Info For You Lot Krobo People: Ghana`S Famous Beads Producing Tribe In Addition To Their Unique Dipo Initiation Rite

The Krobo people are grouped equally component subdivision of Ga-Dangme ethnolinguistic grouping as well as they are also the largest grouping of the vii Dangbe ethnic groups of Southeastern Ghana. They are farming people who occupy Accra Plains, Akuapim Mountains as well as the Afram Basin.

Krobo people doing their traditional dance

The historical origins of Krobo people to their acquaint habitation is a dependent acre of nifty academic as well as oral struggle inwards Ghana. While Jackson, backed past times oral tradition, dry soil that the Krobo migrated from somewhere inwards Eastern Nigeria, the other documented sources (notably Enock Azu, Reindorf, Huber, Field, Kropp Dakubu, Wilson as well as S. S. Odonkor) indicate mainly to Sameh inwards Dahomey (Benin) equally the likely source of root of the Krobo together with other proto-Dangmes. Others indicate out the root of the Krobo equally Sameh inwards Western Nigeria, southwest of the River Ogun.

Young Krobo girls,The beads or so their necks are of nifty value for the Krobo.

Presently, most scholars assume that the Krobo migrated from or so the regions of Nigeria, crossed the Savanah westward through hostile lands as well as crossed the River Volta, as well as settled at the Tagologo plains, inside the Accra Plains, after to live called Lolovor some where or so the fourteenth century. (Lolovor way brotherly honey is finished inwards allusion to community quarrels with the immigrants for command of farming land.) After wandering betwixt the acquaint sites of Ada and Lɔl vɔ Hill, they established their abode on the Krobo Hill, where, to this day, may live seen the ruins of their old town, built of solid rock, equally good equally the remains of their ancient ritual shrines. Here, tradition says the Dangme tribes split upward as well as went their several ways.

Young Ghanaian Krobo missy inwards her beautiful Kente wearing clothing as well as her trunk adorned with beads.Traditionally, Krobo girls from Republic of Ghana undergo Dipo initiation during their tardily teens. But because of modern pressures, some parents seat all their daughters through Dipo at the same time, producing a generation of real immature initiates. Beads are a vital component subdivision of woman someone adornment, reflecting social condition as well as oft providing protection. photograph Carol Beckwith as well as Angela Fisher.

The Krobo nether the leadership of Madza as well as Aklo Muase settled inwards a newly discovered plateau with steep sides as well as a few entry points, (The Krobo Mountain). On this mount they lived for to a greater extent than than iv hundred years. Once there, additional Dangme as well as fifty-fifty alien races escaping from tribal wars similar the Akan equally good equally some Ewe groups were ritually admitted betwixt the fourteenth as well as sixteenth centuries.

Nene Sakite II, Konor of Manya Krobo, Odumase Krobo

Manya as well as Yilo Krobo

The exact appointment on which the krobos divided themselves into Yilo as well as Manya krobo is still uncertain. According to i account, the Krobo remained a to a greater extent than or less united land until 1858. It opined that, inwards 1858 Ologo Patu, the Chief of South Western Krobo led a rebellion against the Government. This owed its root partly to the strong objection the people of the eastern districts had against the paying of poll tax, as well as partly to a quarrel with Odonkor Azu, the Chief of Eastern Krobo, whom Patu attacked. (In before years the Manya Krobo were known to Government equally the Eastern Krobo, whilst the Yilo were known equally the Western Krobo). From that appointment to this day, the Krobo take hold been administered equally 2 separate States, named today equally Manya as well as Yilo Krobo. Ologo Patu, or his predecessor that is theYilo, were said to take hold arrived on the Krobo Hill a real long fourth dimension after the main body. He as well as his followers were said to take hold come upward from Denkyera in all likelihood after the collapse of that ancient Kingdom inwards the latter component subdivision of 17th century. Whether they were so of truthful Denkyera blood (ie Akan)and after adopted the customs of the Krobo, notably circumcision, and became absorbed into the main Krobo ethnic grouping equally held past times the Manyas, or whether they were remnants of the master copy migrants who had lost their way coming from Nigeria.

