Info For You Lot Frafra (Gurune) People: The Hardworking Agrarian, Handbasket Weaving Experts Too Musical People Of The Upper Share Of Ghana
"Yinε san ka ku tinŋa tin sack di" (If God does non kill, the Earth volition non eat) Frafra Proverb.
The Frafra (also known as Gorse) are hardworking agricultural Gur-speaking people that forms a subset of Gurune/Gurunshi ethnic grouping inwards Northern Republic of Ghana in addition to Southern Burkina Faso. The Frafra people who live predominantly inwards the north-eastern component subdivision of the Upper East Region of Ghana, called themselves inwards Gurune linguistic communication as "Gorse,' whilst some historians refer to them as "Gurune." However, when a Frafra meets whatever Gurune speaking someone he refer to him or her as "Mabia" (My family).
Frafra people of Zarantinga performing traditional dance,Ghana
Their pop call Frafra is a colonialist term given to them past times the Christian Missionaries, who when they foremost encountered Frafra farmers were greeted with the mutual greeting to people working "Ya Fare fare?", which agency "How is your suffering (work)?" The missionaries began referring to these Gurune people as Frafra, a derivation of the greeting, which eventually was adopted past times the people themselves in addition to has been popularized past times the Southern Ghanaian peoples.
Frafra human being from Upper East Region of Republic of Ghana showing elaborate tribal facial marks
The Frafra are also good known for their artistic arts and crafts products: straw articles similar hats in addition to baskets as good as plume products. Their products tin sack live found all over Republic of Ghana inwards the major towns that tourists visit. Since the colonial era Frafra youth have got been compelled to emigrate to the southern parts inwards search of menial jobs.
Frafra tribe human being in addition to Ghanaian instrumentalist in addition to griot, Atongo_Zimba. His album Allah Mongode was recorded inwards Switzerland. His album Barefoot inwards the Sand was nominated "African CD of the Year" inwards 2007 past times Amsterdam television. His recording of No Beer inwards Heaven was a major hitting inwards Republic of Ghana inwards 2004. Click to lookout adult man in addition to take heed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XS5goLOhS8
They were formally looked downward upon past times their Northern neighbors as good as the Southern tribes because of the lack of many literate people with them, their willingness to do all sort of menial piece of work in addition to also their habits of "eating dogs." However, inwards recent times, Frafra people are 1 of the most well-educated people from the Northern in addition to Upper Regions of Ghana. They have got a formidable association, BONABOTO, (an association of Frafra people, notably Bongo, Nangodi, Bolgatanga in addition to Tongo) which champion the political in addition to socio-economic well-being of Frafra people inwards Ghana.
Frafra traditional dancers
Bolgatanga is the commercial centre of the Frafra people. Other of import villages in addition to towns include Bongo, Tongo, Zuarungu, Zoko, Zuarengu, Somburungu, in addition to Pwalugu. It must live noted silent that Tongo is the principal town of the Talensi people who are ethnically different from the Frafra. Today, the Frafra tin sack live found inwards many major towns in addition to villages all roughly Republic of Ghana including Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Sunyani in addition to Cape Coast. They are also highly mobile, oftentimes travelling due south to seem for piece of work during the dry out season. There are also some Gurune-speaking people (the Nankani) inwards Navrongo District, which is to a greater extent than oftentimes than non a Kasem-speaking area. Native Gurune are also found inwards Burkina Faso, inwards the Nahouri province, Eastern component subdivision of Tiébélé in addition to inwards the part of Pô.
Frafra women weaving basket, Bolga, Upper East Region, Ghana
In the middle of the marketplace of the regional working capital missive of the alphabet Bolgatanga, lies a large storey rock. Quite unopen to this expanse is the site where the settlers dug clay for edifice in addition to polishing their houses. Clay inwards the Frafra linguistic communication is "bolga" in addition to stone is "tanga"- thus the seat was named Bolgatanga. It is also referred to as the handicrafts working capital missive of the alphabet of Ghana, in addition to is famous for its intricately designed straw baskets (Tehei), hats in addition to smocks. If you lot discovery yourself hither do see the little interesting regional museum The main dishes of the Upper-East Region are similar to that of the Upper West, "TZ" or "Tuo Zafi" rice balls or Omo Tuo with groundnut soup or dark-green leaves soups, beans, rice in addition to cowpea or "Tubaani", koko with "koose". Beverages include pito in addition to "Zom krom".
Frafra tribe human being in addition to Ghanaian multiple international accolade winner in addition to the most pop traditional artiste of all time, King Ayisoba with his kologo or molo, a two-stringed calabash lute. Watch his rail " I desire to regard you lot my manlike someone parent here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3_EBMsxyCQ
The Name Frafra
The term Frafra is an umbrella term that refers to a disclose of ethnic groups that percentage the same cultural heritage yet have got some modest differences inwards price of linguistic communication in addition to ritual action. The similarities, however, inwards their civilization inwards price of ritual, linguistic communication in addition to trend of life are far greater than the differences. There are 4 major ethnic groups that brand upwards the Frafra people. We have got the Gurune speaking, the Nabdan speaking, the Boone speaking in addition to Talleni speaking. The Gurune speaking grouping occupies the fundamental portion of the district sharing a edge with the Kesena to the west.
The Nabdan are located eastward of the Guruse in addition to percentage borders with the Kusasi. The Boone speaking grouping is to the due north of the Guruse. They are at the edge with the southern component subdivision of Burkina Faso. The Tallensi, on the other hand, are to the south. There are also some Gurune-speaking people who are situated farther due south sharing edge with the Tallensi. These are called the Paalse in addition to their major town is Pwalugu. These are the 4 major groups that constitute the Frafra people. Extensive anthropological piece of work has been done on the Tallensi past times Meyer Fortes, but non real much written report either anthropological or otherwise, has been registered for the other groups. Though each has its unique characteristics in addition to in all likelihood did non originate from the same ancestor or fifty-fifty from the same area, they are usually seen as a unified whole because of their mutual cultural in addition to linguistic traits.
Frafra daughter showing her facial tribal marks
Actually, it is believed that the term Frafra is a call that the British colonials coined to apply to the Gurune-speaking people. It appears that they found it easier to pronounce the word Frafra rather than the proper call Gurune. The term Frafra is derived from a shape of greeting inwards the Gurune language. The word fara-fara inwards Gurune has ii meanings depending on the context. It could hateful simply ‘thanks’ for a favour done or a greeting peculiarly to people who are working. It is, therefore, supposed that when the British found it hard to pronounce the term Gurune, they resorted to this term, referring non to the greeting or the thanks but to the ethnic grouping itself. It is non real clear how the term came to live associated with the other ethnic groups discussed inwards a higher seat since it is to a greater extent than prominent inwards the Gurune dialect than inwards the others. It may live due to the closeness of language, cultural practices in addition to inwards a higher seat all ritual action.
Frafra handmade woven handbasket from Bolga
According to George Asigre, Rattray treats the Gurunse nether the call Nankanse inwards his book, Tribes of the Ashanti Hinterland. Generally the term Nankanse is used past times the Kasena to refer to the Frafra inwards full general but to a greater extent than specifically to some Frafra speaking groups that do non autumn within the political demarcation of the 3 Frafra districts, which are Bongo, Tellensi-Nabdan in addition to Bolga Districts. Politically they autumn nether Navrongo District but are closer to the Frafra inwards price of language, civilization in addition to ritual action. In fact they are to a greater extent than oftentimes than non referred to as Frafra in addition to they regard themselves as such. Their major settlements are Sirigu, Kandiga, Mirigo in addition to Nabango to the eastward of Navrongo, working capital missive of the alphabet of the Distirct, in addition to Kulgo in addition to Naaga to the due south of Navrongo.
Beautiful Frafra handmade Woven Basket from Bolga,Ghana
Frafra warrior dance
language
Frafra people speak Frafra or Farefare, also known as Gurenɛ, language. The Frafra linguistic communication belongs to Gurma Oti-Volta cluster of languages of the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication family. It is spoken past times over 600,000 people inwards the northern Ghana, peculiarly the Upper East Region, in addition to southern Burkina Faso. It is a national linguistic communication of Ghana, in addition to is closely related to Mossi, aka Moré, the national linguistic communication of Burkina Faso.
Frafra family, Bongo
Gurune (also written Gudenne, Gurenne, Gudeni, Zuadeni), Nankani (Naani, Nankanse, Ninkare), Booni, Talni (Talensi, Talene), in addition to Nab't (Nabit, Nabde, Nabte, Nabdam, Nabdug, Nabrug, Nabnam, Namnam) together with some others are considered the major dialects of the Frafra people. However, Nab't in addition to Talni could also live considered dialects of Mampruli; Mampruli, Kusaal, in addition to Dagaare are inwards plow considered to live sis languages to Gurune. There are obvious linguistic similarities with these in addition to the other languages of the Mabia linguistic communication grouping (Bodomo 1994; St. John-Parsons 1960)
Frafra instrumentalist Bola, playing the kologo lute
History
The Frafra people are believed to have got come upwards from the Gur-language theatre unit of measurement of the Oti-Volta River. They occupy the Bolgatanga, Bongo in addition to Tellensi-Nabdan districts of the Upper East Region of Ghana. They percentage borders with southern Burkina Faso in addition to inwards fact are believed to have got migrated from in that location to their acquaint location. Their linguistic communication is real unopen to Moshie, which is the linguistic communication of 1 of the major ethnic groups inwards Burkina Faso.
Frafra people
The historical origins of Frafra people is real scanty in addition to much interrogation demand to live done on them. However in that location are sure pointers to their historical migration. According to a legend narrated past times Anthony Atarebore, the Frafra in addition to the Dagaaba were both linked with the Dagomba in addition to percentage mutual origin. This Dagomba connectedness re-echoes Hébert's legend virtually the foremost Dagara, an orphan who was defendant of witchcraft in addition to expelled past times the Dagomba chief. The orphan accordingly fled towards the Black Volta in addition to stayed close Babile, across the river. However, both legends do non business concern human relationship for the human relationship with other ethnic groups, which are shown to belong to a mutual Mabia ancestry (Bodomo 1994).
According to Atarebore's legend, "long fourth dimension ago, Dagomba, Gurune in addition to Dagao were brothers, or rather cousins. They lived somewhere inwards Southern Africa with the Bantus. From Southern Africa, they began to migrate northwards through Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda in addition to Kenya. Then, turning westward, they moved to Sierra Leone, Northern Nigeria, in addition to finally to Ghana. Historians differ inwards their view as regards to the nature in addition to scale of these movements. For instance, Lentz (1994) rejects the hypothesis seat frontward past times Eyre-Smith's8 that the history of northern Ghana, indeed of the whole West African savannah, seemed to consist of 'constant' movements of people as a final result of slave-raiding, internecine warfare, etc., whole sections of a tribe or theatre unit of measurement breaking away in addition to migrating to a novel territory. Instead, Carola Lentz suggests that migration took seat inwards small-scale distances in addition to inwards little groups.
It is non real clear whether the Frafra existed during the old Republic of Ghana Empire inwards the Middle Ages in addition to formed component subdivision of that empire, since its acquaint location is non so far from the location of the sometime empire. The facts, however, cannot live verified. According to some elders, the people of Zuarungu, 1 of the major settlements of the Frafra, migrated from Wuarungu inwards Burkina Faso. It is believed that the call Zuarungu is derived from Wuarungu. Even today, in that location is silent a link betwixt the people of Zuarungu in addition to the people of Wuarungu.
For some Frafra chiefs their tradition trace their historical in addition to cultural ties to Mamprusi kingdom. This is clearly the instance of Namos of Tongo whose oral traditions recount how their apical ancestor- Mosore- had come upwards to Tongo on exile from Nalerigu in addition to had remained inwards Tongo. Similar traditions seems to be inwards other Frafra enclaves. Bongo district is made upwards of ii main communities. The original settlers are Gurune-speaking in addition to the 2d grouping is the Mamprusi stock that settled mainly inwards the fundamental component subdivision of the present. Some Frafra Nangodi people also percentage similar Mamprusi ancestry.
Frafra people
Settlement
The typical traditional chemical compound homestead with these people is 1 that combines huts that are thatched with mud in addition to those that are roofed with grass. Huts are circular in addition to the grass covering is pyramidal inwards shape. Compounds differ inwards sizes oftentimes depending on the wealth in addition to status of the original of the compound. The average Frafra chemical compound comprises several abode quarters arranged inwards circular format with a unmarried gateway. These days those who tin sack afford it are probable to roof their huts with metallic format with a unmarried gateway. These days those who tin sack afford it are probable to roof their huts with metallic sheets.
Frafra people sitting inwards front end of their traditional Gurunsi mud house
Economy
The Frafra, similar all other ethnic groups roughly them, are basically agrarian, practising mainly subsistent farming. Land is scarce in addition to naturally the farms are real little inwards size in addition to to a greater extent than oftentimes than non miserable due to continual usage without much replenishment. Due to this, the yield is usually real poor. The rainfall pattern, which is erratic, allows for only 1 cropping season. The main cereal crops produced are millet, sorghum, maize in addition to rice. They also create beans, groundnuts (pea nuts), moo-cow peas in addition to vegetables of all kinds.
The biggest fundamental marketplace is at Bolgatanga in addition to attracts traders from the entire town in addition to beyond. Bolgatanga is the working capital missive of the alphabet of the region, so the marketplace fifty-fifty attracts traders from the viii districts inwards the region. Since the expanse experiences long periods of dry out weather, the people engage inwards other economical activities such as leather works in addition to weaving of straw bags in addition to hats during the dry out period. Areas that have got dugouts in addition to dams engage inwards dry out flavor gardening where they cultivate mainly vegetables for consumption in addition to for sale.
Apart from farming Frafra people maintain livestock including cattle, goats in addition to sheep. These are animals are reared for commercial in addition to domestic consumption. In some Frafra villages, cattle is used as a payment for bridewealth.
Recently gilded was discovered inwards the expanse in addition to at nowadays many immature people are engaged inwards surface mining as their main economical activity. This is gaining popularity but at the same fourth dimension is also degrading the environs since all sorts of unorthodox methods are used to acquire this gold.
Frafra livestock
Socio-Political Organization (The family)
The concept of the theatre unit of measurement for the Frafra is much to a greater extent than than a modern nuclear family. Yiri, theatre in addition to yiridoma, theatre members, refer to all the members living inwards a item house, in addition to that is the family. In a broader sense the theatre unit of measurement may also include all members of the same clan. Mbiti attests to this wider agreement of theatre unit of measurement with many African communities as he notes, “the theatre unit of measurement has a wider circle than the word suggests inwards Europe in addition to North America. In traditional society, the theatre unit of measurement includes children, parents, uncles, aunts, brothers in addition to sisters who may have got their ain children, in addition to other immediate relatives…”
Frafra adult woman holding her baby
It is also quite important to greenback that, for the Frafra, the theatre unit of measurement is non limited to only the living. It also includes all the deceased members. The solid ground of the ‘living-dead’ is only an extension of the theatre unit of measurement on earth, in addition to they are treated with dandy respect, as if they were silent alive. Every Frafra family, therefore, silent has links with its dead. For this argue it is difficult, if non impossible, to statistically enumerate people inwards this locality because the theatre unit of measurement fifty-fifty includes the unborn. Mbiti confirms this when he states, “the African concept of the theatre unit of measurement also includes the unborn members who are silent inwards the loins of the living. They are the buds of promise in addition to expectation, in addition to each theatre unit of measurement makes sure that its existence is non extinguished. The theatre unit of measurement provides for its continuation, in addition to prepares for the coming of those non yet born.”
Frafra kologo player
The Clan
The Frafra lineage is patrilineal. The clan is the theatre unit of measurement inwards a much broader sense. The Frafra refers to the clan as yizuo, which literally agency ‘house head’. Members of 1 yizuo draw their descent to a mutual ancestor. The mutual binding strength for the yizuo is their taboos in addition to their totemic ancestors. Even if they are non living within the same locality, as long as they have got the same totem in addition to taboos, they are of the same clan and, therefore, of the same family.
Marriage is forbidden betwixt ii people with the same totemic ancestor. The oldest surviving boy of the mutual ancestor is e'er caput of the clan. There are usually strong theatre unit of measurement ties with members of the same clan in addition to “all members have got the obligation to assist 1 some other inwards such areas of life as marriage, funerals, sacrifices to the ancestors in addition to the full general well-being of the private in addition to the total clan membership.”
Marriage
Marriages are exogamous in addition to high bridewealth is taken past times the families of pubescent girls when marriages are contracted. The legal guardians of the daughter could demand as much as 4 heads of cattle from the wife-takers. Perhaps as a final result of the high bridewealth marriages were usually stable inwards the past times although this did non foreclose separation of the married couple. Formal divorce could imply the render of a portion of the bridewealth. In some societies how much or what is refunded on divorce depends of whether the married adult woman has given nascency to whatever children for the married adult man in addition to how many.
Politico-religious organization
In the past times Frafra people had no chiefs but clan heads in addition to Earth priest. When the Mamprusi people invaded Gurunsi solid ground they planted chiefs on Frafra people. However, later on the colonial era the Frafra people have got asserted themselves over Mamprusi domination as good as Nayiri`s influence past times enskinning their ain chiefs. As a final result Frafra people at nowadays have got Bolga Naba, Bongo Na etc.
Frafra women, Zarantinga, Ghana
The maintenance of the social order, whether family, clan or hamlet is the save of the principal in addition to elders. “They ensure peace, harmony in addition to the full general welfare of the people.” They are referred to as Kimma from the word Keema, which agency ‘older’. For landed properties in addition to inwards spiritual matters, it is the Tindana, (the custodian of the Earth shrine in addition to cult) who is the overseer. It is his duty to regard to the well-being of the entire hamlet past times offering sacrifices to the Earth shrine periodically in addition to appeasing it if the demand arises. This human being has dandy authorisation in addition to is far to a greater extent than revered, feared in addition to respected than whatever elderberry or principal inwards the hamlet because of his links with the ancestors in addition to the Earth shrine of the land.
As regards the political administration, the Frafra administrative scheme is nether the umbrella of the paramount principal in addition to his administrative mechanism of sub-chiefs in addition to elders. Among other things they settle disputes in addition to conflicts with members of the village. In modern times, however, with the increment of the legal system, where cases are handled inwards courts in addition to tribunals, the role of the principal is taking a novel shape. Many people prefer to guide their disputes to the courts rather than to chiefs for settlement. However, in that location are sure cases such as disputes concerning the dowry of a adult woman that are silent real much handled past times chiefs.
