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44-517: Ga–Dangme may refer to: Ga–Dangme people , an ethnic group in Ghana and Togo Ga–Dangme languages , a language family spoken in Ghana and Togo See also [ edit ] Dangme language Ga language Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Ga–Dangme . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change

88-578: A fairly modern one) is kpanlogo , a modernized traditional dance and music form developed around 1960. Yacub Addy , Obo Addy , and Mustapha Tettey Addy are Ga drummers who have achieved international fame. Music of the Ga-Dangbe people also include [ Klama ], [ Kpatsa ] and the Dipo dance all of the Krobo people. In addition to music, the Ga-Dangbe people are known for their long history and successes in

132-467: A gorge (valley) dividing it into two unequal sections. The people believed this would be a good place to settle, as the climb to the top of the mountain would be difficult, meaning it would be a safe place for habitation and to repulse attacks from invading tribes and enemies. Two leading hunters – Aklo Muase (Aklo Natebi) and Madja – were sent by priests to ascertain the suitability of the mountain for settlement. The report that came back confirmed that this

176-608: A mystery. In earlier years Manya Krobo was referred by the Government of Ghana as Eastern Krobo, while the Yilo Krobo was referred as the Western Krobo. From that date to the present day, the Krobo have been administered as two separate states, named today as Manya and Yilo Krobo. The two Krobo traditional areas were originally known as "Nɔwe" that is Mănyă, meaning "ones home", and Nyέwe (Yilɔ). The name Manya came from

220-514: A result of that, they were taken through series of acculturation rites to be accepted by society. This process involved orientation for meals that the Krobos tabooed. The Yilo continued to verify the acceptability of various foods they learnt to eat while they were with the Akan. The resident Krobo started calling them the derogatory term "Wa yilɔ", meaning "we told you we don't eat this". The Krobos are

264-594: A stool, which served as the central object of Ga ritual and war magic. Accra became the most prominent Ga-Dangme towns and is now the heartbeat and capital of Ghana. The Ga people were originally farmers, but today fishing and trading in imported goods are the principal occupations. Trading is generally in the hands of women, and a husband has no control over his wife's money. Succession to most offices held by women and inheritance of women's property are by matrilineal descent. Inheritance of other property and succession to male-held public offices are by patrilineal descent. Men of

308-575: Is celebrated in remembrance of a great famine that hit the Ga people. It is mainly a food festival which celebrates the passing of that terrible period in the history of the Ga people. It takes place in August every year and is celebrated by all the Ga clans. The Dangbe people from Ada celebrate the Asafotu festival, which is also called 'Asafotufiam', an annual warrior's festival celebrated by Ada people from

352-404: Is not unusual for a single coffin to cost $ 600. This is expensive for local families considering that it is not unusual to meet people with an income of only $ 50 a month. This means that funerals are often paid for by wealthier members of the family, if such a member exists, with smaller contributions coming from other working members of the family. This is needed as the coffin is only a portion of

396-772: The Ga–Dangme ethnolinguistic group. The Ga-Dangmes are one ethnic group that lives primarily in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Ethnic Ga family names (surnames) include Nikoi, Amon, Kotey, Kotei, Adei, Adjei, Kutorkor, Okantey, Oblitey, Lartey, Nortey, Aryee, Obodai, Oboshi, Torgbor, Torshii and Lante. The following are names derived from the ethnic Dangme and common among the Ningos Tettey, Tetteh, Teye, Narh, Narteh, Nartey, Kwei, Kweinor, Kwetey, Dugbatey, Martey, Addotey, Addo, Siaw, Saki, Amanor, Djangba, Kabu, Kabutey, Koranteng, Nortse, Horminor. These are aligned to

440-641: The Shai and Krobo people, the Dipo is the formal rite of passage. Originally designed as a formal marriage training for mature women in their twenties, Dipo has evolved into a pre-marital sexual purification rite that involves teenage girls conducting traditional religious rituals and putting on dance performances for the public. Initiates are partially nude throughout much of the ritual. In addition, they are each adorned with custom-made glass beads, colorful loincloths , and various forms of woven headgear. According to researcher and author Priscilla Akua Boakye, "[Dipo]