Manya krobo festival at Odumase krobo

The 2 Krobo traditional areas were originally known equally 'Nɔwe' that is Mănyă pregnant "ones home" as well as Nyέwe (Yilɔ). The hollo Manya came from the word, Maonya‘ that is, "keep your oral cavity shut‘. This goes with the maxim "nɔ bi nya me tee‘- literally meaning, "one does non ask to beak most everything i sees‘. Yilo on the other manus comes from the aspect "wa yilɔ‘, pregnant "we don‘t swallow that‘. Some oral traditions take hold it that, when the Yilo returned from Krobo Denkyera, they lost most of the indigenous Krobo customs. As a effect of that, they were taken through serial of aculturalisation rites to brand them accepted into the society. This procedure involved orientation for meals that the Krobo tabooed. The Yilo continued to verify the acceptability of diverse foods they learnt to swallow piece they were with the Akan, the resident Krobo started calling them the derogatory term, "Wa yilɔ,‘- nosotros told you lot ‗we don‘t swallow this‘.

Krobo beads

Huber (1993) also cited a deep valley as well as other mount top features equally natural geographical partitioning betwixt the two, with Manya to the northeast as well as Yilo to the South inwards their old mount home. These notwithstanding, they all used to live described equally Klo-mă (Krobo town).

However, oral tradition describes a form of co-operation with them which culminated inwards a form of Parliament on Totroku. Totroku is said to live a large stone on the Krobo Mountain which was fenced with Sesreku works life as well as served equally a Earth for the deliberation of the community‘s problems.

Krobo old homo performing libation

The old also holds that at that topographic point are iii patterns of social groupings. These are Wetso, Kăsi, as well as We. According to him, the Wetso has twelve divisions inwards all (six for Yilo as well as 6 for Manya, as well as constitute the largest social unit of measurement inwards the Krobo society. The Wetso inwards its broadest term equally it stands today could live described equally a clan made upward of either the master copy patrilineal kinship identify unit of measurement tree‘ that

has grown so large that some cannot easily draw their straight root to the i ancestry or the cluster of dissimilar ancestral roots that has come upward together equally a partitioning equally the instance may be. Such divisions were equally far dorsum equally the days on the mountain, as well as which take hold evolved into political units as well as at nowadays headed past times divisional chiefs. These are Dzebiam, Akwenɔ, Susui, Dɔm, Mănyă, as well as Piŋua for Manya-Krobo, as well as Bɔnyă, Ogomέ, Bunase, Nyέwe, Plau, as well as Okpe for Yilo-Krobo respectively

The 2d social grouping according to him is the Kăsi which could live described equally people from the same patrilineal ancestry. Literally, the term Kăsi way "people belonging to or eating from the same dish‘. These may live made upward of households, all of whom traced their ancestry to i person. The political caput of the Kăsi is the asafoatse as well as functions equally a chief; he has a stool as well as celebrates his yearly stool ritual.

'We‘ are the side past times side social grouping with the Krobo of Ghana. Literally,'We‘ or 'Webii‘ stands for people of a house. Each Kăsi is made upward of several 'Wes‘

Krobo people

DIPO; KROBO`S RITE OF PASSAGE.

The ‘ancient’ cast of Dipo

The Dipo ceremony used to lastly a real long fourth dimension equally at that topographic point was no formal didactics as well as it served equally vocational preparation for matured girls. It could lastly several months as well as fifty-fifty upward to a year. The girls were camped as well as made to go through several processes, inwards the cast of a “curriculum” for the training. They were taught how to tend a farm, collect firewood for cooking inwards the abode (they had to take hold a reserve of firewood inwards their homes equally expert women because they could take hold visitors at night), fetching of water, doing dishes as well as laundering clothes. They were sent to a riverside as well as taught how to launder their clothes as well as learnt personal hygiene inwards the process. The girls also took turns to do the cooking during the period of time of seclusion. Pounding of the traditional fufu was taught as well as also how to serve nutrient to the extended members of their husband’s identify unit of measurement when they were married.

young missy with her mother from the Krobo tribal grouping vesture traditional beads by anthony pappone photographer

