SOCI 223 Traditional Ghanaian Social Institutions

Transcription

1 SOCI 223 Traditional Ghanaian Social Institutions Session 11 Traditional Politics 2 Lecturer: Dr. Rosemond Hiadzi, Sociology Contact Information: rhiadzi@ug.edu.gh College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education 2014/ /2017

2 Session Overview At the end of the session, the student will Define chieftaincy and explain its origins Understand the position of a chief in traditional Ghana Explain the various functions of the chief Appreciate the importance of the chief in traditional societies Slide 2

3 Session Outline The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows: Topic One Defining chieftaincy Topic Two Origins of a chief Topic Three - Functions of a chief Slide 3

4 Reading List Abotchie, C. (2011) Structure of Traditional Ghanaian Societies. Hans Publications Ltd. Accra Assimeng, J. M. (1981) Social Structure of Ghana. Chapter one Nukunya, G. K. (2002) Tradition and Change. An Introduction to Sociology. Chapters one and two Slide 4

5 Topic One DEFINING CHIEFTAINCY Slide 5

6 Who is a chief? A person elected or selected in accordance with customary usage and recognized by the government to wield authority and perform functions derived from tradition or assigned by the central government within a specified area (Arhin, 1985) A person, who, hailing from the appropriate family and lineage, has been validly nominated, elected and enstooled, enskinned or installed as a chief in accordance with the requisite applicable customary law and usage (Article 181 of the 1979 constitution of Ghana) Slide 6

7 Some Ghanaian chiefs Slide 7

8 Topic Two ORIGINS OF A CHIEF Slide 8

9 Where did the position of a chief come from? By virtue of being the leader of a group of first settlers Through military gallantry one who exhibited bravery during war fare and who contributed significantly to the success of a war is often rewarded with the position of a chief Through conquest the victor becomes the overlord (chief) and imposes his authority on the vanquished Slide 9

10 Chieftaincy Is an example of a centralized political system whereby power is concentrated in the hands of an individual Some of the functions of the chief are military, religious, judicial, administrative, legislative, economic and cultural Slide 10

11 Topic Three FUNCTIONS OF A CHIEF Slide 11

12 Military functions Led the people in times of war His capture during war meant that his people had to surrender He is the representative of the continuity and permanence of his society Amongst the Akans specifically the Akim Kotoku for instance, there were 5 principal divisions of the military each with its own chief namely the benkumhene, nifahene, adontenhene, krontihene and gyaasehene Slide 12

13 Religious functions His position is seen as sacred He is regarded as the chief priest of the people He performs elaborate rituals on important festive occasions eg. Rituals to cleanse the blackened stools which is believed to be the stools on which the first chiefs sat Slide 13

14 Judicial functions Responsible for the settlement of disputes Ensures that crime is not committed eg. Murder, adultery, theft, incest, violation of taboos etc Also ensures reconciliation among members of the community He also ensures reconciliation between men and the spiritual forces He performs these functions together with his council of elders and heads of clans where applicable Sanctions that he applies to wrongdoers include the death penalty, ostracism, imposition of fines, removal from office, disqualification to hold public office etc. Slide 14

15 Administrative functions The general well being and administration of the society/community He does this in consultation with his traditional council The traditional council is usually made up of heads of the different clans in the traditional area Slide 15

16 Legislative functions Takes decisions affecting the state such as payment of tributes, land tenure, trade, customary marriage, communal labor etc These decisions become customary laws The town crier (gong beater) is used to disseminate information regarding the laws to the members of the community Slide 16

17 Economic functions Mobilizes his people for communal labor eg. To clean the community, construct school buildings etc Has monopoly over certain scarce resources such as gold, gun powder Imposes tributes and taxes on his people which is a means of generating funds for the development of the community Special levies eg death duties and war booties also helped increase the wealth of the state NB. Death duties refers to the percentage of the property of an elder who dies which is appropriated to the stool Chiefs were accountable to the people and thus could not misappropriate funds that were generated. If a chief was found to have embezzled funds, he would be de-stooled/de-skinned Slide 17

18 Cultural functions The chief was selected based on the cultural values of the society/community eg wisdom, valor, comeliness, fair speech etc He is seen as the embodiment of culture through his mode of dressing, speech, manner of walking, eating and general behavior He sees to the perpetuation of the traditions and customs of the people Slide 18

19 Food for thought Looking at the various functions of the chief, do you think the position of the chief in Ghana today is anachronistic? Slide 19