484-408: The 1950s. The pioneers of these artistic coffins were master craftsmen, such as Ataa Oko (1919–2012) from La, and Seth Kane Kwei (1925–1992) from Teshie. The coffins can be anything wanted by relatives of the deceased from a pencil to an elephant . Coffins are usually crafted to reflect an essence of the deceased in forms such as a character trait , an occupation, or a symbol of one's standing in

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528-533: The British that the Krobo were able to be defeated. Krobo Mountain was the spiritual and physical home of the Krobo people. It was the first settlement of the Krobo people after the split from the other Dangme Groups in Lɔlɔvɔ. The mountain was chosen because it was the ideal protection from the constant warfare at the time. In fact the Krobos won many wars by simply rolling boulders down the mountain – which would prevent

572-868: The Eastern Region and Volta Region of Ghana, about 15% of lands belong to the Dangme People. These are mainly in the Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo Districts of the Eastern Region. In the Agotime Area of Volta Region and the Dangme Area in the Southern part of Togo. Dangme occupations are fishing, trading and farming which is based on the Huza system. This was an early and innovative form of capitalism where an elaborate system of property ownership

616-520: The Huza”), who later acts as the Huza leader and representative. Millet was formerly the staple food, but more common crops now include cassava, yams, corn (maize), plantain, cocoa, and palm oil . Lineage members generally return to the traditional lineage home from the Huza farms several times a year to participate in the festivals of their lineage gods. There are also many annual festivals. The Ga-Dangme are organized into clans based on patrilineal descent;

660-705: The Krobo Mountains [ Kloyom ] on the last Friday of October with a climax on the Saturday with a grand Durbar of Chiefs and People of the Krobo Traditional Area. the [ Konor ] who is the Paramount Chief sits in state as the overlord together with his sub-chiefs, Government officials, other traditional Authorities and Invited guests. The Ga-Dangbe music includes drumming and dancing. One of their traditional music and dance styles (albeit

704-635: The Tagologo Plains. The seven Dangme groups are: Krobo, Ada, Prampram, Shai, Ningo, Osu-Doku, and Kpone. The Osudoku people climbed the Osudoku mountain, the Ada people went to the east coast, the Shai, Prampram and Kpone people travelled inland. The Ningo people also travelled southwards to the coast. After the split, the Krobo people pressed on towards the west until they saw a 1,108-feet-high mountain with

748-772: The Volta River. The Dangme People include the Ada, Kpone, Krobo , Ningo , Osudoku, Prampram, and Shai, all speaking Dangbe of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. The Dangme People have the largest population among the two related Ga-Dangme People. About 70% of the Greater Accra Regional Land is owned by the Dangmes located in Dangme East and Dangme West Districts of Ghana. Also, in

792-505: The burials when they are buried with the deceased. They often symbolise the dead people's professions, the purpose being to help them continue with their earthly profession in the afterlife . Certain shapes, such as a sword or chair coffin, represent royal or priestly insignia with a magical and religious function. Only people with the appropriate status are allowed to be buried in these types of coffins. Various creatures, such as lions, cockerels and crabs represent clan totems . Similarly, only

836-631: The clans are subdivided into localized patrilineages, the basic units of the Ga-Dangme historical, political, cultural tribal group. Linguistically, the Ga-Dangbe speak the Kwa languages Ga and Dangme and are a patrilineal people. Dangme is exclusively closer to the original Ga–Dangme languages than the Ga language. The Ga people celebrate the Homowo festival, which literally means "hooting at hunger". This festival originated several centuries ago. It

880-399: The community. For example, a taxicab driver is most likely to be buried in a coffin shaped as a car. Many families spend excessive amounts on coffins because they often feel that they have to pay their last respects to the deceased and being buried in a coffin of cultural, symbolic as well as expensive taste is seen as fitting. Prices of coffins can vary depending on what is being ordered. It

924-408: The country because of their dominant role in commercial production of export crops as well as beading. The Dangme people travelled as one group, and it was not until their arrival in Ghana that they split into the seven Dangme groups that are known of today. The place of their split was renamed "Lɔlɔvɔ", an Ewe term meaning "Love is finished (ended)". The place is still in existence and is now known as