After going through this process, the approbation of the gods were sought for the girls and the ‘old lady’ gave the consent or approbation that the girls take hold passed the preparation procedure and were ready for marriage. Some of the girls may take hold been betrothed before going through the rite. Their suitors were thus expected to contribute to the performance of the rite for the girls. They also carried the girls from the shrine after the ultimate bear witness of sitting on the sacred stone as a way of warding off other interested men. This also signified that they would one twenty-four hours send the missy to their bed. The girls had their bodies exposed during the rite equally a form of marketing – to exhibit the members (especially men) of the community that the girls were beautiful as well as ripe for matrimony as well as thus attract potential suitors. They were taken to the market identify to trip the calorie-free fantastic also equally a cast of exposure to the exterior world. It was mutual inwards those days, for girls to live married shortly after Dipo was performed for them. As evidence of initiation, marks were made on the dorsum of the palms as well as wrists.

Dipo by ronniedankelman

In line with this account, Teyegaga (1985) mentions iii aspects of the Dipo custom as was originally performed past times Nana Klowεki – the social, religious as well as outdooring aspects. The social aspect involved preparation inwards abode management, housecraft as well as child-bearing. After this training, they went through iii tests. The inaugural of all was a bear witness of their powerfulness to performed household chores after which marks were made on their wrists. The 2d was the observation of their naked bodies past times Nana Kloweki to confirm that she was physical mature for matrimony as well as childbirth. Marks were given on their bellies after this test. The lastly bear witness was a seal which comprised of incisions on the dorsum of the waist which signified that it was exclusively a girl’s hubby who should live allowed to concur her waist. The religious aspect involved the climbing of the sacred rock, on which the girls were expected to trip the calorie-free fantastic amidst drumming and singing. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 missy who roughshod during this activity was suspected to have conceived, which if confirmed, resulted inwards her expulsion from the tribe. The outdooring aspect involved a great feast which served equally a identify unit of measurement reunion. The girls were dressed inwards expensive beads as well as cloths and made to perform the Klama dance.

Dipo Puberty rites
Young girls from the Krobo tribal grouping vesture traditional waist beads equally they undergo puberty rites - locally called dipo - inwards Somanya, Eastern Region, Ghana.

Most girls entered into customary marriages immediately afterwards as well as equally such, “the existent aim of establishing dipo custom….. that is to train as well as outdoor grown upward girls for marriage” was fulfilled (Ibid:30). Teyegaga (1985:30) further states that “this is the master copy cast of dipo custom inwards ancient days when Nana Klowεki was living with the Krobos on the Krobo Mountain…” There is yet a difference in the way it is at nowadays performed.

(1)The stone as well as duration of Dipo

When the Krobos lived on the mountain, Dipo was performed at that topographic point as well as when they settled on the plains, it was performed inwards the diverse communities. The sacred stone on which the girls sit at the climax of events was located on the mountain. According to Teyegaga (1985), it happened to live i of the sacred rocks which were on the mountain. The girls were expected to climb as well as trip the calorie-free fantastic on the rock.

Dipo initiates

Huber (1963) yet mentions that at that topographic point was exclusively i large rock, Totroku or Tεgkpεtε on the mount as well as it was this stone the girls had to climb. He further points out how the bring out of stones has multiplied since the settlement on the plains but his informants claimed that each stone “contains at to the lowest degree a particle of the master copy sacred rock on the mountain” (Ibid:178). Girls no longer take hold to climb a stone during initiation. They are rather made to sit down on the sacred stone which is located inside a shrine. The period of time inwards which the Dipo custom used to live held equally take hold been drastically reduced from iii years, so reduced to a year, 6 months, iii months, iii weeks, i calendar week as well as finally the 5 days equally they do now.

Krobo girls most to go thru Dipo initiation rite

(2) Age of initiates

Unlike the past times when Dipo was performed for matured immature women who were of marriageable age, it is at nowadays performed for girls equally immature equally 2 years as well as fifty-fifty infants. Huber (1963:193) mentions it, fifty-fifty at the fourth dimension of writing, when he stated “even petty infants are nowadays initiated.”

Dipo Puberty rites,Young girls from the Krobo tribal grouping are dressed upward inwards white equally they undergo puberty rites - locally called dipo - inwards Somanya, Eastern Region, Ghana.