Frafra council meeting
Adaakoya Festival
Adaakoya is celebrated at Bolgatanga in addition to Zuarungu past times the Gurunsis. It is held betwixt Jan in addition to Feb outcry year. The festival serves to give thanks to the gods for expert harvest. The mode of celebration is through various sacrifices followed past times drumming in addition to dancing. The climax is a durbar of the chiefs in addition to people.
Religious belief
Belief inwards the Supreme Being is real strong inwards Frafra cosmology. The Frafra refer to the
Supreme Being in addition to Creator God as Yinε. The etymology of this term is non real clear but it is possible that it comes from the word ayina, which agency one/alone with the connotation of only. Yinε may, therefore, imply
the Only One, 1 who is lonely in addition to inwards a higher seat all. Yinε is oftentimes prefixed with na-a, thus Na-ayinε which implies chief. The na-a is a derivative of principal – naba. Na-anyinε, therefore, agency the only Supreme Chief.
The abode of the Supreme Being is oftentimes viewed as existence inwards the skies or fifty-fifty beyond the skies. As a consequence, the heaven is telephone band yinin, which agency the abode of Yinε, translated inwards English linguistic communication as God. This tin sack give the connotation that for the Frafra God is completely transcendent, in addition to far removed from people. Such a conclusion volition live a hasty 1 in addition to volition live far from the truth. Even though it may live truthful that the Frafra recall of God as transcendent, it is also truthful that they consider their Yinε as 1 who is immanent in addition to e'er with them. This tin sack easily live deciphered from their daily conversation, in addition to blessings in addition to curses. It is mutual to hear the Frafra say, yinε ka zãe – God is non far or yinε yẽti – God sees. To wishing 1 a expert night, the Frafra would say yinε gã-re ho – which agency may God bless your sleep.
Sometimes inwards cursing or blessing, God’s call is also used. One tin sack curse an enemy with the words, yinε wan soke ho – literally, God volition inquire you, inwards other words, God volition curse you lot or bless somebody with the words yinε wan sunge/maale ho – that is, God volition assist you lot or bless you.
Besides these, the Frafra have got lots of attributes of God. For them, God is love, God is powerful, God is merciful, God is the creator of all in that location is inwards the universe. Indeed God is everything. These attributes of God are sometimes found inwards the many theophorus names with the Frafra. In fact most Frafra names are theophorus. Some of these names include Ayinongre – God’s love, Ayinbora/Ayindesum – God is love, Ayinbono – God’s property, Ayingagya – God is inwards a higher seat all in addition to so on. These theophorus names are a powerful aspect of the Frafra concept of the Supreme Being who encompasses all that in that location is in addition to who is the only one, Yinε who has no equal. Idowu underscores the importance of these theophorus names as aspect of the African’s view of God when he observes: “The theophorus proper names that people ship all over Africa are a farther evidence of how existent God is to the Africans.”
In spite of all these, inwards a real paradoxical way, the Frafra do non offering sacrifices to the Supreme Being directly. To live sure, in that location is no shrine with the Frafra dedicated straight to the Supreme Being. This, however, is non a contradiction to the honor in addition to honour the Frafra give to God, their Supreme Being. On the opposite it falls inwards line with their socio-religious life. We saw inwards a higher seat that Chiefs play a real of import role inwards the political life of the Frafra. This tin sack live woven into the fact that the Frafra do non approach God straight inwards their sacrifice but only indirectly.
Among the Frafra similar many other African communities, nobody approaches the principal directly. It is a sign of disrespect non just to the someone of the principal but the whole chieftaincy institution. Such demeanour is usually punished with a fine. The principal is e'er approached through intermediaries such as the elders, in addition to his
decisions in addition to communications are given non straight to the people but through his elders who play the role of mediators. This indeed is reflected inwards the Frafra approach to the Supreme Being. We believe this is the argue why the Frafra do non approach God straight inwards worship in addition to sacrifice but through mediators such as the ancestors, in addition to other divinities.
Frafra tribe human being in addition to King Ayisoba is a hiplife performer in addition to Kologo (guitar) player. watch his video here;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MN2cZPjijE
Divinities: Besides belief inwards the Supreme Being, the Frafra, similar many African communities also believe that other divinities be in addition to they relate with them inwards their capacities as divinities endowed with some divine powers that influence their lives. These divinities tin sack live viewed inwards various forms. They, dissimilar the ancestors were never 1 time human. Their source is non known or fifty-fifty talked virtually but it is fair to imagine along with their mentality that everything comes from the Supreme Being to say that these divinities may have got their source inwards the Supreme Being or at to the lowest degree percentage inwards the powers of the Supreme Being.
These divine beings are expert spirits that are interested inwards the welfare of the various communities. They are perceived to inhabit unusual places such as large tress, groves, rocks, mountains in addition to hills, rivers in addition to so on. Very oftentimes these divinities have got a connectedness with the history of the hamlet or clan. These are localised divinities that pertain to private villages, clan or fifty-fifty families. They are real much honoured in addition to revered in addition to sacrifices are offered to them periodically to solicit their blessings. They are considered to live strong mediators betwixt the community they correspond in addition to the Supreme Being. These divinities are usually consulted inwards times of disaster inwards the community such as drought, famine, epidemics or some other unexplained deaths. In price of hierarchy, the Frafra view these divinities as existence higher than the ancestors fifty-fifty though they have got an equal honor in addition to honour for the ancestors. The call of each divinity is oftentimes associated with the call of the village, the clan or community. They are believed to live most active at night, peculiarly later on midnight. People are oftentimes warned non to linger roughly the vicinity of the shrines dedicated to these divinities at black otherwise 1 mightiness come upwards across them in addition to drive damage to oneself. Very oftentimes the areas where the
shrines dedicated to these divinities are located are protected areas. No farming activities guide seat in that location in addition to the trees are non cutting to the lowest degree the anger of the divinities is incurred. Thus belief inwards these divinities is ingrained inwards the Frafra/African religious worldview.
Ancestors: Belief inwards ancestors is the commonest characteristic of the African traditional religion, non to the lowest degree the Frafra. Thus ancestral veneration tin sack live considered a fundamental chemical element of African traditional religion. Unlike the divinities nosotros just treated above, ancestors were 1 time human beings who lived on Earth in addition to have got at nowadays joined the spirit world through the procedure of death. Like the divinities they are real much honoured in addition to revered. The Frafra associate to a greater extent than with the ancestors than with the other divinities because they were 1 time human in addition to are believed to know the human status in addition to needs real good in addition to are thus inwards a improve seat to solicit assist in addition to approbation from the Supreme Being. Moreover, for the Frafra in that location is a strong link betwixt the ancestors in addition to their living progeny, a link which expiry does non break. This is why the Frafra create the shrines dedicated to the ancestors within their homestead to emphasise this permanent link that exists betwixt the living in addition to the dead. These shrines are oftentimes seen dotted inwards front end of peoples’ houses.
Ancestral cult with the Frafra is non limited to men but also includes women as well. However, whereas to a greater extent than oftentimes than non speaking the manlike someone ancestral shrines are located inwards front end of the house, the woman someone ancestral shrines tin sack live found within the house. This is real much inwards line with their pattern of life. Frafra funeral ritual, the seat of the adult woman is within piece that of the human being is outside. This is also acted out inwards their religious life since the Frafra to a greater extent than oftentimes than non do non separate the mundane from the religious. These ancestors are also mediators betwixt the living progeny in addition to the Supreme Being.
The criteria for qualification as an ancestor with the Frafra are non radically different from many ethnic communities inwards Africa. For 1 to live considered an ancestor he/she must run into sure qualities in addition to requirements.
To live qualified to live ancestor, 1 must have got raised a family, been responsible, grown old in addition to go an elderberry inwards the family, clan or hamlet community, in addition to of class would have got died a natural death. On a negative note, a wicked someone who uses sorcery, witchcraft or magic to drive damage to people tin sack never qualify to live ancestor. People who conk bad deaths or may have got been known thieves inwards the hamlet community would also non qualify to live ancestors. The argue for this strict moral code is inwards the fact that the ancestor for the Frafra is a custodian of the people in addition to inwards fact an embodiment of their moral code for they tin sack punish deviance in addition to bless expert deeds. For this argue if 1 is non ethical him/herself, how could he/she punish or right wrongdoing inwards the community or the family? If 1 was non responsible on earth, how could he/she effectively mediate betwixt the living in addition to the Supreme Being?
The ancestors are believed to inhabit the solid ground of the dead, which for the Frafra is inwards the underworld in addition to from in that location they influence the day-to-day lives of the people. Though they are perceived to inhabit the underworld, they are non confined in that location but are all roughly the vicinity of the house. They too similar all other spirits are to a greater extent than active at black though their activities cannot live limited only to the night.
Ancestors play a pivotal role inwards the lives of the Frafra in addition to it is for his argue that they revere them so much. Sacrifices are offered to them periodically to solicit their assist in addition to their intercession of the Supreme Being. They are sometimes also invoked inwards blessings in addition to curses.
Other Spirits: Belief inwards the existence of other spirits too the ancestors in addition to divinities is an integral component subdivision of
African traditional religion. There is, however, a divergence betwixt these spirits in addition to the spirits of ancestors in addition to divinities. Ancestors are the spirits of people who 1 time lived on Earth in addition to have got at nowadays died in addition to joined the spirit world. The divinities are also spirits that are connected inwards 1 way or the other with the family, clan or hamlet community as nosotros have got pointed out. On the other hand, the spirits existence discussed hither are of a different kind. They are considered as gratuitous roving spirits that are all over in addition to non confined to whatever item place. These spirits are to a greater extent than oftentimes than non feared as they are believed to live malicious in addition to tin sack manifest themselves inwards various forms in addition to drive havoc to the human society. Witches are believed to possess some of these evil spirits that brand them kill in addition to eat human beings through a spiritual manipulation. It is believed that some of these spirits have got the powerfulness to come inwards the womb of a adult woman during the normal intercourse with her married adult man in addition to live born into the world. Generally babies with abnormal features are suspected to live this sort of children. Normally such children are killed in addition to buried non inwards the normal theatre unit of measurement graveyard but inwards the wild for that is where they belong.
These spirits are usually imagined to live real little inwards stature in addition to real swift inwards their movement. They tin sack either have got real sparse voices or loud in addition to crude oil ones. They have got the powerfulness to drive accidents on the roads, inwards the H2O in addition to inwards fact anywhere. The Frafra do non offering sacrifices to these spirits in addition to in that location are no shrines dedicated to them. On the contrary, the divinities in addition to the ancestors are usually asked during sacrifices to maintain them far away from the community. These roving spirits are never anybody’s friends in addition to real oftentimes people don’t fifty-fifty speak virtually them.
Though to a greater extent than oftentimes than non the Frafra consider these spirits as malicious in addition to wicked spiritual beings, they also believe that in that location are expert spirits with them. These expert spirits tin sack possess an private inwards the community in addition to reveal some secrets to him or her for the expert of the community. This cloak-and-dagger could live the powerfulness to heal various kinds of diseases in addition to ailments, prevention of witchcraft activity, powerfulness to divine in addition to regard the future, prevention of epidemics, drought in addition to so on. These are considered expert spirits that usage their powers for the do goodness of the community.
Divination: At various intervals, the elderberry inwards the theatre unit of measurement would go to the diviner to communicate with the ancestors in addition to the other divinities to discovery out the province of the theatre unit of measurement in addition to if in that location are sure things to live done. The Frafra never makes major undertakings such as edifice a house, travelling far away, marrying etc without consulting the ancestors through divination. The ancestors are the guardians in addition to custodians of the
living in addition to their permission in addition to approbation must live sought before whatever undertaking. If the ancestors are against whatever intended journeying or undertaking, it is usually abandoned.
Besides these moments that the Frafra would see the diviner, in that location are other moments that telephone band for divination. These moments are death, sickness, during epidemics in addition to some other disasters inwards the community. During these moments the Frafra divines to discovery out the drive of these unfortunate incidence so that they tin sack remedy the province of affairs through sacrifices in addition to offerings to the ancestors in addition to divinities as the instance may be.
Diviners are usually men or women who are possessed past times 1 or the other expert spirits with have got talked virtually inwards a higher seat or the spirit of a distant relation who died a long fourth dimension ago. The possession tin sack manifest itself inwards the private inwards a shape of fits or sickness or a unusual in addition to abnormal behaviour. In such a province of affairs a diviner is usually consulted to discovery out the drive to the problem. It is usually during this divination that the intention of the item spirit is made known in addition to so the theatre unit of measurement volition go through the procedure of creating the shrine for divination for the item individual. Usually later on that is done the job disappears in addition to the someone becomes a diviner inwards the community in addition to people tin sack consult him or her. Thus divination tin sack live said to live a life wire inwards Africa traditional religion.
Sacrifices in addition to Offerings: Sacrifices in addition to offerings are some of the constitutive elements inwards African traditional religion. For the Frafra in that location are ii ways of offering sacrifices. These are either blood sacrifice or flourwater/flour sacrifice. The blood sacrifice involves the immolation of the victim, either an brute or a
chicken in addition to the blood offered on the shrine of the item divinity. Generally participants of the sacrifice swallow the meat of the victim. The Frafra believe that blood signifies life so past times offering the blood of the victim on the shrine, the item divinity takes the life of the victim, which is signified inwards the blood. Besides this bloody sacrifice, in that location is also the bloodless sacrifice with either flour-water or only dry out flour. For the flour-water sacrifice, the Frafra mixes flour inwards H2O in addition to pours it on the shrine of the divinity. The dry out flour sacrifice is done inwards real extreme cases. This is usually done during a menstruation of long drought. The worshippers inwards this extreme instance would pour dry out flour on the shrine that is dedicated to the pelting divinity to request that due to the drought they have got no H2O to mix the flour with. Therefore, this shape of sacrifice is only a symbolic sacrifice to provoke the divinity to deed inwards their favour past times giving them rain.
Broadly speaking, the Frafra have got 3 forms of sacrifice namely, thanksgiving, pacification in addition to supplication. The sacrifice of thanksgiving is usually done later on harvest, childbearing, marriage, a successful expedition in addition to so on. This sacrifice is offered to give thanks the ancestors for the blessings they have got received during the year. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sacrifice of this sort is naturally 1 of a joyful celebration. The sacrifice of pacification is usually carried out as a final result of a incorrect done past times an private or a grouping of people inwards the hamlet or inwards the family. Examples of crimes that telephone band for the sacrifice of pacification are cutting branches inwards the shrines dedicated to a item divinity, having sexual activity inwards the bush or sleeping with somebody’s married adult woman in addition to a host of others. These crimes are believed to anger the divinities in addition to the ancestors in addition to thus telephone band for some sacrifices to pacify them or else some misfortune may befall the private or fifty-fifty the community. The sacrifice of supplication tin sack live done at whatever time, but to a greater extent than oftentimes than non they are done before the private or community undertakes a major lawsuit such as the commencement of the farming season, before harvesting, before embarking on a long journeying in addition to so on. This sacrifice constitutes a asking for success in addition to approbation from the ancestors.
Besides offering sacrifices, the Frafra also brand other offerings that may non strictly speaking live considered sacrifices but are nonetheless of import inwards their human relationship with the spirit world. These offerings are usually nutrient offering mostly to the dead including the ancestors. This usually happens when somebody dies in addition to the post-burial celebration is non yet performed. In that interim menstruation betwixt burial in addition to post-burial celebration, the theatre unit of measurement of the deceased may prepare nutrient in addition to go out it uncovered inwards the kitchen so that the deceased who has non yet been brought into the ancestral seat through a funeral celebration may tin sack come upwards inwards in addition to eat. Besides, during the funeral celebration in that location are moments that nutrient is prepared in addition to kept for the ancestors to come upwards in addition to eat.
Frafra handmade Woven fruit basket
Frafra music
Frafra are known for their Kologo sounds. There are a lot of traditional kologo participant from a rural, pastoral background with Frafra people. The kologo is a little-known two-stringed musical instrument with a heavy bass audio from the Frafra of Republic of Ghana in addition to Burkina Faso that Bola learned growing upwards herding livestock inwards Northeast Ghana.
King Ayisoba playing Kologo. Watch his concert track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fttKg294ahA
Like the many other ancestors of the banjo that are scattered across West Africa, the kologo has a gourd resonator in addition to a pare head. There’s a whole sub-family of banjo-like bass instruments inwards West Africa, in addition to the earthy blend of gut strings, gourds, in addition to kick-ass bass lines is nigh-irresistible. But all connections to the banjo aside, it’s just damn prissy that we’re finally getting such a dandy influx of recordings of West African stringed instruments that aren’t the kora (the ubiquitous in addition to beautiful harp of Mail/Senegal/The Gambia).
Frafra tribe human being in addition to Ghanaian instrumentalist in addition to griot, Atongo_Zimba. His album Allah Mongode was recorded inwards Switzerland. His album Barefoot inwards the Sand was nominated "African CD of the Year" inwards 2007 past times Amsterdam television. His recording of No Beer inwards Heaven was a major hitting inwards Republic of Ghana inwards 2004.
THE FRAFRA CONCEPT OF THE PERSON
Four main components that brand upwards a someone inwards the heed of the Frafra. These are inŋa (body), sia (soul, spirit), deγro (dirt – mystical), in addition to vo-osum (breath). These inwards a broad sense inwards the mind-set of the Frafra brand upwards a person, non inwards a differentiated shape as has already been stated but as a unity.
NERA/NERISAALA (PERSON/HUMAN BEING) : The Frafra distinguish betwixt nera in addition to nerisaala. Nera is used to refer specifically to a person. Here the term refers to the totality of the person. It includes his body, soul, breath etc. Nerisaala is a to a greater extent than generic term, which refers to a greater extent than oftentimes than non to a human existence with all the characteristics that distinguish the human someone from an brute – dunŋa. In actual fact in that location is no divergence inwards the usage of the ii price inwards the heed of the Frafra. Though they may live intellectually distinguishable, they
refer to 1 in addition to the same thing, the person. For the Frafra similar the Dagaaba, nerisal or ninsaala respectively “designates ‘man’ in addition to whatever of the elements of mankind. It points to the intellectual, spiritual, moral humane aspect of man…Ninsaala thus implies the thought of reason, of humanity as opposed to animal.” On the other hand, nera or nir is this “concept incarnate in addition to actualized. It points to human being inwards his existential complex, human being as concretely in addition to physically describable, a complex existence as a social being, human being inwards his various activities in addition to social relationships.” Nera is, therefore, the human someone who is self-conscious in addition to tin sack integrate socially to a sure degree. This evidently includes his maturity, storey of reasoning, intellect in addition to so on. Otherwise he is termed a mina n ka tari yem, that is, 1 who has no sense, foolish or immature inwards his behaviour. Here historic menstruation does non count. What matters is the storey of maturity. The Frafra volition say of a wicked someone a daγ nera, that agency he or she is non a human being. This does non hateful that physiologically he/she is non a human existence but his/her demeanour is non human in addition to in all likelihood does non belong to the human domain. This underscores the fact that the human existence is a moral being. This is connected with argue in addition to the intellect, i.e. yem. Yem,
therefore, has moral implications. This brings us dorsum over again to the thought of the unitary perspective of the human someone inwards the heed of the Frafra in addition to many other African communities. To live considered fully human, nerisala, all the different units must live fully integrated into the spiritual, social in addition to moral person.