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968-405: The durbar, greetings are exchanged between the chiefs, libations are poured and declarations of allegiance are made. The Dangbe people from Odumase - Krobo also Celebrate the [ Ngmayem ] festival, An Annual Harvest festival to Celebrate the bounty harvest of their farmers is celebrated by the Krobo people throughout the last week (Seven days) of October with a visit to their famous Ancestral home,

1012-451: The enemy from coming up and kill many of them in the process. As the population increased, many Krobos would work on farms in the areas surrounding the mountain. The Mountain, however, continued to be the centre of culture, where all important rituals took place. Girls undergoing the Dipo rite of passage would traditionally spend one–three years on the mountain going through the Dipo customs. It

1056-455: The ethnic Ga as well: Lomo, Lomotey, Tetteh, Ankrah, Tetteyfio, Laryea, Ayitey, Okai, Bortey, Quaye, Quaynor, Ashong, Kotei, Sowah, Odoi, Ablor, Adjetey, Dodoo, Darku and Quartey. (Dawhenya royal family name: Darpoh) Under their leader King Ayi Kushi (Cush) (1483–1519) they were led from the east in several states before reaching their destination in Accra. Oral traditions state the Ga came from

1100-552: The figural coffins are used for funerals, only a few are exported for international art exhibitions. 5°35′16″N 0°05′59″W  /  5.5877°N 0.0996°W  / 5.5877; -0.0996 Krobo people The Krobos (pronounced krorbors) are a few select people from the Eastern Region of Ghana. They are divided into the Manya and the Yilo. The exact date on which the Krobos divided themselves into Yilo and Manya remains

1144-464: The harvest cycle, when these special customs and ceremonies are performed. These include purification ceremonies. The celebration reaches its climax with a durbar of chiefs, a colourful procession of the Chiefs in palanquins with their retinue. They are accompanied by traditional military groups called ' Asafo Companies' amidst drumming, singing and dancing through the streets and on the durbar grounds. At

1188-639: The heads of the families concerned are permitted to be buried in coffins such as these. Many coffin shapes also evoke proverbs, which are interpreted in different ways by the Ga. Design coffins have been used since around the 1950s, especially in rural Ga groups with traditional beliefs, and have now become an integral part of Ga burial culture. Today, figural coffins are made in several workshops in Togo and Greater Accra. Popular coffinmakers are, for example, Cedi and Eric Adjetey Anang of Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop , Paa Joe , Daniel Mensah and Kudjoe Affutu . Most of

1232-401: The last Thursday of July to the first weekend of August. It commemorates the victories of the warriors in battle and is a memorial for those who fell on the battlefield. To re-enact these historic events, the warriors dress in traditional battle dress and stage a mock battle. This is also a time for male rites of passage , when young men are introduced to warfare. The festival also coincides with

1276-459: The lineage live together in a men's compound, while women, even after marriage, live with their mothers and children in a women's compound. Each Ga town has a number of different cults and many gods, and there are a number of annual town festivals. The Dangme people occupy the coastal area of Ghana from Kpone to Ada, on the Volta River and South Atlantic Ocean along the Gulf of Guinea and inland along

1320-701: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ga–Dangme&oldid=978392616 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Language and nationality disambiguation pages Ga%E2%80%93Dangme people The Ga-Dangbe , Ga-Dangme , Ga-Adangme or Ga-Adangbe are an ethnic group in Ghana , Togo and Benin . The Ga or Gan and Dangbe or Dangme people are grouped as part of

1364-406: The living and able to influence their relatives who are still living (lucky as they are). This is why families do everything they can to ensure that a dead person is sympathetic towards them as early as possible. The social status of the deceased depends primarily on the size and the success of the burial service and of course the usage of an exclusive coffin. These coffins are only seen on the day of

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1408-553: The most numerous of the Ga-Adangme-speaking peoples. They are located in the mountains just inland from the coast and are the fourth largest ethnic group in the country. During the 19th century they were one of the small states of the Gold Coast in the formative stages of political and cultural development. After the middle of the 19th century they became economically and politically one of the most important groups in

1452-531: The mountain stated that the architecture was like nothing they had seen in Africa before. The Krobo developed their own watering system on the mountain to support their growing population. When the population grew beyond the mountain, the people started spending more time in the surrounding areas. In fact, through the Krobo Huza system of land acquisition the Krobo people managed to acquire large amounts of land in