(3) Bodily exposure of initiates

Dipo initiates existence taught how to dance

Initiates are at nowadays allowed to encompass their breasts with a wax-print cloth except when a ritual is being performed. This roofing is allowed fifty-fifty inwards the Dipo theater which was non the instance in the past. Initiates had to live exposed the entire fourth dimension during the initiation whether inwards the Dipo house or not.

Krobo missy inwards her Dipo beads

A argue given for this alter was the numerous criticisms against the practice. The Queen mothers explained that the bodily exposure served to attract men to the initiates and was a cast of temptation for them. They thus advocate that the girls live covered.

Krobo missy inwards her Dipo initiation

(4) Secret performances

Krobo missy with a Dipo initiation foliage inwards her mouth

Another alter has to do with the performance of some rituals exterior world view, the goat ritual for instance. The intestines it was claimed was still placed on the initiates but this was done secretly. The criticisms against the custom were attributed to this change. It was claimed that such practices made people regard the custom equally fetish.

Krobo missy inwards her initiation garb

(5) Female carriers

Gone are the days when it was a reserve of men to send initiates from the shrine. These days, women also engage inwards the carrying. It was to a greater extent than practical for men to do the carrying inwards the past equally they were in all likelihood potential suitors

The girls were also a lot grown-up than they are now as well as with the large number of beads on their waists, they were real heavy. It was therefore easier for men to send them. Women at nowadays engage inwards the carrying because the girls are at nowadays much younger. They are no longer betrothed so at that topographic point is less motivation for the men to send them equally was the instance inwards the past.

Dipo initiated missy existence carried past times a man

In the old days,after approbation the sacred stone of virginity: if a missy is found non to live a virgin, or, worse still, if she is discovered to live pregnant, she risks to live ostracized as well as volition never attract a hubby from their ain tribe.

(6) Elimination of initiation marks as well as powerfulness to avoid existence shaved

The marks which initiates were given at the dorsum of their hands, on their bellies as well as their waists are no longer given. It is exclusively done symbolically. The priestesses exclusively passed the blade on the hands without making whatsoever marks. Shaving of the pilus could easily live avoided by paying coin to maintain it.

Krobo missy undergoing dipo initiation past times having her pilus shaved

(7) Absence of ostracism

It is mutual noesis that a missy who did non go past times the litmus bear witness of visiting the sacred stone was ostracized from the Krobo society. She was hooted at, banished as well as regarded equally a shame to her identify unit of measurement as well as the community at large, a bad representative of womanhood. Such an occurrence is at nowadays virtually non-existent. It is non mutual to listen of a missy existence ostracized. This could live attributed to paying for purification rituals so that girls who had previously conceived tin lav live initiated.

Krobo girls going thru Dipo

Dipo Today

The girls come inwards the ritual theater where they shed all of their clothes as well as their ritual woman nurture volition wearing clothing them anew. The girls are given a novel ritual mothers. Beckwith as well as Fisher (2002:16-17) brand advert of these ritual mothers as well as dry soil that “these women are non the actual mothers of the girls but serve equally mentors to the initiates. The ritual mothers are empowered to learn the girls to acquire mothers inwards their ain right.”The exclusively affair that the girls volition wear, is a unmarried band of carnelian beads. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ruddy slice of cloth will

hang from this strand, which symbolizes the blood of menstruation. The color of the stones as well as textile is believed to maintain away the bad spirits to which the girls are the most vulnerable. The souls of the initiates are called prior to the performance of the rite so they could tell what just they wanted to live done for them during the rites. For example, if an initiate’s soul demanded she live dressed inwards a certain way or live given a sure enough dish, the organizers would grant this request. It is believed that if this is non done and anything is performed reverse to the want of the initiate’s soul, it could take hold serious repercussions on her.

Young girls from the Krobo tribal grouping swallow boiled yam as well as Lycopersicon esculentum sauce, .