INŊA (BODY): Nera, the human someone is endowed with a trunk called inŋa. The inŋa is the physical and
physiological features of the person. This also includes the pare of the person, which is called ingane. In a real complex way the inŋa is also associated with reason/intelligence known as yem. This is similar to Dabaaba thought as Kuuknure explains, “nir, (person) is endowed with a body, yang or yanggan (literally trunk - skin). This is inseparably united to his yan (reason, intelligence or fifty-fifty spirit) in addition to is construed to live the envelope” of the other constituents of the person. The trunk existence the most physical of all the other aspects comprises all physically tangible constituents such as the different parts of the physical body, the bones, blood in addition to all other tangible compositions of the person.
This is why it tin sack live conceived as the envelope, as it is within this physical composition that the other units discovery their existence. In other words, the trunk is the reference dot of the soul/spirit, the dirt in addition to the vital breath. Death occurs when the vital breath ceases, the trunk decomposes, the spirit goes to God in addition to the dirt dissolves. However, the someone regains his trunk inwards the side past times side world but a trunk that is non visible to the living.
.SIA (SOUL/SPIRIT): Probably the closest translation of the term sia inwards Frafra is the soul/spirit. The Tallensi in addition to Nabdan telephone band it sii. As already indicated the Tallensi in addition to the Nabdan are also Frafra. As distinguished from the body, inŋa, the sia is intangible in addition to imperceptible except to those who have got so called 2d sight. (Some Africans believe that too the normal eyes that everybody has, in that location are some people who have got other eyes non visible to people. This enable them to possess a 2d sight in addition to regard things that others do non see. This 2d sight tin sack either live through a natural gift from God or acquired through some magical acts. Witches in addition to wizards are considered as people who possess this 2d sight that is why they tin sack regard the human soul. Senior undertakers are also people with the 2d sight, which they acquire through the initiation procedure of becoming undertakers.) The sia is described inwards various ways, in addition to inwards a sure sense the Frafra don’t seem to grasp it fully. Their description of it is rather unproblematic in addition to real unsophisticated. It is “sometimes spoken of as if it were a double of the individual, accompanying him rather than existence integral of him.
Correspondingly, the sii [sia] tin sack wander virtually leaving its embodiment behind inwards slumber in addition to appear inwards dreams to someone else.” The sia, however, is non identical with kuko (ghost). Unlike some African ethnic groups that seem to seat the sia with the ghost, the Frafra do non forthwith seat it with the ghost. Kuko, which is the Frafra term for ghost is the spirit of a bad someone that comes dorsum to terrorise the living. Mostly witches are said to plow into ghosts when they conk in addition to come upwards dorsum to go on their nefarious activities on Earth because they cannot come inwards the ancestral world easily due to their bad deeds piece they were alive. In a sure sense nosotros may say that the ghost is the soul of the witches but inwards their conversation the Frafra do non forthwith seat the ghost with the sia. Consequently when someone who is suspected to live either a witch or a sorcerer dies, the undertakers have got a way of burying that someone to foreclose his/her ghost from coming back.
In their view the sia is sure component subdivision of a living person’s constitution that has its ain identity. Though it tin sack go out the body, it is an integral component subdivision of the person. The sia tin sack live at risk in addition to is oftentimes vulnerable in addition to opened upwards to
dangers. It is that component subdivision of the someone that tin sack live injured or fifty-fifty killed past times witches, sorcerers in addition to evil medicine men. This same belief cuts across several African ethnic communities. We discovery it for representative with the Dagaaba of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Like the Frafra they also believe that “during a man’s life the soul is capable of leaving its stuff support. During its peregrinations the trunk remains immobile until it returns in addition to reintegrates with its body. These roving souls are the ones either eaten past times witches or are themselves witches who eat other souls. But it is supposed to live the flesh of those souls that are eaten, an act, which precipitates the expiry of the person. The soul itself remains intact.”
The most mysterious aspect in addition to that which is hard to explicate is their belief that “when a novel grave is existence dug, souls of people attending the mortuary ceremony are apt to live enticed into the grave without the someone thus affected existence aware.”37 It is only the bayaase (undertakers) who past times their initiation that enable them to acquire a 2d sight tin sack regard these souls in addition to assist them out of the graves. If they remain inwards the graves in addition to are buried with the deceased they volition also conk presently later on the burial.
For the Frafra, 1 does non go to the funeral of his/her intimate friend for the unproblematic argue that the friend may desire to guide him/her along, so that they tin sack go on their life as it was on earth. Therefore, the friend tin sack only come upwards to limited his/her sympathy later on the funeral. Thus Fortes may live right. Nevertheless, it may also live possible to seem at this custom from the perspective of curiosity. The Frafra do non dig novel graves at every funeral. One has to merit it past times virtue of one’s status. Therefore, the occasion of earthworks a grave tin sack attract curiosity especially from immature people who desire to know how it is done. This curiosity may live translated into their souls going to the grave to ‘see’ what is going on. Even inwards normal everyday life with the Frafra, when a novel theatre is existence built, people come upwards in addition to go. Some come upwards to help, piece others come upwards just out of curiosity. In the same vein, since the grave is the seat of the dead, the souls of the people may just
wander in that location for the sake of curiosity. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 somewhat to a greater extent than skeptical way of looking at the custom would live to deny whatever possibility of souls going within the grave. It may just live a ploy past times the undertakers to frighten people in addition to maintain them away from coming to the grave since they have got zilch to do with the ritual. But this would live tampering with a heart in addition to soul belief of the Frafra inwards connectedness with the earthworks of a novel grave. Whatever the source of the custom, our involvement hither is to posit that the Frafra view of the soul forms an integral component subdivision of the someone in addition to what happens to the soul volition have got an effect on the person, either negative or positive.
The concept of the sia is fifty-fifty farther complicated when it is extended to include one’s identity in addition to belongings. These belongings to a greater extent than oftentimes than non include normal clothing, a man’s bow in addition to arrows a hoe, an axe in addition to a woman’s personal ornaments such as brass, amulets in addition to beadwork. These are believed to live associated with the person’s soul. More specifically, a man’s sia (soul) is believed to live straight associated to his granary in addition to a woman’s choicest selection of calabashes in addition to storage pots. Sia (soul), therefore, tin sack live conceived of as one’s personal identity that is objectified inwards his/her personal possessions.
This is so fundamental inwards Frafra thought that people are careful virtually how they handgrip their possessions, especially their most intimate ones such as their inner pants in addition to dresses. This is because 1 who is wicked, for representative a sorcerer or somebody with evil magic who wishes to drive damage to the someone tin sack usage these intimate possessions, which are connected with his/her sia to do so. It is inwards this sense that an effigy made from a dead man’s article of apparel genuinely represents him.
In a real strong sense sia is connected with the thought of a natural attraction in addition to aversion to people. An affinity to a someone tin sack live attributed to an attraction of their siisi (plural) in addition to inwards the same way their aversion to 1 some other tin sack live attributed to revulsion of their siisi. In this sense, sia reflects graphic symbol trait in addition to disposition. It is real mutual for a Frafra to say of someone he/she does non like, n sia n yesi εn. In other words my sia is out of him/her. That agency I simply don’t similar him.
The notion of the sia is quite paradoxical. Though people believe that the sia is capable of existence inwards its ain right, it silent remains an integral component subdivision of the living person. It is, so to say, the source of the life – vom of the person. It is this constituent of the someone that goes to the ancestral world later on expiry piece the inŋa – trunk decomposes. However, though the physical trunk decomposes the sia departs inwards the shape of a corporeal body, a sort of a phantom that is recognizable as the someone who lived on earth. These dead people tin sack live seen in addition to encountered inwards dreams. It is this sia that roams roughly waterless grounds until the lastly funeral rites are performed in addition to he or she joins the ancestral world.
In view of the difficulty inwards defining just what the sia is, Fortes’ summary Definition of this phenomenon is plausible. He believes that the summary Definition of the sia:
"would live to say that it is their representation in addition to objectification of the unity in addition to continuity
of the private as he experiences his waking in addition to sleeping, inwards his relationships with others,
inwards his feelings virtually his most personal private possessions, inwards his epitome of his connection
with his forbears in addition to with his expected posterity. As an private he is identified to
himself in addition to to other most commonly past times his call or titles in addition to oftentimes also past times item ritual
observances relating to nutrient in addition to article of apparel or permitted in addition to prohibited activities that he does
non percentage with others."
This seems to me an acceptable summary of what the sia is inwards so far as it is component subdivision of one’s personality.
DENγRO (MYSTICAL DIRT): The notion of the denγro – dirt as an aspect of the someone is the most hard to explain. This denγro goes beyond the physical mundane dirt associated with cleanliness in addition to hygiene. The dirt referred to hither is best described as mystical dirt. This mystical dirt is connected to the most personal in addition to intimate things of the person. They include, as both Fortes in addition to Kuukure dot out, intimate, private, bodily exudations such as sweat, sexual fluid, in addition to trunk olfactory belongings in addition to one’s personal belongings, especially the most intimate ones such as the loincloth (triangular pants) of a human being in addition to a woman’s
traditional waist belt. As Fortes points out “other secretions such as saliva, tears, nasal mucus are non dirt inwards this sense. The excretory products (urine in addition to faeces) are ‘dirt’ inwards a mundane in addition to profane sense only comparable to the commonplace sense of the English linguistic communication word dirt.” This underscores the fact that the thought of the mystical dirt has zilch whatsoever to do with our ordinary in addition to mundane agreement of the word dirt. The Frafra distinguish betwixt the ordinary usage of the word in addition to its mystical sense. When they usage the word dirt inwards this sense, they do non hateful its literal shape referring to the hygienic province but its ‘mystical’ form, which applies to one’s personality.
In the sexual human relationship betwixt married adult man in addition to wife, this ‘mystical dirt’ is shared through the contact of the most intimate parts of their bodies, their sexual organs, in addition to through the sharing of their sexual secretions in addition to sweat. This is so intimate in addition to so unsafe that it should non live shared with some other someone exterior the marital union. On human face upwards value this assertion may live considered an overstatement due to the fact that polygamy in addition to levirate wedlock systems are practised with the ethnic community nether study. That apart, boy-girl relationships, which oftentimes final result inwards premarital sexual activity also guide place. Indeed, these are facts but they tin sack silent live explained within the belief scheme of the Frafra. Considering the patriarchal nature of the community, it is the manlike someone lodge that sets upwards the scheme of morality. Therefore, a human being tin sack have got as many wives as possible in addition to these women are his legal wives in addition to consequently they percentage as their private mystical dirt with him in addition to him alone.
As for the levirate marriage, the widow who ‘chooses’ a blood brother of her deceased married adult man becomes his
‘widow-wife’ and, therefore, they also percentage the same mystical dirt. Her human relationship with her deceased
married adult man having been abrogated past times her purification during the funeral, she is at nowadays gratuitous to reunite with some other human being inwards the family. Once she has made her choice, she has no right to have got whatever sexual human relationship with some other human being too the 1 of her choice. In that instance the mystical dirt betwixt her in addition to the electrical flow human being is considered normal. That is why she volition perform her duty as a widow inwards instance this human being also dies before her in addition to if she dies before the man, he volition also perform his duty as a widower. As far as the boy-girl human relationship is concerned, much as the Frafra tolerate the relationship, they strongly disapprove of whatever premarital sex. Young people are non expected to have got sexual activity before they conjoin fifty-fifty though inwards contemporary lodge parents know that it is happening in addition to they cannot halt it.
That is, however, considered past times traditional minds as an aberration in addition to the rottenness of modern society. In this instance in that location is no ‘dirt’ that is binding both partners since they are non married. They believe that if a adult woman commits adultery, she is sharing the ‘dirt’ of her married adult man with some other man, thus exposing him to serious danger. He mightiness conk if he happens to have got a sexual human relationship with her unknowingly. This has to live normalised through a purificatory rite for the woman.
At the expiry of a someone in addition to before the deceased rejoins the ancestors inwards the life hereafter, all those who have got had relations with him or her have got to purify themselves from this ‘dirt’, which they had contracted during their human relationship with him/her. Among the Frafra in addition to many of their neighbouring communities, this is usually done during the lastly funeral rites, which the Frafra telephone band the ‘dry’ funeral. This funeral is the procedure of ushering the deceased into the ancestral world. The purificatory rites are peculiarly evident inwards the widowhood rite in addition to the rites for orphans. This exercise is similar to that of the Dagaaba of north-westGhana, as Kuukure explains, “at a man’s expiry in addition to before he rejoins the spirits of his ancestors, all those who have got had relations with him must rid themselves of his deor past times which they have got been defiled. This takes seat at the rites in addition to ceremonies of purification in addition to at funerals.”
Another aspect of the denγro according to Frafra mentality is the fact that it is a real powerful symbol of the mystical presence of the person, especially a deceased person. It is this belief that makes the presence of an effigy at funerals meaningful. Effigies are used mostly during dry out funerals when the trunk has already been buried. These effigies are made of the loincloth (triangular pant) together with a dry out slice of wood. This is set inwards province to correspond the someone as a substitute for his/her physical absence. Full honor is accorded to it as if it was the trunk of the someone present. Often the effigy is referred to as the person’s denγro. It symbolises the someone inwards a real mysterious way. Secondly, when somebody dies far away from home, parts of his/her apparel together with some Earth from his grave volition live brought seat for formal burial. This is also considered as representing the someone him/herself. We realise so that the denγro is closely connected to the inŋa – trunk in addition to sia – soul of the person.
VO-OSUM (VITAL BREATH): Vo-osum translated as breath is also connected to the identity of the person. It is through the breath of theperson that life is adequately sustained. Once the breath ceases, life is terminated. The Frafra distinguish betwixt vo-osum in addition to nyunvori. While vo-osum is breath, uyunvori agency life. Nyunvori inwards a sure sense is connected with nostrils. The Frafra telephone band the nostrils nyuure, which tin sack also refer to life. When a Frafra is wishing somebody a long life, he/she would usually say, yinε bo ho nyun woko (may God give you lot long nostrils – life). The connection, however, betwixt vo-osumand nyunvori is the fact that humans breathe through the nostrils which is symbolic of the life of the person. Therefore, to live long is to have got a long menstruation of breath. The Frafra believe that during one’s sleep, when the soul leaves the trunk in addition to goes out, it is the breath that sustains the trunk without which the soul cannot come upwards dorsum into the body. In this sense so the sia – soul depends on the vo-osum to remain component subdivision of the whole scheme of the person.
Frafra funeral inwards Bolga
Death is, therefore, caused past times the cessation of the surgical operation of the vo-osum. Paradoxically, however, “breath is considered to live the expression, non the source of life. What is essentially lost past times expiry is the soul.” This inwards whatever instance is the mentality, but basically when people are referring to expiry – kum, they speak virtually the annihilation of the whole someone inwards death. In other words, the entire life of the someone is terminated from this life, but this someone volition go on to live inwards the same way as he/she lived inwards this world with his/her corporeal body. Life inwards the side past times side world, however, is a to a greater extent than fulfilled in addition to perfect life than that on earth. In talking virtually the Frafra concept of the person, Edward Kuukure’s assertion concerning the Dagaaba concept forms a expert conclusion to our topic since it also holds truthful for the Frafra.
According to Kuukure,
"Although their approach is unitary, the Dagaaba seem to live so impressed past times the
constituents of human being seen analytically that they speak of these constituents inwards a way hardly
reconcilable with their unitary approach. For lack of strict in addition to developed philosophical
terminology, they clumsily limited their vision of human being as a being, a person, having, yangan
(body), yan (intelligence, argue or spirit), vuuro (vital breath), sie (soul), dasule (shadow),
in addition to deor (impurity)…Man is all these constituents together, in addition to they manifest in addition to expose
him. They are aspects of the self in addition to which are united with themselves, fifty-fifty when they
are dispersed inwards fourth dimension in addition to space…"
These constituent parts should, therefore, non live seen as individuated personalities but a unity that makes upwards what a someone really is inwards the heed of the Frafra.
Frafra funeral rite Bolga
THE DAGAABA-FRAFRA JOKING RELATIONSHIP
Joseph Yelepuo Wegru
Introduction
The acquaint article concerns inter-ethnic humor in addition to its evolution betwixt the Dagaaba in addition to Gurune (or Frafra) tribes inwards Ghana. This is but 1 aspect/dimension of the total socio-cultural richness of these people, which needs to live researched in addition to recorded for succeeding generations. For instance, Kropp-Dakubu (1988) deplores the unsatisfactory province of noesis virtually the origins of the various languages of northern Republic of Ghana in addition to the little disclose of people qualified to write virtually them. Kropp-Dakubu's lament virtually the province of northern Ghanaian languages tin sack live applied, to some extent, to our acquaint discussion.
Bonaba, Chief of Bongo inwards his traditional Batakari dress
None of the works on the life of these ii tribes addresses the acquaint topic. It is also of import to greenback that until good into the 1960s, when Dagaaba intellectuals entered the scene, petty novel historical interrogation was existence carried out on the Black Volta1 region, either inwards Republic of Ghana or inwards Burkina Faso. The attending of before scholars was concentrated on only pre-colonial states such as Dagomba, Gonja, Wa in addition to Mossi. The so-called 'stateless societies' remained marginal to the involvement of most historians (Lentz 1994). This neglected expanse of academic interrogation includes the ii tribes of our acquaint discussion.
