origin of the ga tribe in ghana
[9] Margaret J. There are many rules and regulations that girls pass through during this period compared to boys. Moses and his brother An interesting point is that for 1000s of years there have been people who believed in one God. However, because much of the land was of thick bush inhabited by wild and dangerous animals, hunters who opened up tracts of these forests were recognized as owners of such places. Consequently, these extended family groups comprising of both emigrants and aborigines either through intermarriages or through assimilation, formed settlements that lived by farming and to some extent hunting. Among them is the Kpakpatse We Royal Family, whose history we shall discuss in this discourse. What language does the Ga-Adangbe tribe speak? 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. mashi who helped Nuumo Tr bi of Nuua to find and make/form Tshi. They are also used to enforce particular virtues. She argued that these were emigrant refugee families of the Ga Boni, Ga Wo, Ga Mashie and the Obutu fleeing in separate parties from Tetetutu and other Benin parts, probably travelling along the beach, and eventually settled along the coastlines of the Gulf of Guinea, in the Greater Accra region. SHEIKH MUSTAFAS INTRODUCTION IS BELOW type his name into Google to find his blog or check out my re blogs. A personal account of St George Castle in Elmina is below by the New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/25/travel/the-slave-fortresses-of-ghana.html?pagewanted=all. In a case of D.P. A wise man will most likely be buried in a coffin-shaped like an antelope, while a dead fisherman (the predominant occupation of the Ga people) will mostly be sent to the ancestral realm in a fish-shaped coffin. These symbols are considered sacred, and not everybody is allowed to view them. Who has the biggest forehead in the world? The Nungua Mantse, in consultation with the Ga Mashi Mantse gave Osu lands to the KADI GBOI as people of Osu were referred to. 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. Who; then, are the Tarbons, Alatas and Otublohums of Ga Mashie when we attempt to write or gossip about Ga History? In this way, to quote Bruce-Myers (1927, p.168), the humble fishing villages which the Portuguese saw from their ships in the 1490s developed into the capital of the independent Republic of Ghana. Thus, this community which until the beginning of the twentieth century was limited to the confines of the Ga traditional settlements along the coast; between the Christiansborg Castle, Ussher and James Forts, and the Korle lagoon, has grown in leaps and bounds despite its chequered history. In ancient Israel of the Bible, the deceased were said to be buried across the river Jordan. 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. where they stayed for a long time; this place was called Boma near the beach town Cabinda in Congo (Zaire), but 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. According to oral traditions, the migration of the various groups of Ga-speakers into the Accra plains took place at different times. Among them is the Kpakpatse We Royal Family, whose history we shall discuss in this discourse. Thus while the Akans; Dagomba, Mamprusi and the Gonja, had always lived in centralised states under clan head bound together by kinship ties and chiefs, it was only later that nearly all the Ga-Adangbe and the Ewes of who lived in small communities under clan or lineage heads and traditional priests, adopted the institution of chieftaincy from the Akan peoples. 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. Trading is generally in the hands of women, and a husband has no control over his wifes money. The Kwa people of Africa include the Ga-Dagbe, Ewe, Akwapim, Fanti, Kwahu, and Akim and Ashanti. Competition to secure land for farming, control trade . For example, from the last week of July to the first weekend of August, they have a celebration called Asafotu or Asafotufiami. Map of Ghana The Ga Adangebe started off in Egypt in a city called Goshen. They were once defeated and ruled by the Akwamus (1680-1730); the Akyems (1730-1742) and the Asantes (1742- 1826). At puberty, the girls go through a training called Dipo, which is known to be the formal rite of passage. They mainly sell fish, maize, beer, and even prepared foods. The journey in search of But it is evident that they lived in Boma for a very long time, (also only done after the 8th day); Patrilineal nature of Gas (inheritance from father side); The importance of After successfully passing all these tests, they are taught by ritual mothers how to give birth, nature, housekeeping, cleaning, seduce, and treat their husbands well. I will be exploring their heritage and other tribes later in this blog. Africa Guide - People and Culture of Ghana. In ancient Israel of the Bible, the deceased were said to be buried across the river Jordan. Ghana was populated by Soninke clans of Mande-speaking people who acted as intermediaries between the Arab and Amazigh (Berber) salt traders . The Ga women also make accessories using beads, gold, and wood and then wear them during these important occasions. Aboma, a suburb in Tshi came from. The largest tribe in the Volta region (in which Globe Aware operates) are the Ewe. Also, other tribes such as the Ewe are believed to have influenced the Adangbe. Each Ga town has a number of different cults and many gods, and there are a number of annual town festivals. Probably, this might be well supported if we were to consider this from Professor Irene Odotei: After the defeat of Asante in 1826, the British began to consolidate their power on the Gold Coast in general. Currently English is the official language of. I am going to research this tribe and continue to update this post with my findings. It has a tradition of viewing time as a sequence of events instead of minutes and hours. Wulm (Chief Priest) among the Gas; Gbii kpaanyo anina w,an extract from from Hmw greetings The Kusasi population in Ghana is estimated to be around 646,000. Their staple foods are rice and yams, mostly when they are in season. The cited examples: Sakisi saks (Danish) scissors; klakun klakun (Danish) Kalkoen (Dutch) turkey; Duku Doek (Dutch) Scarf; Flonoo Forno (Portuguese) Owen; Atrakpoi Trappe (Danish) Stairs. 