All of the girls volition also take hold their heads shaved except for a petty patch on the dorsum of their caput (This is called the Yisi-pomi), marker a novel phase inwards their life. The petty patch left on their head, volition live shaved off when they are done with the whole initiation process. This is the inaugural of all phase for the girls. To score this stage, The girls are stripped naked as well as a string, bead inwards front end with a blade. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 string of palm fibre called soni was so tied or so their necks. The tying of the string (soni) is performed past times either the old lady of the theater called yomoyo,the ritual mothers or the priestesses The girls were thus identified equally Dipo-yo (which way Dipo girl. The plural of this is Dipo-yi).

The initiates are shaved their heads past times their ritual mother.

The girls took turns to grind millet on a grinding stone. Two priestesses are inwards accuse of this. One of them placed the girls’ hands on the stone iii times after which the girls grind a flake of the millet. The younger girls are guided to this. Huber (1963:170) also describes this procedure as well as states that, "the old lady inwards accuse holds the hands of each candidate. Three times they perform together the activity of grinding, according to the old traditional way, i.e. past times way of a smaller cylindrical stone they squeeze the millet grains upon a larger hollowed stone or a clay base of operations to flour, which some other initiate collects into a calabash.”

In the inaugural of all iii weeks the girls are secluded from the residual of the community. The morn next the twenty-four hours which their heads were shaved, they follow their ritual

mothers to the river to bathe. The girls lined upward with large calabashes inwards which they had a strip of ruddy loin cloth, raffia sponge, soap, waist beads, wax impress cloth as well as towel which were needed for the bath. The girls joined the queue equally shortly equally they were called. They had their breasts exposed but wore the wax impress cloth on their waists. The priestesses led the way to the good or a okwe current followed past times the girls with the younger ones inwards front, amidst singing past times women. The real immature girls were carried past times their mothers. The girls stands on plantain branches to bathe as well as inaugural of all had to launder the ruddy cloth they had been wearing. The real immature initiates were bathed past times their mothers. After bathing, they had their necks, chest and shoulders smeared with a brownish nub which served equally powder.

The initiates wore novel ruddy cloths as well as covered themselves with a wrapper from their waist downwards. They so walked dorsum to the Dipo theater with their calabashes containing the bathing sponge, soap, towel as well as the washed ruddy cloths. This isn’t but a purification ritual, it also teaches the girls the right way to cleanse themselves. After they are done with the bathing, they have a special repast of water-yam, porridge, as well as palm crude which their ritual mothers prepared for them.The women also laid upward the traditional meal, ho-fufui (Saturday’s fufu made from plantain) as well as palm nut soup with traditional cooking utensils. This repast is distributed to the girls to eat. According to Huber (1963), if a missy was betrothed, her groom had to contribute to this repast past times providing foodstuffs from his farm as well as some of the nutrient was served to maternal relatives of the girls. Some grooms fifty-fifty had to assist inwards the pounding of the fufu

Dipo initiates

When the nutrient was ready, it was served inwards traditional bowls as well as i time again, placed on the Earth for initiates to swallow inwards groups. A

custom is performed before the initiates swallow their fufu. The names of the initiates were called past times the priest from a register. Upon hearing their names, the girls went to the priestess who inaugural of all seat pieces of the nutrient inwards their oral cavity iii times as well as they swallowed the 3rd time. The initiates are allowed to swallow the ho-fufui inwards groups after this. Later, the girls had their bodies marked past times the priestesses with charcoal

on the sides of their faces, chests as well as stomachs. The triple libation is performed past times the priest as well as his assistant after which, H2O from a good is placed inwards a large calabash with some leaves inwards it. The assistant priest so pour this H2O over the priest’s caput as well as also on his feet. The girls are so made to line upward as well as choose turns to launder with this water. They had to scoop the H2O with their palms as well as pour it over their heads so that it flows downwards their bodies. This is done iii times.

The climax of the Dipo ritual is when the girls are brought to the scared stone to bear witness their virginity. During this ritual they supplant the ruddy cloth with a pure white one. They also take hold a slice of calico or so their caput as well as across their chest. During this whole ritual the girls must remain silent. They take hold a foliage inwards their oral cavity which is supposed to assist them remain still as well as choose their thoughts inward. Their ritual mothers follow the girls to the sacred rock, all of them are carrying a special stick called dimanchu. Dimanchu way “to brand you lot a woman.” Before they start their way to the stone, the girls are splashed with chalky H2O to ward off the evil spirits that they could run into on their way to the rock.