Frafra people enjoying songs
The crucial thing of this article is based on a legend, narrated past times Anthony Atarebore during an interview conducted past times the author himself, inwards the quest for an explanation to the Dagaaba-Frafra joking human relationship inwards Ghana. However, it is essential to draw this evolution inwards the context of history, mythology, folklore, civilization in addition to traditions of these peoples. Aware of the limited in addition to debatable documentary evidence available on the origins of these peoples, the article does non claim to live a lastly authorisation on the subject. Research on oral tradition regularly points out that migration stories in addition to genealogies cannot live taken at human face upwards value. We tin sack only hit sure levels of plausibility (Lentz 1994).
The foremost comprehensive ethnographic survey of the western Sudan, which includes the ii tribes nether our discussion, was made past times Delafosse at the instigation of Clozel, Governor of the Colonie du Haut-Sénégal-Niger, within some twelve years of the lastly business of the expanse past times the French (Goody 1967). Following this pioneering work, many other scholars, including Jack Goody, have got done farther extensive piece of work on the Dagaaba at different times. Greenberg, Westermann, Wilks, Labouret, Rattray, Hamilton in addition to Cardinall, Lentz, Somé, to advert a few, have got done some full general anthropological in addition to historical piece of work on the people of northern Ghana. St. John-Parsons D. has also compiled Legends of Northern Ghana. However, in that location is real petty exclusive literature on the Frafra people inwards the Upper East Region of Ghana.
The source of the Gurune in addition to the Dagaaba
The Dagaaba is a predominantly agricultural tribe of a petty over 1 million, living inwards the northwestern component subdivision of Republic of Ghana called the Upper-West Region, in addition to inwards southwestern Burkina Faso. Although they speak a continuum of several dialects (Dagaare, Waala, Birifor), Dagaare appears to live the umbrella linguistic communication for the dialects. The major towns of the Dagaaba inwards Republic of Ghana are Wa, Lawra, Jirapa, Babile, Nandom, Hamile, Nadawli, Kaleo, Daffiama, in addition to Tuna. However, in that location are also many Dagaaba communities inwards Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, in addition to most major towns in addition to villages throughout the country.
Until lately the Dagaaba were subsistence farmers in addition to hunters (Goody 1962). Farming is so fundamental to the economic scheme of Dagao that to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than people migrate southwards inwards search of improve lands. It is stylish for adolescent Dagaaba to displace downward due south inwards the dry out flavor to farm for money in addition to the success of their foremost trip has go to a greater extent than or less a yardstick for mensuration their increment to adulthood in addition to their powerfulness to live independently in addition to heighten a family.
The Gurune or Frafra are also predominantly agricultural people inwards the north-eastern component subdivision of Republic of Ghana called the Upper East Region. Major Gurune towns include Bolgatanga, Bongo, Zuarengu, Somburungu, in addition to they also live inwards surrounding villages. Today, the Gurune tin sack live found inwards many major towns in addition to villages all roughly Republic of Ghana including Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Sunyani in addition to Cape Coast. They are also highly mobile, oftentimes travelling due south to seem for piece of work during the dry out season. There are also some Gurune-speaking people (the Nankani) inwards Navrongo District, which is to a greater extent than oftentimes than non a Kasem-speaking area. Native Gurune are also found inwards Burkina Faso, inwards the Nahouri province, Eastern component subdivision of Tiébélé in addition to inwards the part of Pô.
Gurune, Nankani, Booni, Talni, in addition to Nab't together with some others are considered the major dialects of the Frafra people. However, Nab't in addition to Talni could also live considered dialects of Mampruli; Mampruli, Kusaal, in addition to Dagaare are inwards plow considered to live sis languages to Gurune. There are obvious linguistic similarities with these in addition to the other languages of the Mabia linguistic communication grouping (Bodomo 1994; St. John-Parsons 1960).
Playmates
It is mutual noesis inwards Republic of Ghana that the Dagaaba in addition to the Gurune have got an admirably cordial relationship. They tin sack joke in addition to tease each other inwards the populace without either taking undue offence as they have got mutual agreement as Mabia, or playmates. Either party's age, sex, religion, educational or social status does non influence this cordial relationship; existence born inwards either tribe is the sufficient prerequisite. Active participation inwards the jokes is, however, non compulsory. Although in that location are some who neither initiate nor participate inwards the jokes, neither do they foreclose others from joking.
The concept of playmates is non confined to the Gurune in addition to Dagaaba tribes inwards Ghana. Several other tribes inwards the province percentage this concept in addition to exercise it with themselves. For instance, the Kasena in addition to the Sisaala are playmates. Playmates tin sack also live members of the same tribe (Goody 1967). For instance, the Zage in addition to the Naayile are ii Dagaaba clans who are playmates. Similar groups tin sack live found also with other tribes. Playmates are oftentimes inwards the seat of an intermediary resolving conflicts in addition to restoring peace with community members.
However, the focus of this article is non on the concept of playmates as a whole (a acre that has been intensively studied inwards anthropology), but on the Gurune-Dagaaba playmate relationship, which lately has gained both national in addition to international attention. Fraternity betwixt these ii tribes is a positive phenomenon amidst the growing disclose of ethnic in addition to tribal conflicts that plague the African continent today. Having a human relationship of playmates is good for you lot for ethnic groups, diffusing tensions inwards potentially unsafe situations.
The Origin of the Relationship
The source of the Gurune-Dagaaba human relationship is as yet undetermined. Little is known as to its origin. People guide joking as a mutual exercise betwixt the ii tribes, their full general concern is but to savor the jokes in addition to live inwards harmony. However, fascinating stories in addition to legends are told inwards connectedness with its origin. Many ethnic groups or sub-groups inwards northern Republic of Ghana have got legendary history telling how their ancestors came from Mamprusi or Dagomba lands, but it is non clear whether these narratives reverberate migration of whole peoples or the arrival of chiefly families to dominion over previously chiefless peoples (Kropp-Dakubu 1988).
According to a legend narrated past times Anthony Atarebore, the Frafra in addition to the Dagaaba were both linked with the Dagomba. This Dagomba connectedness re-echoes Hébert's legend virtually the foremost Dagara, an orphan who was defendant of witchcraft in addition to expelled past times the Dagomba chief. The orphan accordingly fled towards the Black Volta in addition to stayed close Babile, across the river. However, both legends do non business concern human relationship for the human relationship with other ethnic groups, which are shown to belong to a mutual Mabia ancestry (Bodomo 1994).
Bodomo (1994) rejects the hypothesis seat frontward past times Tuurey (1982) in addition to Hébert (1976) that the Dagaaba are a splinter grouping from either the Mossi or the Dagomba (or both), who moved into the acquaint expanse in addition to assimilated (or got assimilated by) before settlers and/or novel arrivals. As stated above, the piece of work instead suggests all these belong to an before in addition to larger parent ethnolinguistic grouping - the Mabia that broke upwards into many separate tribes in all likelihood due to hardships encountered during migration. Even though in that location is non whatever known legend connected to this hypothesis, Kropp-Dakubu (1988) seems to advise how this mightiness have got happened.
If migration separates different groups or speakers of a language, for instance, past times a large river or mount frontier, so the oral communication of the grouping volition alter independently of the changes inwards the other. Thus nosotros discovery different varieties of a unmarried linguistic communication - what nosotros telephone band dialects. If the dialects go on to live separated in addition to to differ to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than from each other so eventually the speakers of each volition no longer empathize the speakers of the other, in addition to nosotros volition have got ii distinct languages derived from 1 original tongue. Such languages would live said to live 'related' in addition to the analogy of human kinship is used to depict them as 'descended' from the same 'parent' or 'ancestor' language. If the ii descendant languages themselves split upwards into dialects in addition to so into farther descendant languages so nosotros tin sack speak of 'sub-families' in addition to of closer or to a greater extent than remote relationships. In this way nosotros consider that all the languages which nosotros telephone band Gur which includes the Dagaaba in addition to the Frafra may live the final result of many, many centuries of alter in addition to migration in addition to splitting upwards of what was originally 1 ancestor language.
We volition elaborate farther Atarebore's legend that a long fourth dimension ago, Dagomba, Gurune in addition to Dagao were brothers, or rather cousins. They lived somewhere inwards Southern Africa with the Bantus. From Southern Africa, they began to migrate northwards through Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda in addition to Kenya. Then, turning westward, they moved to Sierra Leone, Northern Nigeria, in addition to finally to Ghana. Historians differ inwards their view as regards to the nature in addition to scale of these movements. For instance, Lentz (1994) rejects the hypothesis seat frontward past times Eyre-Smith's that the history of northern Ghana, indeed of the whole West African savannah, seemed to consist of 'constant' movements of people as a final result of slave-raiding, internecine warfare, etc., whole sections of a tribe or theatre unit of measurement breaking away in addition to migrating to a novel territory. Instead, Carola Lentz suggests that migration took seat inwards small-scale distances in addition to inwards little groups.
In general, in that location are some cultural similarities betwixt the Dagaaba, the Dagomba in addition to the Gurune, in addition to some peoples living inwards the countries mentioned. These include nuptials customs, bringing upwards children, honor for the elderly, etc. Similar nutrient in addition to article of apparel are also fair indicators of mutual origin, inwards improver to other social in addition to cultural similarities, which also seem to request the validity of the legend. This is purely the writer's ain assumption.
Phonetic similarities inwards some someone names inwards these countries also advise the plausibility of the legend. For instance, the call 'Abongo' is mutual both with the Gurune inwards Republic of Ghana in addition to with some of the peoples inwards Kenya. Another name, 'Bayuo' or 'Beyuo' is also mutual with the Dagaaba inwards Republic of Ghana as good as with some of the peoples inwards Sierra Leone. Staniland (1975) suggests that the Dagomba were pagans of Hausa origin, perchance from Zamfara, 1 of the old Hausa 'Banza Bokwo' states located inwards northern Nigeria. Atarebore's legend suggests that from here, the theatre unit of measurement began to displace westward in addition to finally reached Ghana.
Upon arriving inwards Ghana, the theatre unit of measurement settled inwards Damongo, due south of Tamale, exercising merchandise inwards hides in addition to skin. They agreed to go inwards turns to Upper Volta [current Burkina Faso], to purchase goods to sell inwards Ghana. Dagomba was the foremost to go. He bought goods in addition to came back. Next Dagao went, but he did non return. He got married in addition to settled inwards Burkina Faso. He became both the principal [Naa] in addition to the landlord [Tendaana, or Tengansob] there.
After a long fourth dimension waiting inwards vain for the render of Dagao, Dagomba decided to send Gurune to seem for him. In Burkina Faso he found the blood brother happily married in addition to doing real well. He was the possessor of vast farmlands in addition to numerous animals. He was so good established that he could afford to conjoin l or to a greater extent than wives. Having many wives was a symbol of status inwards society. It turned out that the visitor similar the host was non to return. Dagao kept him from going back.
Consequently, Gurune settled with his blood brother in addition to the ii worked together inwards Burkina Faso. They were both prosperous in addition to hard working. Gurune got married in addition to the ii families continued to live together inwards harmony.
Dagao decided to percentage his authorisation with Gurune. He gave Gurune the championship of the chief, but retained the championship of landowner. According to tradition, the business office of the landowner is to a greater extent than of import than that of the chief.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fourth dimension came when they wanted to perform a thanksgiving sacrifice to God. Dagao, who was the Tendaana, consulted with the ancestors as to the best sacrifice. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 domestic dog was chosen. The sacrifice was to live held at dawn on a chosen day.
As it would live hard to kill a domestic dog at dawn, they decided to kill it the previous evening. Only the caput in addition to entrails of the domestic dog were needed, so they took in addition to hid these parts. But when everybody was sleeping, the oldest boy of Gurune stole the sacrificial meat. He was eating it when the oldest boy of Dagao found him. Together they ate all the meat, but decided to hang the skull on the theatre unit of measurement shrine.
In the forenoon when the elders gathered for sacrificing, Dagao went to fetch the meat, but the meat had disappeared. The whole theatre was searched in addition to the chemical compound swept to no avail. They found only dry out bones hanging over the shrine. The miserable elders were drowned inwards fearfulness in addition to wondered what to do next.
Then the youngest boy of Gurune came forth as an eyewitness. He had seen his elderberry blood brother in addition to cousin eating the meat. But Dagao could non guide that his boy was a thief in addition to seat the blame on Gurune's son. This annoyed Gurune so much that he decided to displace out of the theatre in addition to go his way together with his family. Upon leaving he threatened to go eastward in addition to foreclose the Sun from rising. Fearing what his blood brother mightiness do, Dagao decided to displace his theatre unit of measurement westward so that he could foreclose the Sun from setting.
And this is why the Gurune is found inwards the east, the Dagomba inwards the due south in addition to the Dagaaba inwards the westward of Northern Ghana.
Giant Baobab tree inwards Bongo
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 legend may non render factual information, yet it entertains in addition to stimulates critical thinking. However, it provides a possible explanation of Dagaaba-Frafra jokes involving 'dog head' as inwards the next ii stories. The main dependent area of the story usually depends on the narrator. The Dagao tells the story against the Frafra in addition to vice versa.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Fraframan was riding his motor bicycle without wearing his crash helmet. Instead, he hung the helmet on the handlebars of the machine. On his way, the police pull stopped him to inquire why he was non wearing the crash helmet but rather preferred to have got it hanging on the handlebars of the machine. «You should e'er have on a crash helmet to protect your head», said the policeman. «Exactly, that is what I have got done to the head. I am protecting it with the crash helmet», replied the Fraframan. Surprised at the response, the guard grabbed the helmet from the handlebars in addition to a dog's caput roughshod out.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Fraframan was cooking domestic dog meat inwards his theatre when his Dagao friend visited. Meanwhile, the Fraframan had taken out, from the pot, some of the meat he was cooking to gustatory modality when he heard the friend's vocalism inwards the courtyard. He was greedy in addition to did non desire to percentage with his friend. So, he rapidly removed his hat, seat the hot slice of meat into it in addition to seat it dorsum on his head. He so met the friend at the gate with the intention of non allowing him into the house. He wanted to have the friend casually in addition to dismiss him quickly. But the friend was inwards dandy talking mood in addition to kept talking for a long time. The Fraframan so became real uncomfortable in addition to began to twist his caput sideways so as to ease the pain. In the process, the domestic dog meat roughshod out of the hat.
The legend also describes the roles of the Tendaana in addition to the Naa with the Dagaaba, Dagomba in addition to Gurune. The distinctive functions of the Tendaana in addition to the Naa with these tribes are respectively spiritual in addition to political.
The influence of the Hausa linguistic communication on Dagaare is some other representative to the point. The word barika for 'thank you' inwards Dagaare is, inwards actual fact, a Hausa word, non to advert the derivation of tuo zaafi in addition to fitoo (pito) which are, respectively, the staple nutrient in addition to drinkable of the native people of Northern Ghana. However, Kropp-Dakubu (1988) suggests this could have got happened due to interactions through merchandise in addition to commence.
Growth in addition to Development of the Relationship
Participation inwards the jokes has several benefits. They appear spontaneously regardless of place, occasion, or circumstance. The jokes are e'er similar inwards content in addition to context, live it at the marketplace place, the pito bar or the funeral house. Joking usually involves one-to-one informal play in addition to takes seat whenever in addition to wherever members of the ii tribes meet. In fact, knowing the other someone to live a Frafra or Dagao gives a feeling of brotherhood. One tin sack go ahead with play fifty-fifty if it live the foremost fourth dimension they meet.
Benefit to brotherhood seems to live the main purpose of the jokes betwixt the ii tribes. Through jokes, social in addition to moral concepts similar love, peace, understanding, hospitality, generosity, concern for others, to advert but a few, are developed. Members of the ii tribes have got e'er supported each other inwards both expert in addition to bad times. They attend in addition to guide active component subdivision inwards each other's celebrations - weddings, funerals in addition to other of import holidays.
The jokes also assist to lower initial communication barriers, found trust in addition to acquire inwards easier to approach each other. Consequently, sharing is facilitated in addition to it takes seat inwards the atmosphere of peace, trust in addition to mutual understanding. Moreover, the full general populace also enjoys the joking. Sometimes 'foreigners' desire to participate inwards the jokes.
As mentioned before, the Gurune in addition to Dagaaba are real mobile. They go to the southern component subdivision of the province inwards search for work during the dry out flavor later on harvest. This mutual pattern makes the tribes allies inwards a way in addition to in all likelihood also contributes to keeping the human relationship betwixt them alive.14
Such joking is similarly pop with members of the ii tribes who are either Catholic priests or followers of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga diocese. During their annual Christmas in addition to Easter picnics, a domestic dog is usually killed in addition to the caput carried roughly inwards jubilation to present their unity in addition to solidarity.
Up to this point, 1 may live tempted to conclude that the Gurune-Dagaaba human relationship is all roses in addition to no thorns. Unfortunately, in that location have got been cases of conflict in addition to misunderstanding due to the jokes. Sometimes jokes are focused on teasing, in addition to non edifying or brotherly communication. For instance, calling somebody 'an ugly dog-head eater' is an insult rather than a joke. There was also an occasion inwards Bolgatanga where pieces of packing foam were mixed with scrambled eggs in addition to served to some Dagaaba for breakfast. Extensive joking tin sack create animosity betwixt the best of friends. Therefore, participants have got to live sensitive to the feelings of others.
Conclusion
Although in that location are some problems, it seems that both tribes are willing to go on the relationship; they desire to know its origins in addition to they desire their children to maintain it up. One way to strengthen this human relationship would live via mutual cultural in addition to sports events. Inclusion of cross-cultural differences inwards schoolhouse curriculum in addition to commutation projects of both teachers in addition to pupils of different regions could also live organised. Such cultural in addition to social activities have got the potential of reducing prejudices with both tribes. Invitation to in addition to participation inwards each other's annual festivals are also examples. Joking has also encouraged inter-tribal marrying.
Jokes should exclude elements affecting the dignity in addition to welfare of whatever group. The joking human relationship has the potential of resolving conflicts. Participants demand to treasure in addition to nurture it to allow it mature.
This article has attempted to discovery origins of the Dagaaba-Frafra jokes, a modest contribution to the on-going scrap virtually the historiography of 'stateless' peoples inwards the northern Ghana. It has also sought to have the reader to farther interrogation inwards the subject: 1 tin sack inquire the elders, or search libraries, in addition to when he writes downward what he has learned, the rich oral traditions volition live turned into well-written history.
Members of the ii ethnic groups demand to consciously piece of work at reforming the human relationship so as to acquire inwards to a greater extent than acceptable, enjoyable in addition to dignified. They should go on to piece of work together in addition to organise to a greater extent than articulation cultural in addition to educational activities at all the levels to include their confreres inwards the neighbouring countries.
