The above general outline of the african initiation rites is a summary of the complete system of rites that have enormous implications for black communities in various parts of the diaspora. The most well preserved puberty rites are the dipo pictured of the krobo ethnic group and the bragoro of the ashantis. Ghana meaning being a part of a community, and so the krobo rites of passage, which provide boys and girls with access to the family community as well as to. Rites of passage, like most of william goldings novels, is an extended parable that treats aspects of the great christian themes of sin and redemption. Puberty rites among the akan are known as bragoro or brapue.
Phase i, the preparation stage, is a 7week oncampus summer college transition experience. Other elements of art are also present and showcased by the couple and their families during the marriage rites. Throughout southern ghana, ethnic groups carry out special naming ceremonies for. Puberty and initiation rites among the akan people. Ghana meaning being a part of a community, and so the krobo rites of passage, which provide boys and girls with access to the family community as well as to the greater krobo community, allow the young people to become fulfilled adults. Puberty and initiation rites among the akan people mypaperhub. Death and funeral rites represent the last rite of passage and the ga ethnic group of ghana has its own unique way of performing them. Among some of the indigenous societies of africa and australia, intentionally painful genital surgery has been an integral part of such rites of passage. He added that many cultures across the world have made funeral rites as part of the rites of passage performed to usher dead people into the spiritual world. The various rites by means of which societies effect transitions in the life. Dipo rite of passage used to guide krobo girls to achieve a stronger sense of. It involves a significant change of status in society. Akan is a term employed in referring to ghanas largest ethnic group. These are nations located in the eastern region of modern day ghana.
The brooklyn museum exhibition travelled to museums throughout the usa, south america and europe. The maasai of kenya and tanzania have several rites of passage that carry boys into manhood. Rites of passage as could be seen in this work dealt with the various ritual which an individual undergo from one stage to another. The dipo rite of the krobo in ghana is compared and. O box 3420, thika kenya abstract this essay is an analysis of the rituals in african cosmology. Initiation rites and rituals in african cosmology prof. In many african societies, art plays an important role in various rites of passage throughout the cycle of life. The word akyum is used to describe a group of three states. The transition from childhood to adulthood is a major one, not only for the individual but the society at large. Jumia travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 unique african rites of passage. In traditional african societies, a firm stress is placed on the performance of rituals as customary, standardized, and symbolic social communication that is repeatable according to fixed patterns. Rites of passage which are found everywhere in the world are lifecycle ceremonies that usually include religious transformations with a passage to the next stage of life.
These rituals are rooted in ancient traditions and support girls psychological. African societies are known for marking the different transitions of a persons life cycle with different ritual or rites of passage. Rites of passage in many cultures are used to mark the socially recognized transition to sexual maturity. In chapter one, pregnancy rites was one of the rites of passage. Cultural sociology of the middle east, asia and africa, vol.
Family and friends gather to bare witness, and impart wisdom, support, love, and strength in these crucial transitions. A zulu rite of passage according to victor mdluli from esiphezi kwazulu. Boys between the ages of 1020 come together to be initiated as the new warrior class of the tribe, placed in dozens of houses built for the occasion. The chiku awali rites of passage consists of cultural and educational workshops, an overnight trip and rites of passage ceremonies.
This study investigates the historical background of the practice, the changes it has. I ordered this book as a followup reading to the 2000 book the africans who wrote the bible, which makes a connection between todays west african akans and ancient egyptians and by that with the. Death and funeral rites represent the last rite of passage and the ga ethnic group of ghana has its own unique way of. The dipo rite of the krobo in ghana is compared and contrasted with the russ in norway with specific reference to social change and.
In isizulu this ceremony has three different names. This study investigates the historical background of the practice, the changes it has undergone and reasons for these changes. Every compound has a shrine for making sacrifices and pouring libations to the spirits of ancestors, thereby establishing links between past generations and the present one. Although african rites of passage appear similar, there is notable difference in the style of celebration. Rites of passage for youth of african descent in america pdf full ebook. From shakespeares comic rites, by edward berry cambridge. They have the most elaborate puberty rites for girls in ghana today. After the child naming ceremony, puberty rites are the next set of rituals of social status transformation which children undergo in ghanaian culture.
The rites of passage program is a stamford connecticut public middle school district supported program, designed to assist primarily, but not exclusively africanamerican students in accurately learning about and integrating the significance of their african and american heritages. In ghana for example, we have dipo among the krobos, bragoro among the. Funeral rite is one of such cultural identities that specifies how a particular group of people honor the dead. Socioeconomic transformation of akan funeral rites in ghana. These rites of passages are quite unique and interesting to know, and they are a crucial aspect of the culture of africans. Akan is a term employed in referring to ghana s largest ethnic group. The rite of adulthood is the second major initiation rite and it is nowadays the most popular among the set of rites. Here again the writer made mention of the various ceremonies which accompany puberty and its significance in african traditional religion. Rite of passage, ceremonial event, existing in all historically known societies, that is often connected with one of the biological milestones of life birth, maturity, reproduction, and death and that marks the passage from one social or religious status to another. An analysis of the rites of passage and their relation to christianity.