Each initiate has been spashed with chalky H2O to ward off whatsoever evil forces that may overcome her.

Once the girls brand it at the stone the priestesses volition inspect them to consider if they are pregnant. The priestesses splash the girls with a blessed chalky water; if the immature missy is pregnant the unborn kid would shake inside which the priestesses would consider as well as thus live able to tell that the immature missy is pregnant.. If a immature missy would start to menstruate right at that topographic point when she is splashed with this holy water, the stone volition acquire fifty-fifty to a greater extent than power. The girls are bear witness inwards the stone i past times one. When a initiate passes the bear witness she is run out past times her guardian mother. This represents the chaos that used to exist. In the past times at that topographic point would live men from other tribes waiting to kidnap a newly initiated immature girl. Preventing this, the guardian woman nurture had to run the missy abode has fast equally she could so that she could live protected past times their families.

Girls brand it abode excited; they take hold completed their initiation process. Now they volition live able to demonstrate to their family, friends, as well as hereafter husbands what they take hold all learned inwards the iii weeks that they were gone. For the celebration the girls wearing clothing up; they were many dissimilar color beads, a headdress called cheia, and beautiful cloths. Mothers beam with pride that their daughters passed the initiation. The girls are at nowadays accepted into the Krobo club equally women.

The initiates are at nowadays ready for their Outdooring Ceremony, during which they volition live presented to the community of family, friends as well as potential suitors.

Pregnancy

A woman’s actions during pregnancy volition create upward one's heed many characteristics of the unborn child. There are many dissimilar practices to protect as well as assist the unborn child. The most of import affair is to protect an unborn kid from the evil spirits. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 hereafter woman nurture volition brand sure enough to avoid whatsoever identify with these types of spirits.

Evil spirits take hold many dissimilar places as well as times where they are the most active. The times during the twenty-four hours such equally tardily at night, when the Sun is the hottest, or piece the Sun is setting are when the spirits are the most active. Being close the cemetery is some other typical identify where i could run into many evil spirits.

While the woman nurture is sleeping at nighttime she volition brand sure enough to lay with her tummy facing away from the Luna , the calorie-free of the Luna gives off also many nyama (bad energy). Additionally, she volition non allow anyone to affect her tummy so that no bad unloose energy is transferred to the baby. Another way to essay as well as maintain the bad nyamas as well as spirits away v.was past times wearing amulets as well as talismans.

There is a typical quaff a pregnant mothers volition quaff to assist insure a good for you lot as well as peaceful pregnancy. This quaff consists of dissimilar herbs; roots of ntoro as well as other plants. Drinking kolobé with out saccharide volition assist cut down the endangerment of diabetes during pregnancy. The woman nurture of the unborn kid isn’t the exclusively i that needs to brand sure enough to protect the unborn baby, the begetter does equally well.

Just equally the woman nurture isn't allowed to discovery whatsoever violence or blood, the begetter isn’t allowed to kill or partake inwards the killing of an animal. He must also remain away from the cemetery as well as cemetery path because of the high levels of nyama. Neither the woman nurture nor the vi. begetter is allowed to swallow the meat of an fauna that mightiness take hold been pregnant. The parents are also non allowed to pre-name their kid or fifty-fifty remember of names for the child, it would display a lack of abide by to the spirit world. If a infant stays inwards its mother’s womb for to a greater extent than so ix months would live considered an extraordinary being. This kid would live considered to take hold nifty potential inwards its life.

Fertility

Reproduction is i of the most of import jobs for women. Women who are fertile are celebrated whereas women who are infertile are looked upon badly endure from the burdens which their community seat upon them. There are dissimilar rituals though which women tin lav do to assist them conceive. Different animals correspond feminine power, so women mightiness work these inwards their rituals to increase their chances of conceiving.

The animals that they mightiness work inwards their rituals are fish, tortoises, snakes, panthers, as well as leopards. There also is a ritual involving the tree of fertility which is called baobab.

Many times a brace volition also see a diviner to seek help. It could live that either the homo or the adult woman is possessed past times a spirit causing the infertility. There are people who would live capable of putting spells on women to lesson their chances of having a child. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 diviner would live able to withdraw these spells equally well. Some women though aren’t fertile because they take hold other callings. They are considered special women because they assist the residual of the community through the mystical gifts as well as insights which they provide.