Tourists with Frafra tindanaa of Balungu, Ghana
source:http://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol14/dagaaba.htm#2
Atongo sandwiched on the left past times instrumentalist Elivava in addition to Okore
Frafra Handmade Woven Baskets from Bolga
The Frafra (also known as Gorse) are hardworking agricultural Gur-speaking people that forms a subset of Gurune/Gurunshi ethnic grouping inwards Northern Republic of Ghana in addition to Southern Burkina Faso. The Frafra people who live predominantly inwards the north-eastern component subdivision of the Upper East Region of Ghana, called themselves inwards Gurune linguistic communication as "Gorse,' whilst some historians refer to them as "Gurune." However, when a Frafra meets whatever Gurune speaking someone he refer to him or her as "Mabia" (My family).
Frafra people of Zarantinga performing traditional dance,Ghana
Their pop call Frafra is a colonialist term given to them past times the Christian Missionaries, who when they foremost encountered Frafra farmers were greeted with the mutual greeting to people working "Ya Fare fare?", which agency "How is your suffering (work)?" The missionaries began referring to these Gurune people as Frafra, a derivation of the greeting, which eventually was adopted past times the people themselves in addition to has been popularized past times the Southern Ghanaian peoples.
Frafra human being from Upper East Region of Republic of Ghana showing elaborate tribal facial marks
The Frafra are also good known for their artistic arts and crafts products: straw articles similar hats in addition to baskets as good as plume products. Their products tin sack live found all over Republic of Ghana inwards the major towns that tourists visit. Since the colonial era Frafra youth have got been compelled to emigrate to the southern parts inwards search of menial jobs.
Frafra tribe human being in addition to Ghanaian instrumentalist in addition to griot, Atongo_Zimba. His album Allah Mongode was recorded inwards Switzerland. His album Barefoot inwards the Sand was nominated "African CD of the Year" inwards 2007 past times Amsterdam television. His recording of No Beer inwards Heaven was a major hitting inwards Republic of Ghana inwards 2004. Click to lookout adult man in addition to take heed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XS5goLOhS8
They were formally looked downward upon past times their Northern neighbors as good as the Southern tribes because of the lack of many literate people with them, their willingness to do all sort of menial piece of work in addition to also their habits of "eating dogs." However, inwards recent times, Frafra people are 1 of the most well-educated people from the Northern in addition to Upper Regions of Ghana. They have got a formidable association, BONABOTO, (an association of Frafra people, notably Bongo, Nangodi, Bolgatanga in addition to Tongo) which champion the political in addition to socio-economic well-being of Frafra people inwards Ghana.
Frafra traditional dancers
Bolgatanga is the commercial centre of the Frafra people. Other of import villages in addition to towns include Bongo, Tongo, Zuarungu, Zoko, Zuarengu, Somburungu, in addition to Pwalugu. It must live noted silent that Tongo is the principal town of the Talensi people who are ethnically different from the Frafra. Today, the Frafra tin sack live found inwards many major towns in addition to villages all roughly Republic of Ghana including Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Sunyani in addition to Cape Coast. They are also highly mobile, oftentimes travelling due south to seem for piece of work during the dry out season. There are also some Gurune-speaking people (the Nankani) inwards Navrongo District, which is to a greater extent than oftentimes than non a Kasem-speaking area. Native Gurune are also found inwards Burkina Faso, inwards the Nahouri province, Eastern component subdivision of Tiébélé in addition to inwards the part of Pô.
Frafra women weaving basket, Bolga, Upper East Region, Ghana
In the middle of the marketplace of the regional working capital missive of the alphabet Bolgatanga, lies a large storey rock. Quite unopen to this expanse is the site where the settlers dug clay for edifice in addition to polishing their houses. Clay inwards the Frafra linguistic communication is "bolga" in addition to stone is "tanga"- thus the seat was named Bolgatanga. It is also referred to as the handicrafts working capital missive of the alphabet of Ghana, in addition to is famous for its intricately designed straw baskets (Tehei), hats in addition to smocks. If you lot discovery yourself hither do see the little interesting regional museum The main dishes of the Upper-East Region are similar to that of the Upper West, "TZ" or "Tuo Zafi" rice balls or Omo Tuo with groundnut soup or dark-green leaves soups, beans, rice in addition to cowpea or "Tubaani", koko with "koose". Beverages include pito in addition to "Zom krom".
Frafra tribe human being in addition to Ghanaian multiple international accolade winner in addition to the most pop traditional artiste of all time, King Ayisoba with his kologo or molo, a two-stringed calabash lute. Watch his rail " I desire to regard you lot my manlike someone parent here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3_EBMsxyCQ
The Name Frafra
The term Frafra is an umbrella term that refers to a disclose of ethnic groups that percentage the same cultural heritage yet have got some modest differences inwards price of linguistic communication in addition to ritual action. The similarities, however, inwards their civilization inwards price of ritual, linguistic communication in addition to trend of life are far greater than the differences. There are 4 major ethnic groups that brand upwards the Frafra people. We have got the Gurune speaking, the Nabdan speaking, the Boone speaking in addition to Talleni speaking. The Gurune speaking grouping occupies the fundamental portion of the district sharing a edge with the Kesena to the west.
Frafra warrior
The Nabdan are located eastward of the Guruse in addition to percentage borders with the Kusasi. The Boone speaking grouping is to the due north of the Guruse. They are at the edge with the southern component subdivision of Burkina Faso. The Tallensi, on the other hand, are to the south. There are also some Gurune-speaking people who are situated farther due south sharing edge with the Tallensi. These are called the Paalse in addition to their major town is Pwalugu. These are the 4 major groups that constitute the Frafra people. Extensive anthropological piece of work has been done on the Tallensi past times Meyer Fortes, but non real much written report either anthropological or otherwise, has been registered for the other groups. Though each has its unique characteristics in addition to in all likelihood did non originate from the same ancestor or fifty-fifty from the same area, they are usually seen as a unified whole because of their mutual cultural in addition to linguistic traits.
Frafra daughter showing her facial tribal marks
Actually, it is believed that the term Frafra is a call that the British colonials coined to apply to the Gurune-speaking people. It appears that they found it easier to pronounce the word Frafra rather than the proper call Gurune. The term Frafra is derived from a shape of greeting inwards the Gurune language. The word fara-fara inwards Gurune has ii meanings depending on the context. It could hateful simply ‘thanks’ for a favour done or a greeting peculiarly to people who are working. It is, therefore, supposed that when the British found it hard to pronounce the term Gurune, they resorted to this term, referring non to the greeting or the thanks but to the ethnic grouping itself. It is non real clear how the term came to live associated with the other ethnic groups discussed inwards a higher seat since it is to a greater extent than prominent inwards the Gurune dialect than inwards the others. It may live due to the closeness of language, cultural practices in addition to inwards a higher seat all ritual action.
Frafra handmade woven handbasket from Bolga
According to George Asigre, Rattray treats the Gurunse nether the call Nankanse inwards his book, Tribes of the Ashanti Hinterland. Generally the term Nankanse is used past times the Kasena to refer to the Frafra inwards full general but to a greater extent than specifically to some Frafra speaking groups that do non autumn within the political demarcation of the 3 Frafra districts, which are Bongo, Tellensi-Nabdan in addition to Bolga Districts. Politically they autumn nether Navrongo District but are closer to the Frafra inwards price of language, civilization in addition to ritual action. In fact they are to a greater extent than oftentimes than non referred to as Frafra in addition to they regard themselves as such. Their major settlements are Sirigu, Kandiga, Mirigo in addition to Nabango to the eastward of Navrongo, working capital missive of the alphabet of the Distirct, in addition to Kulgo in addition to Naaga to the due south of Navrongo.
Rattray notes that the call Frafra is non what the people usage to refer to themselves but, inwards his view, the term Gurunga (singular) or Gurunse (plural) is non real good received past times their neighbours, because it has disparaging in addition to derogatory connotation as it is linked with eating domestic dog meat.
George Asigre, has objected to Rattery’s assertion on the ground that, “the call itself has no disparaging or derogatory significance. It is rather limited inwards scope, in addition to is specific inwards its application.” The call Gurune is limited inwards range because as nosotros have got seen inwards a higher seat it refers specifically to component subdivision of the entire ethnic grouping that is known today as the Frafra.Frafra warrior dance
language
Frafra people speak Frafra or Farefare, also known as Gurenɛ, language. The Frafra linguistic communication belongs to Gurma Oti-Volta cluster of languages of the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication family. It is spoken past times over 600,000 people inwards the northern Ghana, peculiarly the Upper East Region, in addition to southern Burkina Faso. It is a national linguistic communication of Ghana, in addition to is closely related to Mossi, aka Moré, the national linguistic communication of Burkina Faso.
Frafra family, Bongo
Gurune (also written Gudenne, Gurenne, Gudeni, Zuadeni), Nankani (Naani, Nankanse, Ninkare), Booni, Talni (Talensi, Talene), in addition to Nab't (Nabit, Nabde, Nabte, Nabdam, Nabdug, Nabrug, Nabnam, Namnam) together with some others are considered the major dialects of the Frafra people. However, Nab't in addition to Talni could also live considered dialects of Mampruli; Mampruli, Kusaal, in addition to Dagaare are inwards plow considered to live sis languages to Gurune. There are obvious linguistic similarities with these in addition to the other languages of the Mabia linguistic communication grouping (Bodomo 1994; St. John-Parsons 1960)
Frafra instrumentalist Bola, playing the kologo lute
History
The Frafra people are believed to have got come upwards from the Gur-language theatre unit of measurement of the Oti-Volta River. They occupy the Bolgatanga, Bongo in addition to Tellensi-Nabdan districts of the Upper East Region of Ghana. They percentage borders with southern Burkina Faso in addition to inwards fact are believed to have got migrated from in that location to their acquaint location. Their linguistic communication is real unopen to Moshie, which is the linguistic communication of 1 of the major ethnic groups inwards Burkina Faso.
Frafra people
The historical origins of Frafra people is real scanty in addition to much interrogation demand to live done on them. However in that location are sure pointers to their historical migration. According to a legend narrated past times Anthony Atarebore, the Frafra in addition to the Dagaaba were both linked with the Dagomba in addition to percentage mutual origin. This Dagomba connectedness re-echoes Hébert's legend virtually the foremost Dagara, an orphan who was defendant of witchcraft in addition to expelled past times the Dagomba chief. The orphan accordingly fled towards the Black Volta in addition to stayed close Babile, across the river. However, both legends do non business concern human relationship for the human relationship with other ethnic groups, which are shown to belong to a mutual Mabia ancestry (Bodomo 1994).
According to Atarebore's legend, "long fourth dimension ago, Dagomba, Gurune in addition to Dagao were brothers, or rather cousins. They lived somewhere inwards Southern Africa with the Bantus. From Southern Africa, they began to migrate northwards through Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda in addition to Kenya. Then, turning westward, they moved to Sierra Leone, Northern Nigeria, in addition to finally to Ghana. Historians differ inwards their view as regards to the nature in addition to scale of these movements. For instance, Lentz (1994) rejects the hypothesis seat frontward past times Eyre-Smith's8 that the history of northern Ghana, indeed of the whole West African savannah, seemed to consist of 'constant' movements of people as a final result of slave-raiding, internecine warfare, etc., whole sections of a tribe or theatre unit of measurement breaking away in addition to migrating to a novel territory. Instead, Carola Lentz suggests that migration took seat inwards small-scale distances in addition to inwards little groups.
It is non real clear whether the Frafra existed during the old Republic of Ghana Empire inwards the Middle Ages in addition to formed component subdivision of that empire, since its acquaint location is non so far from the location of the sometime empire. The facts, however, cannot live verified. According to some elders, the people of Zuarungu, 1 of the major settlements of the Frafra, migrated from Wuarungu inwards Burkina Faso. It is believed that the call Zuarungu is derived from Wuarungu. Even today, in that location is silent a link betwixt the people of Zuarungu in addition to the people of Wuarungu.
For some Frafra chiefs their tradition trace their historical in addition to cultural ties to Mamprusi kingdom. This is clearly the instance of Namos of Tongo whose oral traditions recount how their apical ancestor- Mosore- had come upwards to Tongo on exile from Nalerigu in addition to had remained inwards Tongo. Similar traditions seems to be inwards other Frafra enclaves. Bongo district is made upwards of ii main communities. The original settlers are Gurune-speaking in addition to the 2d grouping is the Mamprusi stock that settled mainly inwards the fundamental component subdivision of the present. Some Frafra Nangodi people also percentage similar Mamprusi ancestry.
Frafra people
Settlement
The typical traditional chemical compound homestead with these people is 1 that combines huts that are thatched with mud in addition to those that are roofed with grass. Huts are circular in addition to the grass covering is pyramidal inwards shape. Compounds differ inwards sizes oftentimes depending on the wealth in addition to status of the original of the compound. The average Frafra chemical compound comprises several abode quarters arranged inwards circular format with a unmarried gateway. These days those who tin sack afford it are probable to roof their huts with metallic format with a unmarried gateway. These days those who tin sack afford it are probable to roof their huts with metallic sheets.
Frafra people sitting inwards front end of their traditional Gurunsi mud house
Economy
The Frafra, similar all other ethnic groups roughly them, are basically agrarian, practising mainly subsistent farming. Land is scarce in addition to naturally the farms are real little inwards size in addition to to a greater extent than oftentimes than non miserable due to continual usage without much replenishment. Due to this, the yield is usually real poor. The rainfall pattern, which is erratic, allows for only 1 cropping season. The main cereal crops produced are millet, sorghum, maize in addition to rice. They also create beans, groundnuts (pea nuts), moo-cow peas in addition to vegetables of all kinds.
The biggest fundamental marketplace is at Bolgatanga in addition to attracts traders from the entire town in addition to beyond. Bolgatanga is the working capital missive of the alphabet of the region, so the marketplace fifty-fifty attracts traders from the viii districts inwards the region. Since the expanse experiences long periods of dry out weather, the people engage inwards other economical activities such as leather works in addition to weaving of straw bags in addition to hats during the dry out period. Areas that have got dugouts in addition to dams engage inwards dry out flavor gardening where they cultivate mainly vegetables for consumption in addition to for sale.
Frafra adult woman weaving tehei (basket)
Apart from farming Frafra people maintain livestock including cattle, goats in addition to sheep. These are animals are reared for commercial in addition to domestic consumption. In some Frafra villages, cattle is used as a payment for bridewealth.
Zarantinga adult woman with Frafra tribal marks
Recently gilded was discovered inwards the expanse in addition to at nowadays many immature people are engaged inwards surface mining as their main economical activity. This is gaining popularity but at the same fourth dimension is also degrading the environs since all sorts of unorthodox methods are used to acquire this gold.
Frafra livestock
Socio-Political Organization (The family)
The concept of the theatre unit of measurement for the Frafra is much to a greater extent than than a modern nuclear family. Yiri, theatre in addition to yiridoma, theatre members, refer to all the members living inwards a item house, in addition to that is the family. In a broader sense the theatre unit of measurement may also include all members of the same clan. Mbiti attests to this wider agreement of theatre unit of measurement with many African communities as he notes, “the theatre unit of measurement has a wider circle than the word suggests inwards Europe in addition to North America. In traditional society, the theatre unit of measurement includes children, parents, uncles, aunts, brothers in addition to sisters who may have got their ain children, in addition to other immediate relatives…”
Frafra adult woman holding her baby
It is also quite important to greenback that, for the Frafra, the theatre unit of measurement is non limited to only the living. It also includes all the deceased members. The solid ground of the ‘living-dead’ is only an extension of the theatre unit of measurement on earth, in addition to they are treated with dandy respect, as if they were silent alive. Every Frafra family, therefore, silent has links with its dead. For this argue it is difficult, if non impossible, to statistically enumerate people inwards this locality because the theatre unit of measurement fifty-fifty includes the unborn. Mbiti confirms this when he states, “the African concept of the theatre unit of measurement also includes the unborn members who are silent inwards the loins of the living. They are the buds of promise in addition to expectation, in addition to each theatre unit of measurement makes sure that its existence is non extinguished. The theatre unit of measurement provides for its continuation, in addition to prepares for the coming of those non yet born.”
Frafra kologo player
The Clan
The Frafra lineage is patrilineal. The clan is the theatre unit of measurement inwards a much broader sense. The Frafra refers to the clan as yizuo, which literally agency ‘house head’. Members of 1 yizuo draw their descent to a mutual ancestor. The mutual binding strength for the yizuo is their taboos in addition to their totemic ancestors. Even if they are non living within the same locality, as long as they have got the same totem in addition to taboos, they are of the same clan and, therefore, of the same family.
Marriage is forbidden betwixt ii people with the same totemic ancestor. The oldest surviving boy of the mutual ancestor is e'er caput of the clan. There are usually strong theatre unit of measurement ties with members of the same clan in addition to “all members have got the obligation to assist 1 some other inwards such areas of life as marriage, funerals, sacrifices to the ancestors in addition to the full general well-being of the private in addition to the total clan membership.”
Marriage
Marriages are exogamous in addition to high bridewealth is taken past times the families of pubescent girls when marriages are contracted. The legal guardians of the daughter could demand as much as 4 heads of cattle from the wife-takers. Perhaps as a final result of the high bridewealth marriages were usually stable inwards the past times although this did non foreclose separation of the married couple. Formal divorce could imply the render of a portion of the bridewealth. In some societies how much or what is refunded on divorce depends of whether the married adult woman has given nascency to whatever children for the married adult man in addition to how many.
Politico-religious organization
In the past times Frafra people had no chiefs but clan heads in addition to Earth priest. When the Mamprusi people invaded Gurunsi solid ground they planted chiefs on Frafra people. However, later on the colonial era the Frafra people have got asserted themselves over Mamprusi domination as good as Nayiri`s influence past times enskinning their ain chiefs. As a final result Frafra people at nowadays have got Bolga Naba, Bongo Na etc.
Frafra women, Zarantinga, Ghana
The maintenance of the social order, whether family, clan or hamlet is the save of the principal in addition to elders. “They ensure peace, harmony in addition to the full general welfare of the people.” They are referred to as Kimma from the word Keema, which agency ‘older’. For landed properties in addition to inwards spiritual matters, it is the Tindana, (the custodian of the Earth shrine in addition to cult) who is the overseer. It is his duty to regard to the well-being of the entire hamlet past times offering sacrifices to the Earth shrine periodically in addition to appeasing it if the demand arises. This human being has dandy authorisation in addition to is far to a greater extent than revered, feared in addition to respected than whatever elderberry or principal inwards the hamlet because of his links with the ancestors in addition to the Earth shrine of the land.