The delaware valley chapters of jack and jill of america, inc. This ceremony is held annually and it is expected that. These include violations of their property rights, coercive subjection to the observance of customarily genderedthe observance of customarily genderedconstructed ritesritesofofpassage widowhood rites passage widowhood rites kunadiekunadie. The various rites by means of which societies effect transitions in the life of an individual from one social identity to another include celebrations of crises in the life cycle 23. It will deal with a comprehensive interpretation of ritual and their meaning or meanings. A rite of passage is a ceremony or ritual of the passage which occurs when an individual leaves one group to enter another. Feb 28, 2018 ghana galamsey part 1 akan ghana movies latest ghanaian movies 2019 duration. Paul kyalo school of humanities and social sciences mount kenya university p. These ceremonies mark the entry of young women into adulthood. Rites of passage and inculcation of values among the ashanti of ghana. Most people today assume that rites of passage only refers to initiation into adulthood, and they are often not aware that adulthood rites are only one set of rites within a larger system of rites. The festival is celebrated in the month of april every year.
The various rites of passage rituals in different cultures. A zulu rite of passage according to victor mdluli from. Ghanaians introduction, location, language, folklore. The rites of traditional religion are enormously important to the kassenanankana. These adornments are hugely made up of beads and woven kente cloth huber, 1993. Unique ways different african cultures celebrate rites of passage. Dipo is a prominent transitional rite of passage among the krobo which has been carried out for. Parents upon hearing announcement of the rites send their qualified girls to the chief. The birth rite can be separated into three major events.
Michelle 2010 came out with the meaning of funeral rites as customs and rituals, often. The traditional african including the effutu people in ghana believes that path of. A boy typically reaches the age of puberty when he is 14 years old, thats why we call the associated ritual the 14th in english. Most communities in ghana perform naming and outdooring ceremonies when a baby is born. Rites of passage and inculcation of values among the ashanti of. Represented as a percentage of the entire ghanaian population, the akan is approximately 49. Life skills enrichment chiku awali african dance arts. African rites rituals in africa, just as in other parts of the world, utilize symbols to express and convey meanings, verbally and nonverbally. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Dipo is a ghanaian traditional festival celebrated by the people of odumase in the eastern region of ghana. Rites of passage rituals celebrate the transitions in ones lives. These rites of passages are quite unique and interesting to. Among the various categories of rites of passage, mercea eliade and peter sarpong believe that the puberty rites are very important omenyo, 2001. The various rites by means of which societies effect transitions in the life of an individual from one social identity to another include celebrations of crises in.
The festival is used to usher into puberty, girls who are virgins and it signifies that a lady, who partakes in it, is of age to be married. The term is now fully adopted into anthropology as well as into the literature and popular cultures of many modern languages. Naming rites among the akan of ghana africa global news. Food security, funeral rites, culture, tradition, ancient 1. This article examines the contemporary akan funeral practices in ghana. Secondly, they function as an educational process for accelerating growth in a passage of an individual or a group, pointing to special needs in a. Of these 5, people ordinarily associate rites of passage with the passage into adulthood. The birth of a child, a youths coming of age, and the funeral of a respected elder are all events in which an individual undergoes a change of status. In another chapter, puberty rites were mentioned as another rites of passage. After undergoing these rites of passage, both sexes are prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood and are allowed and expected to participate in society in fundamentally different ways.
The passage journey strives to provide young people with authentic african cultural experiences, life skills, and leadership training. Pdf on jan 1, 2012, casey golomski and others published rites of passage. A girl who is being initiated is called brani or sakyima. Puberty and initiation rites among the akan people akan is a term employed in referring to ghanas largest ethnic group. These rituals mark an individuals transition from one stage of life to another. Often involves alienation or movement across boundaries. The influence of traditional religion on fertility regulation. These communities are struggling to find solid and lasting solutions to long standing problems, resulting from centuries of slavery and colonialism. In some societies, the rites of passage are observed to usher young people into adulthood.
Rites of passage for girls beth hossfeld, mft encyclopedia of psychology and religion article id. For some groups, this change is so dramatic that the newly initiated aduly is given a new name and presented to the community as a different person. Most akan, especially the asante and bono, perform puberty rites for their daughters. Students are introduced to an africancentered rites of passage model, and are enrolled in college english i, black experience i, then college english ii, and black experience ii. Through these journeys of the spirit, as the west african shaman and teacher maildoma patrice some has called them, people are able to transcend the everyday concerns of life to connect with. This paper examines the role social change and modernity plays in adolescent rites of passage in developing and developed countries. Bragoro can be performed only after a girls first menstruation.
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