1496-431: The people up to three days to vacate the mountain. Many Krobo people were living in the surrounding areas at the foot of the mountain, working on their farms, and, as was to be expected, for those at the foot of the mountain and further afield (some even a few days away), it was very hard to travel to the mountain, collect belongings and bring them down within the three-day limit. So people could only carry what they could and

1540-668: The region of Lake Chad and reached their destination in the 16th century. It is also believed that by the 17th century they traveled down the River Niger and crossed the Volta to reach present day Ghana. This leader is the Moses of the Ga-Dangme people, with his seven puritan laws he gave them and that has formed the basis and philosophy of the state. The Ga people were organized into six independent towns ( Accra ( Ga Mashie ), Osu , La , Teshie , Nungua , and Tema ). Each town had

1584-487: The seclusion of the mountain allowed certain warrior cults to be practised and laws to be broken (e.g. only burying your dead in the cemetery) without repercussions. As a result, the mountain was viewed by the colonial government as a Fetish mountain and when Governor Griffiths had the opportunity to remove the Krobo from the mountain he did that with the Native Customs Ordinance of 1892. The Governor gave

1628-508: The sport of boxing . The fishing community of Bukom on the outskirts of Accra , is considered as the mecca of boxing in Ghana and has produced several notable boxers. It is the home of many famous boxing "clubs" and gymnasiums. Notable fighters include former WBC champion, David Kotei aka DK Poison , Alfred Kotey , Joshua "The Hitter" Clottey , and former WBA Welterweight champion boxer Ike "Bazooka" Quartey , and former multi-weight class champion Azumah "Zoom Zoom" Nelson aka Prof . For

1672-486: The surrounding areas in what Field referred to as the "Bloodless conquest". Krobo Mountain continued to be the centre for religious and cultural affairs until their eviction. From the 17th century, the Krobo Mountain became a place of several attacks from invading tribes and enemies. However the Krobo people were always able to fight off the enemy and it was only through the introduction of Rockets and Rifle fire by

1716-461: The total funeral cost that will be incurred. Some foreigners are known to have been buried in Ga-styled coffins. The use of these fantasy coffins is explained by the religious beliefs of the Ga people regarding their afterlife. They believe that death is not the end and that life continues in the next world in the same way it did on earth. Ancestors are also thought to be much more powerful than

1760-410: The word " Maonya ", literally meaning "keep your mouth shut". This goes with the saying " nɔ bi nya me tee " – literally meaning "one does not need to talk about everything one sees". Yilo, on the other hand, comes from the expression " wa yilɔ ", meaning "we don't eat that". Some oral traditions have it that, when the Yilo returned from Krobo Denkyera, they lost most of their indigenous Krobo customs; as

1804-530: Was a form of vocational training for young women in which they were taught generally how to assume their roles as responsible women." Despite the ritual being designated for older teenaged girls, it is not uncommon for young pre-adolescent and even toddler aged girls to take part. The Ga people are known for their funeral celebrations and processions. The Ga believe that when someone dies, they move to another life. Therefore, special coffins are often crafted by highly skilled carpenters since this tradition spread in

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1848-439: Was established and subsequently shared. In this system a huge tract of land is acquired by a group of people but represented by a prominent member of the group, the group were usually members of an extended family; the land is subdivided among them according to the amount each has paid, and each individual thereafter has complete control of his own section. Negotiations with the seller are carried out by an elected Huzatse (“father of

1892-471: Was indeed a good place for habitation and the mountain later became known as "Klo yo" (Krobo Mountain). In fact the name "Krobo" is of Akan origin and is derived from the term "Kro-obo-so-Foɔ", meaning "Town of rock/mountain dwellers". The Mountain became the cultural and ritual centre for the Krobo people. It was a town of stone houses, many stories with several rooms – some accounts state there were some houses with 20–30 rooms. In fact, missionaries who visited

1936-454: Was taboo for the Djemli (priests) to leave the mountain overnight. Moreover, as their ancestors were buried in family homes on the mountain, the mountain became the ancestral home not just spiritually but literally. However, this proved a problem for the colonial Government as the people were very hard to monitor and therefore control from their mountain settlements. Many reports came back that

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