Bonaba, Chief of Bongo
As regards the political administration, the Frafra administrative scheme is nether the umbrella of the paramount principal in addition to his administrative mechanism of sub-chiefs in addition to elders. Among other things they settle disputes in addition to conflicts with members of the village. In modern times, however, with the increment of the legal system, where cases are handled inwards courts in addition to tribunals, the role of the principal is taking a novel shape. Many people prefer to guide their disputes to the courts rather than to chiefs for settlement. However, in that location are sure cases such as disputes concerning the dowry of a adult woman that are silent real much handled past times chiefs.
Frafra council meeting
Adaakoya Festival
Adaakoya is celebrated at Bolgatanga in addition to Zuarungu past times the Gurunsis. It is held betwixt Jan in addition to Feb outcry year. The festival serves to give thanks to the gods for expert harvest. The mode of celebration is through various sacrifices followed past times drumming in addition to dancing. The climax is a durbar of the chiefs in addition to people.
Religious belief
Belief inwards the Supreme Being is real strong inwards Frafra cosmology. The Frafra refer to the
Supreme Being in addition to Creator God as Yinε. The etymology of this term is non real clear but it is possible that it comes from the word ayina, which agency one/alone with the connotation of only. Yinε may, therefore, imply
the Only One, 1 who is lonely in addition to inwards a higher seat all. Yinε is oftentimes prefixed with na-a, thus Na-ayinε which implies chief. The na-a is a derivative of principal – naba. Na-anyinε, therefore, agency the only Supreme Chief.
The abode of the Supreme Being is oftentimes viewed as existence inwards the skies or fifty-fifty beyond the skies. As a consequence, the heaven is telephone band yinin, which agency the abode of Yinε, translated inwards English linguistic communication as God. This tin sack give the connotation that for the Frafra God is completely transcendent, in addition to far removed from people. Such a conclusion volition live a hasty 1 in addition to volition live far from the truth. Even though it may live truthful that the Frafra recall of God as transcendent, it is also truthful that they consider their Yinε as 1 who is immanent in addition to e'er with them. This tin sack easily live deciphered from their daily conversation, in addition to blessings in addition to curses. It is mutual to hear the Frafra say, yinε ka zãe – God is non far or yinε yẽti – God sees. To wishing 1 a expert night, the Frafra would say yinε gã-re ho – which agency may God bless your sleep.
Sometimes inwards cursing or blessing, God’s call is also used. One tin sack curse an enemy with the words, yinε wan soke ho – literally, God volition inquire you, inwards other words, God volition curse you lot or bless somebody with the words yinε wan sunge/maale ho – that is, God volition assist you lot or bless you.
Besides these, the Frafra have got lots of attributes of God. For them, God is love, God is powerful, God is merciful, God is the creator of all in that location is inwards the universe. Indeed God is everything. These attributes of God are sometimes found inwards the many theophorus names with the Frafra. In fact most Frafra names are theophorus. Some of these names include Ayinongre – God’s love, Ayinbora/Ayindesum – God is love, Ayinbono – God’s property, Ayingagya – God is inwards a higher seat all in addition to so on. These theophorus names are a powerful aspect of the Frafra concept of the Supreme Being who encompasses all that in that location is in addition to who is the only one, Yinε who has no equal. Idowu underscores the importance of these theophorus names as aspect of the African’s view of God when he observes: “The theophorus proper names that people ship all over Africa are a farther evidence of how existent God is to the Africans.”
In spite of all these, inwards a real paradoxical way, the Frafra do non offering sacrifices to the Supreme Being directly. To live sure, in that location is no shrine with the Frafra dedicated straight to the Supreme Being. This, however, is non a contradiction to the honor in addition to honour the Frafra give to God, their Supreme Being. On the opposite it falls inwards line with their socio-religious life. We saw inwards a higher seat that Chiefs play a real of import role inwards the political life of the Frafra. This tin sack live woven into the fact that the Frafra do non approach God straight inwards their sacrifice but only indirectly.
Among the Frafra similar many other African communities, nobody approaches the principal directly. It is a sign of disrespect non just to the someone of the principal but the whole chieftaincy institution. Such demeanour is usually punished with a fine. The principal is e'er approached through intermediaries such as the elders, in addition to his
decisions in addition to communications are given non straight to the people but through his elders who play the role of mediators. This indeed is reflected inwards the Frafra approach to the Supreme Being. We believe this is the argue why the Frafra do non approach God straight inwards worship in addition to sacrifice but through mediators such as the ancestors, in addition to other divinities.
Frafra tribe human being in addition to King Ayisoba is a hiplife performer in addition to Kologo (guitar) player. watch his video here;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MN2cZPjijE
Divinities: Besides belief inwards the Supreme Being, the Frafra, similar many African communities also believe that other divinities be in addition to they relate with them inwards their capacities as divinities endowed with some divine powers that influence their lives. These divinities tin sack live viewed inwards various forms. They, dissimilar the ancestors were never 1 time human. Their source is non known or fifty-fifty talked virtually but it is fair to imagine along with their mentality that everything comes from the Supreme Being to say that these divinities may have got their source inwards the Supreme Being or at to the lowest degree percentage inwards the powers of the Supreme Being.
Frafra shrine,Bongo
shrines dedicated to these divinities are located are protected areas. No farming activities guide seat in that location in addition to the trees are non cutting to the lowest degree the anger of the divinities is incurred. Thus belief inwards these divinities is ingrained inwards the Frafra/African religious worldview.
Ancestors: Belief inwards ancestors is the commonest characteristic of the African traditional religion, non to the lowest degree the Frafra. Thus ancestral veneration tin sack live considered a fundamental chemical element of African traditional religion. Unlike the divinities nosotros just treated above, ancestors were 1 time human beings who lived on Earth in addition to have got at nowadays joined the spirit world through the procedure of death. Like the divinities they are real much honoured in addition to revered. The Frafra associate to a greater extent than with the ancestors than with the other divinities because they were 1 time human in addition to are believed to know the human status in addition to needs real good in addition to are thus inwards a improve seat to solicit assist in addition to approbation from the Supreme Being. Moreover, for the Frafra in that location is a strong link betwixt the ancestors in addition to their living progeny, a link which expiry does non break. This is why the Frafra create the shrines dedicated to the ancestors within their homestead to emphasise this permanent link that exists betwixt the living in addition to the dead. These shrines are oftentimes seen dotted inwards front end of peoples’ houses.
Ancestral cult with the Frafra is non limited to men but also includes women as well. However, whereas to a greater extent than oftentimes than non speaking the manlike someone ancestral shrines are located inwards front end of the house, the woman someone ancestral shrines tin sack live found within the house. This is real much inwards line with their pattern of life. Frafra funeral ritual, the seat of the adult woman is within piece that of the human being is outside. This is also acted out inwards their religious life since the Frafra to a greater extent than oftentimes than non do non separate the mundane from the religious. These ancestors are also mediators betwixt the living progeny in addition to the Supreme Being.
The criteria for qualification as an ancestor with the Frafra are non radically different from many ethnic communities inwards Africa. For 1 to live considered an ancestor he/she must run into sure qualities in addition to requirements.
To live qualified to live ancestor, 1 must have got raised a family, been responsible, grown old in addition to go an elderberry inwards the family, clan or hamlet community, in addition to of class would have got died a natural death. On a negative note, a wicked someone who uses sorcery, witchcraft or magic to drive damage to people tin sack never qualify to live ancestor. People who conk bad deaths or may have got been known thieves inwards the hamlet community would also non qualify to live ancestors. The argue for this strict moral code is inwards the fact that the ancestor for the Frafra is a custodian of the people in addition to inwards fact an embodiment of their moral code for they tin sack punish deviance in addition to bless expert deeds. For this argue if 1 is non ethical him/herself, how could he/she punish or right wrongdoing inwards the community or the family? If 1 was non responsible on earth, how could he/she effectively mediate betwixt the living in addition to the Supreme Being?
The ancestors are believed to inhabit the solid ground of the dead, which for the Frafra is inwards the underworld in addition to from in that location they influence the day-to-day lives of the people. Though they are perceived to inhabit the underworld, they are non confined in that location but are all roughly the vicinity of the house. They too similar all other spirits are to a greater extent than active at black though their activities cannot live limited only to the night.
Ancestors play a pivotal role inwards the lives of the Frafra in addition to it is for his argue that they revere them so much. Sacrifices are offered to them periodically to solicit their assist in addition to their intercession of the Supreme Being. They are sometimes also invoked inwards blessings in addition to curses.
Other Spirits: Belief inwards the existence of other spirits too the ancestors in addition to divinities is an integral component subdivision of
African traditional religion. There is, however, a divergence betwixt these spirits in addition to the spirits of ancestors in addition to divinities. Ancestors are the spirits of people who 1 time lived on Earth in addition to have got at nowadays died in addition to joined the spirit world. The divinities are also spirits that are connected inwards 1 way or the other with the family, clan or hamlet community as nosotros have got pointed out. On the other hand, the spirits existence discussed hither are of a different kind. They are considered as gratuitous roving spirits that are all over in addition to non confined to whatever item place. These spirits are to a greater extent than oftentimes than non feared as they are believed to live malicious in addition to tin sack manifest themselves inwards various forms in addition to drive havoc to the human society. Witches are believed to possess some of these evil spirits that brand them kill in addition to eat human beings through a spiritual manipulation. It is believed that some of these spirits have got the powerfulness to come inwards the womb of a adult woman during the normal intercourse with her married adult man in addition to live born into the world. Generally babies with abnormal features are suspected to live this sort of children. Normally such children are killed in addition to buried non inwards the normal theatre unit of measurement graveyard but inwards the wild for that is where they belong.
These spirits are usually imagined to live real little inwards stature in addition to real swift inwards their movement. They tin sack either have got real sparse voices or loud in addition to crude oil ones. They have got the powerfulness to drive accidents on the roads, inwards the H2O in addition to inwards fact anywhere. The Frafra do non offering sacrifices to these spirits in addition to in that location are no shrines dedicated to them. On the contrary, the divinities in addition to the ancestors are usually asked during sacrifices to maintain them far away from the community. These roving spirits are never anybody’s friends in addition to real oftentimes people don’t fifty-fifty speak virtually them.
Though to a greater extent than oftentimes than non the Frafra consider these spirits as malicious in addition to wicked spiritual beings, they also believe that in that location are expert spirits with them. These expert spirits tin sack possess an private inwards the community in addition to reveal some secrets to him or her for the expert of the community. This cloak-and-dagger could live the powerfulness to heal various kinds of diseases in addition to ailments, prevention of witchcraft activity, powerfulness to divine in addition to regard the future, prevention of epidemics, drought in addition to so on. These are considered expert spirits that usage their powers for the do goodness of the community.
Divination: At various intervals, the elderberry inwards the theatre unit of measurement would go to the diviner to communicate with the ancestors in addition to the other divinities to discovery out the province of the theatre unit of measurement in addition to if in that location are sure things to live done. The Frafra never makes major undertakings such as edifice a house, travelling far away, marrying etc without consulting the ancestors through divination. The ancestors are the guardians in addition to custodians of the
living in addition to their permission in addition to approbation must live sought before whatever undertaking. If the ancestors are against whatever intended journeying or undertaking, it is usually abandoned.
Besides these moments that the Frafra would see the diviner, in that location are other moments that telephone band for divination. These moments are death, sickness, during epidemics in addition to some other disasters inwards the community. During these moments the Frafra divines to discovery out the drive of these unfortunate incidence so that they tin sack remedy the province of affairs through sacrifices in addition to offerings to the ancestors in addition to divinities as the instance may be.
Diviners are usually men or women who are possessed past times 1 or the other expert spirits with have got talked virtually inwards a higher seat or the spirit of a distant relation who died a long fourth dimension ago. The possession tin sack manifest itself inwards the private inwards a shape of fits or sickness or a unusual in addition to abnormal behaviour. In such a province of affairs a diviner is usually consulted to discovery out the drive to the problem. It is usually during this divination that the intention of the item spirit is made known in addition to so the theatre unit of measurement volition go through the procedure of creating the shrine for divination for the item individual. Usually later on that is done the job disappears in addition to the someone becomes a diviner inwards the community in addition to people tin sack consult him or her. Thus divination tin sack live said to live a life wire inwards Africa traditional religion.
Sacrifices in addition to Offerings: Sacrifices in addition to offerings are some of the constitutive elements inwards African traditional religion. For the Frafra in that location are ii ways of offering sacrifices. These are either blood sacrifice or flourwater/flour sacrifice. The blood sacrifice involves the immolation of the victim, either an brute or a
chicken in addition to the blood offered on the shrine of the item divinity. Generally participants of the sacrifice swallow the meat of the victim. The Frafra believe that blood signifies life so past times offering the blood of the victim on the shrine, the item divinity takes the life of the victim, which is signified inwards the blood. Besides this bloody sacrifice, in that location is also the bloodless sacrifice with either flour-water or only dry out flour. For the flour-water sacrifice, the Frafra mixes flour inwards H2O in addition to pours it on the shrine of the divinity. The dry out flour sacrifice is done inwards real extreme cases. This is usually done during a menstruation of long drought. The worshippers inwards this extreme instance would pour dry out flour on the shrine that is dedicated to the pelting divinity to request that due to the drought they have got no H2O to mix the flour with. Therefore, this shape of sacrifice is only a symbolic sacrifice to provoke the divinity to deed inwards their favour past times giving them rain.
Broadly speaking, the Frafra have got 3 forms of sacrifice namely, thanksgiving, pacification in addition to supplication. The sacrifice of thanksgiving is usually done later on harvest, childbearing, marriage, a successful expedition in addition to so on. This sacrifice is offered to give thanks the ancestors for the blessings they have got received during the year. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sacrifice of this sort is naturally 1 of a joyful celebration. The sacrifice of pacification is usually carried out as a final result of a incorrect done past times an private or a grouping of people inwards the hamlet or inwards the family. Examples of crimes that telephone band for the sacrifice of pacification are cutting branches inwards the shrines dedicated to a item divinity, having sexual activity inwards the bush or sleeping with somebody’s married adult woman in addition to a host of others. These crimes are believed to anger the divinities in addition to the ancestors in addition to thus telephone band for some sacrifices to pacify them or else some misfortune may befall the private or fifty-fifty the community. The sacrifice of supplication tin sack live done at whatever time, but to a greater extent than oftentimes than non they are done before the private or community undertakes a major lawsuit such as the commencement of the farming season, before harvesting, before embarking on a long journeying in addition to so on. This sacrifice constitutes a asking for success in addition to approbation from the ancestors.
Besides offering sacrifices, the Frafra also brand other offerings that may non strictly speaking live considered sacrifices but are nonetheless of import inwards their human relationship with the spirit world. These offerings are usually nutrient offering mostly to the dead including the ancestors. This usually happens when somebody dies in addition to the post-burial celebration is non yet performed. In that interim menstruation betwixt burial in addition to post-burial celebration, the theatre unit of measurement of the deceased may prepare nutrient in addition to go out it uncovered inwards the kitchen so that the deceased who has non yet been brought into the ancestral seat through a funeral celebration may tin sack come upwards inwards in addition to eat. Besides, during the funeral celebration in that location are moments that nutrient is prepared in addition to kept for the ancestors to come upwards in addition to eat.
Frafra handmade Woven fruit basket
Frafra music
Frafra are known for their Kologo sounds. There are a lot of traditional kologo participant from a rural, pastoral background with Frafra people. The kologo is a little-known two-stringed musical instrument with a heavy bass audio from the Frafra of Republic of Ghana in addition to Burkina Faso that Bola learned growing upwards herding livestock inwards Northeast Ghana.
Like the many other ancestors of the banjo that are scattered across West Africa, the kologo has a gourd resonator in addition to a pare head. There’s a whole sub-family of banjo-like bass instruments inwards West Africa, in addition to the earthy blend of gut strings, gourds, in addition to kick-ass bass lines is nigh-irresistible. But all connections to the banjo aside, it’s just damn prissy that we’re finally getting such a dandy influx of recordings of West African stringed instruments that aren’t the kora (the ubiquitous in addition to beautiful harp of Mail/Senegal/The Gambia).
Frafra tribe human being in addition to Ghanaian instrumentalist in addition to griot, Atongo_Zimba. His album Allah Mongode was recorded inwards Switzerland. His album Barefoot inwards the Sand was nominated "African CD of the Year" inwards 2007 past times Amsterdam television. His recording of No Beer inwards Heaven was a major hitting inwards Republic of Ghana inwards 2004.
THE FRAFRA CONCEPT OF THE PERSON
Four main components that brand upwards a someone inwards the heed of the Frafra. These are inŋa (body), sia (soul, spirit), deγro (dirt – mystical), in addition to vo-osum (breath). These inwards a broad sense inwards the mind-set of the Frafra brand upwards a person, non inwards a differentiated shape as has already been stated but as a unity.
NERA/NERISAALA (PERSON/HUMAN BEING) : The Frafra distinguish betwixt nera in addition to nerisaala. Nera is used to refer specifically to a person. Here the term refers to the totality of the person. It includes his body, soul, breath etc. Nerisaala is a to a greater extent than generic term, which refers to a greater extent than oftentimes than non to a human existence with all the characteristics that distinguish the human someone from an brute – dunŋa. In actual fact in that location is no divergence inwards the usage of the ii price inwards the heed of the Frafra. Though they may live intellectually distinguishable, they
refer to 1 in addition to the same thing, the person. For the Frafra similar the Dagaaba, nerisal or ninsaala respectively “designates ‘man’ in addition to whatever of the elements of mankind. It points to the intellectual, spiritual, moral humane aspect of man…Ninsaala thus implies the thought of reason, of humanity as opposed to animal.” On the other hand, nera or nir is this “concept incarnate in addition to actualized. It points to human being inwards his existential complex, human being as concretely in addition to physically describable, a complex existence as a social being, human being inwards his various activities in addition to social relationships.” Nera is, therefore, the human someone who is self-conscious in addition to tin sack integrate socially to a sure degree. This evidently includes his maturity, storey of reasoning, intellect in addition to so on. Otherwise he is termed a mina n ka tari yem, that is, 1 who has no sense, foolish or immature inwards his behaviour. Here historic menstruation does non count. What matters is the storey of maturity. The Frafra volition say of a wicked someone a daγ nera, that agency he or she is non a human being. This does non hateful that physiologically he/she is non a human existence but his/her demeanour is non human in addition to in all likelihood does non belong to the human domain. This underscores the fact that the human existence is a moral being. This is connected with argue in addition to the intellect, i.e. yem. Yem,
therefore, has moral implications. This brings us dorsum over again to the thought of the unitary perspective of the human someone inwards the heed of the Frafra in addition to many other African communities. To live considered fully human, nerisala, all the different units must live fully integrated into the spiritual, social in addition to moral person.