Birth

The nascence of a kid is a real special 2d for African communities. They believe that it is a reintroduction of an honored spirit who has re-entered the world. During the inaugural of all few years the kid volition vesture a talismans to assist protect it inwards its frail time. Many times the babies volition non live named until after when the parents know that it volition survive. They believe that if parents telephone band the kid past times name, the spirit of decease volition take hold an easier fourth dimension taking it back. The Krobos volition hollo their children depending on their sexual practice as well as when they were born. For representative Afi Dede way "Friday Firstborn Girl"; the infant volition have her inaugural of all beads at her naming ceremony. After the inaugural of all calendar week of having worn these wrist beads, she volition have novel beads which she volition vesture or so her waist. As she grows it volition live extended or replaced. Men volition telephone band it “a man’s rosary.”

During the actual procedure of giving nascence no homo is allowed to come inwards the birthing room. The procedure of bringing some other life into the Earth is a special human activity reserved for women. The to-be woman nurture who is inwards labor volition live surrounded past times her woman someone relatives. They volition essay as well as brand the laboring procedure easier for her. Bringing the laboring woman someone to the balanza tree is an pick so that they tin lav brand offerings as well as inquire for assistance inwards the labor.

Dipo girl

Since at that topographic point are many nyamas during labor the midwife volition take hold many herbs, amulets, as well as talismans on her, piece incantations are recited. Once the kid is born, the midwife volition cleanse it as well as so proceed to unite it with its mother.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 special bathroom is used to cleanse the newborn. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 unique water, called calabash water, is used to withdraw the large amounts of unloose energy that the infant carries. For the side past times side calendar month a women inwards the identify unit of measurement is responsible for bathing the child. This includes blowing into its ear, speedily sucking either the olfactory organ or oral cavity as well as omphalos as well as spitting the bad nyama out onto the floor. The mother, similar the baby, receives a special bathroom after the birth. Her sisters, along withother women elders, volition bathe her with warm water, containing balanza bark, inwards an endeavor to assist the healing process. During this procedure the women volition also sing her a song..

Thank you lot to our children's mother
Thank you lot to our children's mother
Thank you lot to all of our mothers
Thank you lot to all of our mothers
They are those who are blessed
They are those who are blessed
It is non easy
It is non slow to give life
Death of a Child

A kid dying at a immature historic period of time is a powerful message from the spirit world. One must discovery the people as well as their actions or so them, to consider who has harmful attitudes or behaviors that could take hold caused the death. Observing ones human relationship with nature to consider if i had offended the spirits is also of import to observe. If a spirit gets the impression that the identify unit of measurement is also connected to the child, it would live argue plenty to choose the kid dorsum to the spirit world.

Spirits are supposed to learn gratitude, humility, as well as detachment. To demonstrate that they aren't attached to their hereafter newly born children, a identify unit of measurement volition give them these names; “ragged clothes” or “garbage” . Families volition also appear at the novel born for a familiar marker that they made on their previous child. If their novel kid has this score its way that this kid has the spirit of their dead child. The markings would take hold been made before the burial. There would take hold been special arrangements made to bury the kid with rigid charms, to essay as well as increase the take a opportunity of the woman nurture having to a greater extent than children as well as for the take a opportunity to take hold the spirit return.

After Live birth

After the baby’s inaugural of all bath, woman nurture as well as missy are united. The inaugural of all calendar week is a critical calendar week for woman nurture as well as child.

It is the most of import bonding fourth dimension for the two; the woman nurture must also protect the infant from the evil spirit world. To assist strengthen as well as protect her kid the woman nurture volition give it herbs as well as medicines. She herself volition also quaff special herbs to recover from labor to a greater extent than quickly.

viii. Tying a slice of twig or so the wrist of the kid volition also assist protect it from harmful spirits as well as forces. The umbilical cord at this indicate isn’t completely off yet. Mixing shea butter as well as clay as well as placing it on the childs stomach, volition assist the umbilical cord autumn off. Once it falls off, the identify unit of measurement keeps it for medicine. For example, if a kid would take hold a stomachache the umbilical cord volition live dipped (three times for boys as well as iv times for girls) into H2O which the kid volition so drink, to ix. brand it experience better.