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. It is believed that one of the I stored the picture below as my investigations led to Elmina Ghana. They speak the Kwa Ga and Dangm languages. 2, (Lon), 1968. These people take their culture seriously and do everything set in place by their forefathers. 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. Bible(Numbers 1 vs 26-47). DIFINITION OF GA Everything you need to know, Kim Kardashian considers leaving reality TV to become a full-time lawyer, her plan sparks reactions, British woman gives birth to Irish Twins 9 months apart, video goes viral, US may risk debt default 'as early as June 1': Yellen, Australia targets Big Tobacco in crackdown on vaping, "Signs of economic recovery are obvious": Akufo-Addo tells workers at May Day event. After being in a tributary relationship with the Akwamu until 1730, Accra regained and largely maintained its independence until it was occupied by the British in 1874. Though the early Ga settlement were initially under the leadership and directions of Wolomei and gbaloi (prophets), these settlements were patterned on Akan military organization as the territorial expansion needed strong defence against invading forces from the Fantes (efa te wu fo) on the West, and the Akyem and Akwamu to the North. It is interesting that Queen Dode (Dodi) Akabis name DODI is a Hebrew Name. As the Gas travelled south, they came across many rivers like the Ghazal and Jebe rivers; these rivers were These three quarters are commonly called James Town and formed the original area of British jurisdiction at Accra. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GA COASTAL TOWNS 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 Nungua Mantse, in consultation with the Ga Mashi Mantse gave Osu lands to the KADI GBOI as people of Osu were referred to.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). A war captain among the Ga is known as Asafoiatse derived from the Akan Asafo (war company), and the asafo songs are mainly in Akan. Is Ga a tribe in Ghana? This was the 3rd group that left Egypt, and it consisted of all the other tribes who lived South of Goshen along the One of the most critical aspects of the funeral of a deceased member of the Ga-Adangbe tribe is the use of symbolic coffins that tells the stories of the departed. Through Zilpah, Jacob had Dan and Gad and four more sons. Komi or Kenkey are their stable food. w e /; Ewe: Eeaw, lit."Ewe people"; or Mono Kple Volta Tsisiwo Dome, lit."Ewe nation","Eenyigba" Eweland;) are a Gbe-speaking ethnic group. [5] today its part on Angola. The Kusasi also utilize Hausa and Moore languages for trading; however, they have a great affiliation . The tribe also believe there are good and bad spirits. The date of the earliest settlement at Accra is not known, but that settlement was flourishing by the fifteenth century. number did not include women, children, old people nor the house of Levi (priests). At this point, it, away as possible from Egypt. There are many preparations for dances and music that these people make. Further information can be found online http://www.encyclopedia.com they state the following: The 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. GA STATE AND SOCIETY On the contrary, Amartey (1991, pp.13-14) narrating from oral traditions or folkloric sources gave a different version of the migration story of the Ga in Gami Ashikwi (Origin of the Ga). You are already subscribed to our newsletter! Cook Loaf) to Fla i.e. The growth of Accra was stimulated by the arrival of the Europeans, the first being the Portuguese, who built a small fort there in 1482. These and ancient traditional customs still observed by Ga-Dangmes clearly lend credence to their claim that they are of Hebrew Israelites origins. The migration route of Ga-Adangbe saw them across Ethiopia and then down to Nigeria. [13] Marion Kilson, African Urban Kinsman: The Ga of Central Accra, 1974. The festival means hooting for hunger. 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. A number of factors, including these shared characteristics, influenced the precolonial period's state creation. There they sojourn for some time, before moving on to the Boni Island in the Niger Delta Basin. 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. For example, the Otublohum of Ga Mashie originally settled in Accra as representatives of the Akwamu government. My DNA shows I am 7% Nigerian and 12% Ivory Coast Ghana. It was situated between the Sahara and the headwaters of the Sngal and Niger rivers, in an area that now comprises southeastern Mauritania and part of Mali. 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. http://www.ghanadot.com have great information regarding this. 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. 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. They left Egypt and migrated to Ghana via Nigeria and Ethiopia there is much discussion around this on the internet. Yet, the Ga symbols are held by some of the community elders. It appears that the slaves were shipped straight from Ghana to Jamaica and other ports that I have yet to explore. While asapatre (Shoe), goa (Guava), dashi (Bribe), gudiimin (Good Evening), moonimooni (Good Morning), feesi (First) are corrupted forms of Portuguese and English words respectively. For example, the coffin's shape used to bury a person in this culture could tell of their profession and social status. The tribe believe that our ancestors guide us through life. These people were absorbed by the Ga-speaking people. Some of these spirits are associated with unique places. They also eat and sell fish, maize, and beer. 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. 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. At the beginning of every year, these people plant and grow crops to prepare for the Homowo festivals. Yes, Professor Adu-Boahen(1975) sates that the Ga-Adangbe differ not only linguistically but also culturally from the Akans. The tribe of Ga are descendants of GAD and are the hebrew Israelites. 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.