INŊA (BODY): Nera, the human someone is endowed with a trunk called inŋa. The inŋa is the physical and
physiological features of the person. This also includes the pare of the person, which is called ingane. In a real complex way the inŋa is also associated with reason/intelligence known as yem. This is similar to Dabaaba thought as Kuuknure explains, “nir, (person) is endowed with a body, yang or yanggan (literally trunk - skin). This is inseparably united to his yan (reason, intelligence or fifty-fifty spirit) in addition to is construed to live the envelope” of the other constituents of the person. The trunk existence the most physical of all the other aspects comprises all physically tangible constituents such as the different parts of the physical body, the bones, blood in addition to all other tangible compositions of the person.
This is why it tin sack live conceived as the envelope, as it is within this physical composition that the other units discovery their existence. In other words, the trunk is the reference dot of the soul/spirit, the dirt in addition to the vital breath. Death occurs when the vital breath ceases, the trunk decomposes, the spirit goes to God in addition to the dirt dissolves. However, the someone regains his trunk inwards the side past times side world but a trunk that is non visible to the living.
.SIA (SOUL/SPIRIT): Probably the closest translation of the term sia inwards Frafra is the soul/spirit. The Tallensi in addition to Nabdan telephone band it sii. As already indicated the Tallensi in addition to the Nabdan are also Frafra. As distinguished from the body, inŋa, the sia is intangible in addition to imperceptible except to those who have got so called 2d sight. (Some Africans believe that too the normal eyes that everybody has, in that location are some people who have got other eyes non visible to people. This enable them to possess a 2d sight in addition to regard things that others do non see. This 2d sight tin sack either live through a natural gift from God or acquired through some magical acts. Witches in addition to wizards are considered as people who possess this 2d sight that is why they tin sack regard the human soul. Senior undertakers are also people with the 2d sight, which they acquire through the initiation procedure of becoming undertakers.) The sia is described inwards various ways, in addition to inwards a sure sense the Frafra don’t seem to grasp it fully. Their description of it is rather unproblematic in addition to real unsophisticated. It is “sometimes spoken of as if it were a double of the individual, accompanying him rather than existence integral of him.
Correspondingly, the sii [sia] tin sack wander virtually leaving its embodiment behind inwards slumber in addition to appear inwards dreams to someone else.” The sia, however, is non identical with kuko (ghost). Unlike some African ethnic groups that seem to seat the sia with the ghost, the Frafra do non forthwith seat it with the ghost. Kuko, which is the Frafra term for ghost is the spirit of a bad someone that comes dorsum to terrorise the living. Mostly witches are said to plow into ghosts when they conk in addition to come upwards dorsum to go on their nefarious activities on Earth because they cannot come inwards the ancestral world easily due to their bad deeds piece they were alive. In a sure sense nosotros may say that the ghost is the soul of the witches but inwards their conversation the Frafra do non forthwith seat the ghost with the sia. Consequently when someone who is suspected to live either a witch or a sorcerer dies, the undertakers have got a way of burying that someone to foreclose his/her ghost from coming back.
In their view the sia is sure component subdivision of a living person’s constitution that has its ain identity. Though it tin sack go out the body, it is an integral component subdivision of the person. The sia tin sack live at risk in addition to is oftentimes vulnerable in addition to opened upwards to
dangers. It is that component subdivision of the someone that tin sack live injured or fifty-fifty killed past times witches, sorcerers in addition to evil medicine men. This same belief cuts across several African ethnic communities. We discovery it for representative with the Dagaaba of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Like the Frafra they also believe that “during a man’s life the soul is capable of leaving its stuff support. During its peregrinations the trunk remains immobile until it returns in addition to reintegrates with its body. These roving souls are the ones either eaten past times witches or are themselves witches who eat other souls. But it is supposed to live the flesh of those souls that are eaten, an act, which precipitates the expiry of the person. The soul itself remains intact.”
The most mysterious aspect in addition to that which is hard to explicate is their belief that “when a novel grave is existence dug, souls of people attending the mortuary ceremony are apt to live enticed into the grave without the someone thus affected existence aware.”37 It is only the bayaase (undertakers) who past times their initiation that enable them to acquire a 2d sight tin sack regard these souls in addition to assist them out of the graves. If they remain inwards the graves in addition to are buried with the deceased they volition also conk presently later on the burial.
For the Frafra, 1 does non go to the funeral of his/her intimate friend for the unproblematic argue that the friend may desire to guide him/her along, so that they tin sack go on their life as it was on earth. Therefore, the friend tin sack only come upwards to limited his/her sympathy later on the funeral. Thus Fortes may live right. Nevertheless, it may also live possible to seem at this custom from the perspective of curiosity. The Frafra do non dig novel graves at every funeral. One has to merit it past times virtue of one’s status. Therefore, the occasion of earthworks a grave tin sack attract curiosity especially from immature people who desire to know how it is done. This curiosity may live translated into their souls going to the grave to ‘see’ what is going on. Even inwards normal everyday life with the Frafra, when a novel theatre is existence built, people come upwards in addition to go. Some come upwards to help, piece others come upwards just out of curiosity. In the same vein, since the grave is the seat of the dead, the souls of the people may just
wander in that location for the sake of curiosity. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 somewhat to a greater extent than skeptical way of looking at the custom would live to deny whatever possibility of souls going within the grave. It may just live a ploy past times the undertakers to frighten people in addition to maintain them away from coming to the grave since they have got zilch to do with the ritual. But this would live tampering with a heart in addition to soul belief of the Frafra inwards connectedness with the earthworks of a novel grave. Whatever the source of the custom, our involvement hither is to posit that the Frafra view of the soul forms an integral component subdivision of the someone in addition to what happens to the soul volition have got an effect on the person, either negative or positive.
The concept of the sia is fifty-fifty farther complicated when it is extended to include one’s identity in addition to belongings. These belongings to a greater extent than oftentimes than non include normal clothing, a man’s bow in addition to arrows a hoe, an axe in addition to a woman’s personal ornaments such as brass, amulets in addition to beadwork. These are believed to live associated with the person’s soul. More specifically, a man’s sia (soul) is believed to live straight associated to his granary in addition to a woman’s choicest selection of calabashes in addition to storage pots. Sia (soul), therefore, tin sack live conceived of as one’s personal identity that is objectified inwards his/her personal possessions.
This is so fundamental inwards Frafra thought that people are careful virtually how they handgrip their possessions, especially their most intimate ones such as their inner pants in addition to dresses. This is because 1 who is wicked, for representative a sorcerer or somebody with evil magic who wishes to drive damage to the someone tin sack usage these intimate possessions, which are connected with his/her sia to do so. It is inwards this sense that an effigy made from a dead man’s article of apparel genuinely represents him.
In a real strong sense sia is connected with the thought of a natural attraction in addition to aversion to people. An affinity to a someone tin sack live attributed to an attraction of their siisi (plural) in addition to inwards the same way their aversion to 1 some other tin sack live attributed to revulsion of their siisi. In this sense, sia reflects graphic symbol trait in addition to disposition. It is real mutual for a Frafra to say of someone he/she does non like, n sia n yesi εn. In other words my sia is out of him/her. That agency I simply don’t similar him.
The notion of the sia is quite paradoxical. Though people believe that the sia is capable of existence inwards its ain right, it silent remains an integral component subdivision of the living person. It is, so to say, the source of the life – vom of the person. It is this constituent of the someone that goes to the ancestral world later on expiry piece the inŋa – trunk decomposes. However, though the physical trunk decomposes the sia departs inwards the shape of a corporeal body, a sort of a phantom that is recognizable as the someone who lived on earth. These dead people tin sack live seen in addition to encountered inwards dreams. It is this sia that roams roughly waterless grounds until the lastly funeral rites are performed in addition to he or she joins the ancestral world.
In view of the difficulty inwards defining just what the sia is, Fortes’ summary Definition of this phenomenon is plausible. He believes that the summary Definition of the sia:
"would live to say that it is their representation in addition to objectification of the unity in addition to continuity
of the private as he experiences his waking in addition to sleeping, inwards his relationships with others,
inwards his feelings virtually his most personal private possessions, inwards his epitome of his connection
with his forbears in addition to with his expected posterity. As an private he is identified to
himself in addition to to other most commonly past times his call or titles in addition to oftentimes also past times item ritual
observances relating to nutrient in addition to article of apparel or permitted in addition to prohibited activities that he does
non percentage with others."
This seems to me an acceptable summary of what the sia is inwards so far as it is component subdivision of one’s personality.
DENγRO (MYSTICAL DIRT): The notion of the denγro – dirt as an aspect of the someone is the most hard to explain. This denγro goes beyond the physical mundane dirt associated with cleanliness in addition to hygiene. The dirt referred to hither is best described as mystical dirt. This mystical dirt is connected to the most personal in addition to intimate things of the person. They include, as both Fortes in addition to Kuukure dot out, intimate, private, bodily exudations such as sweat, sexual fluid, in addition to trunk olfactory belongings in addition to one’s personal belongings, especially the most intimate ones such as the loincloth (triangular pants) of a human being in addition to a woman’s
traditional waist belt. As Fortes points out “other secretions such as saliva, tears, nasal mucus are non dirt inwards this sense. The excretory products (urine in addition to faeces) are ‘dirt’ inwards a mundane in addition to profane sense only comparable to the commonplace sense of the English linguistic communication word dirt.” This underscores the fact that the thought of the mystical dirt has zilch whatsoever to do with our ordinary in addition to mundane agreement of the word dirt. The Frafra distinguish betwixt the ordinary usage of the word in addition to its mystical sense. When they usage the word dirt inwards this sense, they do non hateful its literal shape referring to the hygienic province but its ‘mystical’ form, which applies to one’s personality.
In the sexual human relationship betwixt married adult man in addition to wife, this ‘mystical dirt’ is shared through the contact of the most intimate parts of their bodies, their sexual organs, in addition to through the sharing of their sexual secretions in addition to sweat. This is so intimate in addition to so unsafe that it should non live shared with some other someone exterior the marital union. On human face upwards value this assertion may live considered an overstatement due to the fact that polygamy in addition to levirate wedlock systems are practised with the ethnic community nether study. That apart, boy-girl relationships, which oftentimes final result inwards premarital sexual activity also guide place. Indeed, these are facts but they tin sack silent live explained within the belief scheme of the Frafra. Considering the patriarchal nature of the community, it is the manlike someone lodge that sets upwards the scheme of morality. Therefore, a human being tin sack have got as many wives as possible in addition to these women are his legal wives in addition to consequently they percentage as their private mystical dirt with him in addition to him alone.
As for the levirate marriage, the widow who ‘chooses’ a blood brother of her deceased married adult man becomes his
‘widow-wife’ and, therefore, they also percentage the same mystical dirt. Her human relationship with her deceased
married adult man having been abrogated past times her purification during the funeral, she is at nowadays gratuitous to reunite with some other human being inwards the family. Once she has made her choice, she has no right to have got whatever sexual human relationship with some other human being too the 1 of her choice. In that instance the mystical dirt betwixt her in addition to the electrical flow human being is considered normal. That is why she volition perform her duty as a widow inwards instance this human being also dies before her in addition to if she dies before the man, he volition also perform his duty as a widower. As far as the boy-girl human relationship is concerned, much as the Frafra tolerate the relationship, they strongly disapprove of whatever premarital sex. Young people are non expected to have got sexual activity before they conjoin fifty-fifty though inwards contemporary lodge parents know that it is happening in addition to they cannot halt it.
That is, however, considered past times traditional minds as an aberration in addition to the rottenness of modern society. In this instance in that location is no ‘dirt’ that is binding both partners since they are non married. They believe that if a adult woman commits adultery, she is sharing the ‘dirt’ of her married adult man with some other man, thus exposing him to serious danger. He mightiness conk if he happens to have got a sexual human relationship with her unknowingly. This has to live normalised through a purificatory rite for the woman.
At the expiry of a someone in addition to before the deceased rejoins the ancestors inwards the life hereafter, all those who have got had relations with him or her have got to purify themselves from this ‘dirt’, which they had contracted during their human relationship with him/her. Among the Frafra in addition to many of their neighbouring communities, this is usually done during the lastly funeral rites, which the Frafra telephone band the ‘dry’ funeral. This funeral is the procedure of ushering the deceased into the ancestral world. The purificatory rites are peculiarly evident inwards the widowhood rite in addition to the rites for orphans. This exercise is similar to that of the Dagaaba of north-westGhana, as Kuukure explains, “at a man’s expiry in addition to before he rejoins the spirits of his ancestors, all those who have got had relations with him must rid themselves of his deor past times which they have got been defiled. This takes seat at the rites in addition to ceremonies of purification in addition to at funerals.”
Another aspect of the denγro according to Frafra mentality is the fact that it is a real powerful symbol of the mystical presence of the person, especially a deceased person. It is this belief that makes the presence of an effigy at funerals meaningful. Effigies are used mostly during dry out funerals when the trunk has already been buried. These effigies are made of the loincloth (triangular pant) together with a dry out slice of wood. This is set inwards province to correspond the someone as a substitute for his/her physical absence. Full honor is accorded to it as if it was the trunk of the someone present. Often the effigy is referred to as the person’s denγro. It symbolises the someone inwards a real mysterious way. Secondly, when somebody dies far away from home, parts of his/her apparel together with some Earth from his grave volition live brought seat for formal burial. This is also considered as representing the someone him/herself. We realise so that the denγro is closely connected to the inŋa – trunk in addition to sia – soul of the person.
VO-OSUM (VITAL BREATH): Vo-osum translated as breath is also connected to the identity of the person. It is through the breath of theperson that life is adequately sustained. Once the breath ceases, life is terminated. The Frafra distinguish betwixt vo-osum in addition to nyunvori. While vo-osum is breath, uyunvori agency life. Nyunvori inwards a sure sense is connected with nostrils. The Frafra telephone band the nostrils nyuure, which tin sack also refer to life. When a Frafra is wishing somebody a long life, he/she would usually say, yinε bo ho nyun woko (may God give you lot long nostrils – life). The connection, however, betwixt vo-osumand nyunvori is the fact that humans breathe through the nostrils which is symbolic of the life of the person. Therefore, to live long is to have got a long menstruation of breath. The Frafra believe that during one’s sleep, when the soul leaves the trunk in addition to goes out, it is the breath that sustains the trunk without which the soul cannot come upwards dorsum into the body. In this sense so the sia – soul depends on the vo-osum to remain component subdivision of the whole scheme of the person.
Frafra funeral inwards Bolga
Death is, therefore, caused past times the cessation of the surgical operation of the vo-osum. Paradoxically, however, “breath is considered to live the expression, non the source of life. What is essentially lost past times expiry is the soul.” This inwards whatever instance is the mentality, but basically when people are referring to expiry – kum, they speak virtually the annihilation of the whole someone inwards death. In other words, the entire life of the someone is terminated from this life, but this someone volition go on to live inwards the same way as he/she lived inwards this world with his/her corporeal body. Life inwards the side past times side world, however, is a to a greater extent than fulfilled in addition to perfect life than that on earth. In talking virtually the Frafra concept of the person, Edward Kuukure’s assertion concerning the Dagaaba concept forms a expert conclusion to our topic since it also holds truthful for the Frafra.
According to Kuukure,
"Although their approach is unitary, the Dagaaba seem to live so impressed past times the
constituents of human being seen analytically that they speak of these constituents inwards a way hardly
reconcilable with their unitary approach. For lack of strict in addition to developed philosophical
terminology, they clumsily limited their vision of human being as a being, a person, having, yangan
(body), yan (intelligence, argue or spirit), vuuro (vital breath), sie (soul), dasule (shadow),
in addition to deor (impurity)…Man is all these constituents together, in addition to they manifest in addition to expose
him. They are aspects of the self in addition to which are united with themselves, fifty-fifty when they
are dispersed inwards fourth dimension in addition to space…"
These constituent parts should, therefore, non live seen as individuated personalities but a unity that makes upwards what a someone really is inwards the heed of the Frafra.
Frafra funeral rite Bolga
THE DAGAABA-FRAFRA JOKING RELATIONSHIP
Joseph Yelepuo Wegru
Introduction
The acquaint article concerns inter-ethnic humor in addition to its evolution betwixt the Dagaaba in addition to Gurune (or Frafra) tribes inwards Ghana. This is but 1 aspect/dimension of the total socio-cultural richness of these people, which needs to live researched in addition to recorded for succeeding generations. For instance, Kropp-Dakubu (1988) deplores the unsatisfactory province of noesis virtually the origins of the various languages of northern Republic of Ghana in addition to the little disclose of people qualified to write virtually them. Kropp-Dakubu's lament virtually the province of northern Ghanaian languages tin sack live applied, to some extent, to our acquaint discussion.
Bonaba, Chief of Bongo inwards his traditional Batakari dress
None of the works on the life of these ii tribes addresses the acquaint topic. It is also of import to greenback that until good into the 1960s, when Dagaaba intellectuals entered the scene, petty novel historical interrogation was existence carried out on the Black Volta1 region, either inwards Republic of Ghana or inwards Burkina Faso. The attending of before scholars was concentrated on only pre-colonial states such as Dagomba, Gonja, Wa in addition to Mossi. The so-called 'stateless societies' remained marginal to the involvement of most historians (Lentz 1994). This neglected expanse of academic interrogation includes the ii tribes of our acquaint discussion.
Frafra people enjoying songs
The crucial thing of this article is based on a legend, narrated past times Anthony Atarebore during an interview conducted past times the author himself, inwards the quest for an explanation to the Dagaaba-Frafra joking human relationship inwards Ghana. However, it is essential to draw this evolution inwards the context of history, mythology, folklore, civilization in addition to traditions of these peoples. Aware of the limited in addition to debatable documentary evidence available on the origins of these peoples, the article does non claim to live a lastly authorisation on the subject. Research on oral tradition regularly points out that migration stories in addition to genealogies cannot live taken at human face upwards value. We tin sack only hit sure levels of plausibility (Lentz 1994).
