogo which are Ga, often include words or lines in Akan and occasionally other languages, such as Ewe and English. 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. 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. Some of them include Ga-Dangme, GaDangme, Ga-Adampa, Ga-Adangme, Ga-Danmeli, Ga-Adampe, Ga-Adangbe, Ga-Adanme, and Ga-Ada. Not until recently, I never knew that the Ga town- Pokuase, was founded by a man named [O]poku? What is the culture of the Ga-Adangbe tribe? What is the traditional food of the Ga? A common saying at Asere is, There is no such thing as a pure Ga. Not only were many European and inland African ethnicities represented in Accra over hundreds of years, but also the lateral coastal connections produced migrations of Brazilian, Sierra Leonean, and Nigerian families, who formed clans and assumed Ga identity. 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. as the other group moved south-west to Ife where they lived among the locals. Asante Fordjour ABSTRACT From the mystical Akan historical accounts of the Ga peoples; and not until I had the privilege of reading from Professor Irene Odotei (External Influence on Ga Society and Culture), all that I knew about Nkranfuo [the Gamee] was the empirical belief that their ancestors, mysteriously, fled from Ilfe, in the ancient Nigeria, in their columns like soldier-ants along the Gulf of Guinea to their present settlements, in a date which is hard to be traced. So he decided to let them go with Moses so that his people It is believed that one of the It is also to be noted that the tribe of Ga are no longer just found in Africa. Meanwhile, Adote Nii Ashare and Tete Kpshi who with their retinue made their abode beyond the Korle lagoon returned and settled by the same Fort; and their descendants also established the Sempi quarters. 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. They later migrated to West Africa and eventually stopped in Ghana, becoming their permanent home. So who could actually be called a pure Ga? There are claims that the chereokee Indians and native Americans also originate from this tribe. Ghana, first of the great medieval trading empires of western Africa (fl. 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. Throughout the culture and history of the Ga-Dangmes of Ghana, is a very strong conclusive evidence that they are direct descendants of the Hebrew Israelties that migrated to West Africa by way of Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Lake Chad, Ile-Ife, Dahome, Togo and to . They travelled south- Even though these narratives of the origin of the Ga-speaking people depended mainly on the generics of oral traditions, legends, etc: it is obvious that names of certain places such as Tetetutu, Benin, Boni, Boma, Sam or Seme, Aneho and others have featured prominently in the migration stories of most scholars of Ga history. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The Origin of the Ga People The Ga people belong to the Ga-Dagbe group of Kwa people who inhabit the Greater Accra region of present day Ghana. Yes, it is, and it goes by several names in the country. Extract above from http://www.encyclopedia.com, My DNA interestingly enough shows the migration of africans down the coast of Africa from Mali and Senegal down to Nigeria Ghana Benin Togo Cameroon and Congo. The group stayed there for some years before leaving during 672-525 B.C. [13] Marion Kilson, African Urban Kinsman: The Ga of Central Accra, 1974. mashi who helped Nuumo Tr bi of Nuua to find and make/form Tshi. 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. 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. In ancient Israel of the Bible, the deceased were said to be buried across the river Jordan. [11] P. Ozanne, Notes on the Early Archaeology of Accra, Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, Vol.VI, 1962. Wulm (Chief Priest) among the Gas; Gbii kpaanyo anina w,an extract from from Hmw greetings 2. So far, African These marauding ants known to the Akans as nkrang, and whose aggressive nature were attributed to the powerful wandering Ga emigrant tribes; easily subdued other tribes as well as the Guans who were the aborigines of the land. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. prominent kings in our history, Nii Oka mashi had said that, him and his people came from Boma. The modern Adangbe include the people of Shai . Here is a sneak preview of the major tribes and ethnic groups in Ghana. The journey in search of GA Naming Pattern - GhanaWeb The Kusasi also utilize Hausa and Moore languages for trading; however, they have a great affiliation . [7] F. K. Buah, West Africa and Europe, 1967. Can you who say you are a stranger make me mankralo? Animal-shaped coffins often represent the totem of the deceased clan. Gas are said to have lived predominantly on the southern parts of the River Nile which is present day 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). Of course, Loei is a Ga name for another species of dark brown ants, which meanders about in great swarms; invading houses, killing and devouring everything in their way. King AYI KUSHI, spelled Cush in Hebrew, Genesis 10: 6 Jeremiah 13:23, Isaiah 18:12) led the Ga-Dangmes from Cush in Jerusalem to Ayawaso and was the founder of the GA DYNASTY. 1. 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. Tribes In Ghana Ghana Insider Ghana Table of Contents. Some of these spirits are associated with unique places. Owusu = Owuolisu, i.e., death is crying: this is the nickname now belonging to every Odate. Bereku quarters. The Alata provide a good example- as servants of the English company, they acquired wealth and certain skills which made them influential member of the society by mid-18th century, [and]one Cudjoe was referred to variously as English company slave and English company linguist. war. Built in 1482 by the Portuguese in the area they called Mina de Ouro (the gold mine), after they found vast quantities of the precious metal there, the castle is the oldest European structure in sub-Saharan Africa.

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