The foremost comprehensive ethnographic survey of the western Sudan, which includes the ii tribes nether our discussion, was made past times Delafosse at the instigation of Clozel, Governor of the Colonie du Haut-Sénégal-Niger, within some twelve years of the lastly business of the expanse past times the French (Goody 1967). Following this pioneering work, many other scholars, including Jack Goody, have got done farther extensive piece of work on the Dagaaba at different times. Greenberg, Westermann, Wilks, Labouret, Rattray, Hamilton in addition to Cardinall, Lentz, Somé, to advert a few, have got done some full general anthropological in addition to historical piece of work on the people of northern Ghana. St. John-Parsons D. has also compiled Legends of Northern Ghana. However, in that location is real petty exclusive literature on the Frafra people inwards the Upper East Region of Ghana.
Frafra human being inwards traditional apparel playing kologo (banjo)
The source of the Gurune in addition to the Dagaaba
The Dagaaba is a predominantly agricultural tribe of a petty over 1 million, living inwards the northwestern component subdivision of Republic of Ghana called the Upper-West Region, in addition to inwards southwestern Burkina Faso. Although they speak a continuum of several dialects (Dagaare, Waala, Birifor), Dagaare appears to live the umbrella linguistic communication for the dialects. The major towns of the Dagaaba inwards Republic of Ghana are Wa, Lawra, Jirapa, Babile, Nandom, Hamile, Nadawli, Kaleo, Daffiama, in addition to Tuna. However, in that location are also many Dagaaba communities inwards Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, in addition to most major towns in addition to villages throughout the country.
Until lately the Dagaaba were subsistence farmers in addition to hunters (Goody 1962). Farming is so fundamental to the economic scheme of Dagao that to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than people migrate southwards inwards search of improve lands. It is stylish for adolescent Dagaaba to displace downward due south inwards the dry out flavor to farm for money in addition to the success of their foremost trip has go to a greater extent than or less a yardstick for mensuration their increment to adulthood in addition to their powerfulness to live independently in addition to heighten a family.
The Gurune or Frafra are also predominantly agricultural people inwards the north-eastern component subdivision of Republic of Ghana called the Upper East Region. Major Gurune towns include Bolgatanga, Bongo, Zuarengu, Somburungu, in addition to they also live inwards surrounding villages. Today, the Gurune tin sack live found inwards many major towns in addition to villages all roughly Republic of Ghana including Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Sunyani in addition to Cape Coast. They are also highly mobile, oftentimes travelling due south to seem for piece of work during the dry out season. There are also some Gurune-speaking people (the Nankani) inwards Navrongo District, which is to a greater extent than oftentimes than non a Kasem-speaking area. Native Gurune are also found inwards Burkina Faso, inwards the Nahouri province, Eastern component subdivision of Tiébélé in addition to inwards the part of Pô.
Gurune, Nankani, Booni, Talni, in addition to Nab't together with some others are considered the major dialects of the Frafra people. However, Nab't in addition to Talni could also live considered dialects of Mampruli; Mampruli, Kusaal, in addition to Dagaare are inwards plow considered to live sis languages to Gurune. There are obvious linguistic similarities with these in addition to the other languages of the Mabia linguistic communication grouping (Bodomo 1994; St. John-Parsons 1960).
Playmates
It is mutual noesis inwards Republic of Ghana that the Dagaaba in addition to the Gurune have got an admirably cordial relationship. They tin sack joke in addition to tease each other inwards the populace without either taking undue offence as they have got mutual agreement as Mabia, or playmates. Either party's age, sex, religion, educational or social status does non influence this cordial relationship; existence born inwards either tribe is the sufficient prerequisite. Active participation inwards the jokes is, however, non compulsory. Although in that location are some who neither initiate nor participate inwards the jokes, neither do they foreclose others from joking.
The concept of playmates is non confined to the Gurune in addition to Dagaaba tribes inwards Ghana. Several other tribes inwards the province percentage this concept in addition to exercise it with themselves. For instance, the Kasena in addition to the Sisaala are playmates. Playmates tin sack also live members of the same tribe (Goody 1967). For instance, the Zage in addition to the Naayile are ii Dagaaba clans who are playmates. Similar groups tin sack live found also with other tribes. Playmates are oftentimes inwards the seat of an intermediary resolving conflicts in addition to restoring peace with community members.
However, the focus of this article is non on the concept of playmates as a whole (a acre that has been intensively studied inwards anthropology), but on the Gurune-Dagaaba playmate relationship, which lately has gained both national in addition to international attention. Fraternity betwixt these ii tribes is a positive phenomenon amidst the growing disclose of ethnic in addition to tribal conflicts that plague the African continent today. Having a human relationship of playmates is good for you lot for ethnic groups, diffusing tensions inwards potentially unsafe situations.
The Origin of the Relationship
The source of the Gurune-Dagaaba human relationship is as yet undetermined. Little is known as to its origin. People guide joking as a mutual exercise betwixt the ii tribes, their full general concern is but to savor the jokes in addition to live inwards harmony. However, fascinating stories in addition to legends are told inwards connectedness with its origin. Many ethnic groups or sub-groups inwards northern Republic of Ghana have got legendary history telling how their ancestors came from Mamprusi or Dagomba lands, but it is non clear whether these narratives reverberate migration of whole peoples or the arrival of chiefly families to dominion over previously chiefless peoples (Kropp-Dakubu 1988).
According to a legend narrated past times Anthony Atarebore, the Frafra in addition to the Dagaaba were both linked with the Dagomba. This Dagomba connectedness re-echoes Hébert's legend virtually the foremost Dagara, an orphan who was defendant of witchcraft in addition to expelled past times the Dagomba chief. The orphan accordingly fled towards the Black Volta in addition to stayed close Babile, across the river. However, both legends do non business concern human relationship for the human relationship with other ethnic groups, which are shown to belong to a mutual Mabia ancestry (Bodomo 1994).
Bodomo (1994) rejects the hypothesis seat frontward past times Tuurey (1982) in addition to Hébert (1976) that the Dagaaba are a splinter grouping from either the Mossi or the Dagomba (or both), who moved into the acquaint expanse in addition to assimilated (or got assimilated by) before settlers and/or novel arrivals. As stated above, the piece of work instead suggests all these belong to an before in addition to larger parent ethnolinguistic grouping - the Mabia that broke upwards into many separate tribes in all likelihood due to hardships encountered during migration. Even though in that location is non whatever known legend connected to this hypothesis, Kropp-Dakubu (1988) seems to advise how this mightiness have got happened.
If migration separates different groups or speakers of a language, for instance, past times a large river or mount frontier, so the oral communication of the grouping volition alter independently of the changes inwards the other. Thus nosotros discovery different varieties of a unmarried linguistic communication - what nosotros telephone band dialects. If the dialects go on to live separated in addition to to differ to a greater extent than in addition to to a greater extent than from each other so eventually the speakers of each volition no longer empathize the speakers of the other, in addition to nosotros volition have got ii distinct languages derived from 1 original tongue. Such languages would live said to live 'related' in addition to the analogy of human kinship is used to depict them as 'descended' from the same 'parent' or 'ancestor' language. If the ii descendant languages themselves split upwards into dialects in addition to so into farther descendant languages so nosotros tin sack speak of 'sub-families' in addition to of closer or to a greater extent than remote relationships. In this way nosotros consider that all the languages which nosotros telephone band Gur which includes the Dagaaba in addition to the Frafra may live the final result of many, many centuries of alter in addition to migration in addition to splitting upwards of what was originally 1 ancestor language.
We volition elaborate farther Atarebore's legend that a long fourth dimension ago, Dagomba, Gurune in addition to Dagao were brothers, or rather cousins. They lived somewhere inwards Southern Africa with the Bantus. From Southern Africa, they began to migrate northwards through Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda in addition to Kenya. Then, turning westward, they moved to Sierra Leone, Northern Nigeria, in addition to finally to Ghana. Historians differ inwards their view as regards to the nature in addition to scale of these movements. For instance, Lentz (1994) rejects the hypothesis seat frontward past times Eyre-Smith's that the history of northern Ghana, indeed of the whole West African savannah, seemed to consist of 'constant' movements of people as a final result of slave-raiding, internecine warfare, etc., whole sections of a tribe or theatre unit of measurement breaking away in addition to migrating to a novel territory. Instead, Carola Lentz suggests that migration took seat inwards small-scale distances in addition to inwards little groups.
In general, in that location are some cultural similarities betwixt the Dagaaba, the Dagomba in addition to the Gurune, in addition to some peoples living inwards the countries mentioned. These include nuptials customs, bringing upwards children, honor for the elderly, etc. Similar nutrient in addition to article of apparel are also fair indicators of mutual origin, inwards improver to other social in addition to cultural similarities, which also seem to request the validity of the legend. This is purely the writer's ain assumption.
Phonetic similarities inwards some someone names inwards these countries also advise the plausibility of the legend. For instance, the call 'Abongo' is mutual both with the Gurune inwards Republic of Ghana in addition to with some of the peoples inwards Kenya. Another name, 'Bayuo' or 'Beyuo' is also mutual with the Dagaaba inwards Republic of Ghana as good as with some of the peoples inwards Sierra Leone. Staniland (1975) suggests that the Dagomba were pagans of Hausa origin, perchance from Zamfara, 1 of the old Hausa 'Banza Bokwo' states located inwards northern Nigeria. Atarebore's legend suggests that from here, the theatre unit of measurement began to displace westward in addition to finally reached Ghana.
Upon arriving inwards Ghana, the theatre unit of measurement settled inwards Damongo, due south of Tamale, exercising merchandise inwards hides in addition to skin. They agreed to go inwards turns to Upper Volta [current Burkina Faso], to purchase goods to sell inwards Ghana. Dagomba was the foremost to go. He bought goods in addition to came back. Next Dagao went, but he did non return. He got married in addition to settled inwards Burkina Faso. He became both the principal [Naa] in addition to the landlord [Tendaana, or Tengansob] there.
After a long fourth dimension waiting inwards vain for the render of Dagao, Dagomba decided to send Gurune to seem for him. In Burkina Faso he found the blood brother happily married in addition to doing real well. He was the possessor of vast farmlands in addition to numerous animals. He was so good established that he could afford to conjoin l or to a greater extent than wives. Having many wives was a symbol of status inwards society. It turned out that the visitor similar the host was non to return. Dagao kept him from going back.
Consequently, Gurune settled with his blood brother in addition to the ii worked together inwards Burkina Faso. They were both prosperous in addition to hard working. Gurune got married in addition to the ii families continued to live together inwards harmony.
Dagao decided to percentage his authorisation with Gurune. He gave Gurune the championship of the chief, but retained the championship of landowner. According to tradition, the business office of the landowner is to a greater extent than of import than that of the chief.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fourth dimension came when they wanted to perform a thanksgiving sacrifice to God. Dagao, who was the Tendaana, consulted with the ancestors as to the best sacrifice. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 domestic dog was chosen. The sacrifice was to live held at dawn on a chosen day.
As it would live hard to kill a domestic dog at dawn, they decided to kill it the previous evening. Only the caput in addition to entrails of the domestic dog were needed, so they took in addition to hid these parts. But when everybody was sleeping, the oldest boy of Gurune stole the sacrificial meat. He was eating it when the oldest boy of Dagao found him. Together they ate all the meat, but decided to hang the skull on the theatre unit of measurement shrine.
In the forenoon when the elders gathered for sacrificing, Dagao went to fetch the meat, but the meat had disappeared. The whole theatre was searched in addition to the chemical compound swept to no avail. They found only dry out bones hanging over the shrine. The miserable elders were drowned inwards fearfulness in addition to wondered what to do next.
Then the youngest boy of Gurune came forth as an eyewitness. He had seen his elderberry blood brother in addition to cousin eating the meat. But Dagao could non guide that his boy was a thief in addition to seat the blame on Gurune's son. This annoyed Gurune so much that he decided to displace out of the theatre in addition to go his way together with his family. Upon leaving he threatened to go eastward in addition to foreclose the Sun from rising. Fearing what his blood brother mightiness do, Dagao decided to displace his theatre unit of measurement westward so that he could foreclose the Sun from setting.
And this is why the Gurune is found inwards the east, the Dagomba inwards the due south in addition to the Dagaaba inwards the westward of Northern Ghana.
Giant Baobab tree inwards Bongo
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 legend may non render factual information, yet it entertains in addition to stimulates critical thinking. However, it provides a possible explanation of Dagaaba-Frafra jokes involving 'dog head' as inwards the next ii stories. The main dependent area of the story usually depends on the narrator. The Dagao tells the story against the Frafra in addition to vice versa.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Fraframan was riding his motor bicycle without wearing his crash helmet. Instead, he hung the helmet on the handlebars of the machine. On his way, the police pull stopped him to inquire why he was non wearing the crash helmet but rather preferred to have got it hanging on the handlebars of the machine. «You should e'er have on a crash helmet to protect your head», said the policeman. «Exactly, that is what I have got done to the head. I am protecting it with the crash helmet», replied the Fraframan. Surprised at the response, the guard grabbed the helmet from the handlebars in addition to a dog's caput roughshod out.
Frafra woman
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Fraframan was cooking domestic dog meat inwards his theatre when his Dagao friend visited. Meanwhile, the Fraframan had taken out, from the pot, some of the meat he was cooking to gustatory modality when he heard the friend's vocalism inwards the courtyard. He was greedy in addition to did non desire to percentage with his friend. So, he rapidly removed his hat, seat the hot slice of meat into it in addition to seat it dorsum on his head. He so met the friend at the gate with the intention of non allowing him into the house. He wanted to have the friend casually in addition to dismiss him quickly. But the friend was inwards dandy talking mood in addition to kept talking for a long time. The Fraframan so became real uncomfortable in addition to began to twist his caput sideways so as to ease the pain. In the process, the domestic dog meat roughshod out of the hat.
The legend also describes the roles of the Tendaana in addition to the Naa with the Dagaaba, Dagomba in addition to Gurune. The distinctive functions of the Tendaana in addition to the Naa with these tribes are respectively spiritual in addition to political.
The influence of the Hausa linguistic communication on Dagaare is some other representative to the point. The word barika for 'thank you' inwards Dagaare is, inwards actual fact, a Hausa word, non to advert the derivation of tuo zaafi in addition to fitoo (pito) which are, respectively, the staple nutrient in addition to drinkable of the native people of Northern Ghana. However, Kropp-Dakubu (1988) suggests this could have got happened due to interactions through merchandise in addition to commence.
Growth in addition to Development of the Relationship
Participation inwards the jokes has several benefits. They appear spontaneously regardless of place, occasion, or circumstance. The jokes are e'er similar inwards content in addition to context, live it at the marketplace place, the pito bar or the funeral house. Joking usually involves one-to-one informal play in addition to takes seat whenever in addition to wherever members of the ii tribes meet. In fact, knowing the other someone to live a Frafra or Dagao gives a feeling of brotherhood. One tin sack go ahead with play fifty-fifty if it live the foremost fourth dimension they meet.
Frafra adult woman in addition to her child
Benefit to brotherhood seems to live the main purpose of the jokes betwixt the ii tribes. Through jokes, social in addition to moral concepts similar love, peace, understanding, hospitality, generosity, concern for others, to advert but a few, are developed. Members of the ii tribes have got e'er supported each other inwards both expert in addition to bad times. They attend in addition to guide active component subdivision inwards each other's celebrations - weddings, funerals in addition to other of import holidays.
The jokes also assist to lower initial communication barriers, found trust in addition to acquire inwards easier to approach each other. Consequently, sharing is facilitated in addition to it takes seat inwards the atmosphere of peace, trust in addition to mutual understanding. Moreover, the full general populace also enjoys the joking. Sometimes 'foreigners' desire to participate inwards the jokes.
As mentioned before, the Gurune in addition to Dagaaba are real mobile. They go to the southern component subdivision of the province inwards search for work during the dry out flavor later on harvest. This mutual pattern makes the tribes allies inwards a way in addition to in all likelihood also contributes to keeping the human relationship betwixt them alive.14
Such joking is similarly pop with members of the ii tribes who are either Catholic priests or followers of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga diocese. During their annual Christmas in addition to Easter picnics, a domestic dog is usually killed in addition to the caput carried roughly inwards jubilation to present their unity in addition to solidarity.
Up to this point, 1 may live tempted to conclude that the Gurune-Dagaaba human relationship is all roses in addition to no thorns. Unfortunately, in that location have got been cases of conflict in addition to misunderstanding due to the jokes. Sometimes jokes are focused on teasing, in addition to non edifying or brotherly communication. For instance, calling somebody 'an ugly dog-head eater' is an insult rather than a joke. There was also an occasion inwards Bolgatanga where pieces of packing foam were mixed with scrambled eggs in addition to served to some Dagaaba for breakfast. Extensive joking tin sack create animosity betwixt the best of friends. Therefore, participants have got to live sensitive to the feelings of others.
Conclusion
Although in that location are some problems, it seems that both tribes are willing to go on the relationship; they desire to know its origins in addition to they desire their children to maintain it up. One way to strengthen this human relationship would live via mutual cultural in addition to sports events. Inclusion of cross-cultural differences inwards schoolhouse curriculum in addition to commutation projects of both teachers in addition to pupils of different regions could also live organised. Such cultural in addition to social activities have got the potential of reducing prejudices with both tribes. Invitation to in addition to participation inwards each other's annual festivals are also examples. Joking has also encouraged inter-tribal marrying.
Jokes should exclude elements affecting the dignity in addition to welfare of whatever group. The joking human relationship has the potential of resolving conflicts. Participants demand to treasure in addition to nurture it to allow it mature.
This article has attempted to discovery origins of the Dagaaba-Frafra jokes, a modest contribution to the on-going scrap virtually the historiography of 'stateless' peoples inwards the northern Ghana. It has also sought to have the reader to farther interrogation inwards the subject: 1 tin sack inquire the elders, or search libraries, in addition to when he writes downward what he has learned, the rich oral traditions volition live turned into well-written history.
Members of the ii ethnic groups demand to consciously piece of work at reforming the human relationship so as to acquire inwards to a greater extent than acceptable, enjoyable in addition to dignified. They should go on to piece of work together in addition to organise to a greater extent than articulation cultural in addition to educational activities at all the levels to include their confreres inwards the neighbouring countries.
Tourists with Frafra tindanaa of Balungu, Ghana
source:http://www.folklore.ee/folklore/vol14/dagaaba.htm#2
Atongo sandwiched on the left past times instrumentalist Elivava in addition to Okore
Frafra Handmade Woven Baskets from Bolga
0 Response to "Info For You Lot Frafra (Gurune) People: The Hardworking Agrarian, Handbasket Weaving Experts Too Musical People Of The Upper Share Of Ghana"
Post a Comment