KROBO BEADS

Dangme ethnolinguistic grouping as well as they are also the largest grouping of the vii Dangbe ethni Info For You KROBO PEOPLE: GHANA`S FAMOUS BEADS PRODUCING TRIBE AND THEIR UNIQUE DIPO INITIATION RITE

Mystic Origins

The commencement of bead history inwards Krobo—and inwards Republic of Ghana at large—can live found inwards an interconnection of mythological as well as archeological accounts. The most commonly known identify of bead root is at the destination of a rainbow, after a heavy rainfall; yet this claim has been academically attributed to the erosion of old burial grounds, where the beads of the deceased resurfaced after a tempest (Kumekpor 1995: 15). Indeed, the earliest evidence of beads inwards Republic of Ghana draw dorsum to the Late Stone Age, after archeologists discovered a homo as well as adult woman adorned with stone beads at their burial site.

Even with an academic explanation of when beads were inaugural of all used, the source of their creation is still a mystery, described exclusively past times fantastical lore. Stone beads found after a heavy rainstorm were said to live produced from thunder, piece some heirloom beads were considered vectors of witchcraft (Sutherland Addy 2011: 17). Powdered-glass bodom beads were said to take hold grown from the Earth itself, as well as were historically idea of equally a living entity, with the powerfulness to breathe, reproduce, as well as bark at the approach of danger (Kpabitey:

27Apr 12). (http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2252&context=isp_collection)

Young Krobo kid adorned with beads

The Krobo are with the oldest as well as most famous makers of ground-glass beads inwards Africa. many of the beads, known equally AKORI, or AGGREY, are made locally; others take hold been merchandise from Venice since the seventeenth century, equally good equally from Holland.

The Krobo bead makers are best known for their wonderfully colorful powdered glass beads. Made from recycled glass, the beads are still produced in open-sided, thatch-roofed huts, using traditional, labor-intensive methods.
Dangme ethnolinguistic grouping as well as they are also the largest grouping of the vii Dangbe ethni Info For You KROBO PEOPLE: GHANA`S FAMOUS BEADS PRODUCING TRIBE AND THEIR UNIQUE DIPO INITIATION RITE

Using a large mortar as well as pestle, the bead maker inaugural of all pounds the sheets as well as shards of drinking glass into a fine powder. After sifting the pulverisation to withdraw whatsoever chunks, he (or, less often, she) adds pocket-size amounts of ceramic pulverisation or "mason stain" to intensify the base of operations color of the beads. The pulverisation is so carefully poured into (usually) cylinder-shaped holes that take hold been carved into homemade clay molds. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 stick from the casava works life is inserted into the middle to cast a bead hole.

Meanwhile, the bead maker has been firing upward the clay oven, also homemade. He feeds it using brush as well as pocket-size logs which, if he lives inwards a town, must live obtained at nifty expense from outlying areas as well as hauled abode inwards a rented truck. Now, using a long-handled spatula-like tool, he inserts the molds into the fiery oven.

Dipo missy wearing beads

As the beads fire, the casava sticks give the sack out, leaving holes inwards the centers of the beads. Once the beads have reached a putty consistency, the bead maker removes them from the oven as well as uses a tool much similar an H2O ice pick to loosen them inwards their molds. If they are done, he takes them out i at a fourth dimension as well as presses downwards on i side to give the bead the slight bend that allows it to nestle comfortably upward against its counterparts when strung into a circlet for market.

After the beads have been cooled as well as washed, the bead maker begins the painstaking procedure of epitome his highly individualized designs on the beads. After each color is applied, the bead must live re-fired. The beads often take hold equally many equally 5 or 6 dissimilar colors on them. Dangme ethnolinguistic grouping as well as they are also the largest grouping of the vii Dangbe ethni Info For You KROBO PEOPLE: GHANA`S FAMOUS BEADS PRODUCING TRIBE AND THEIR UNIQUE DIPO INITIATION RITE

The beads are so strung on cotton fiber string into double circlets a petty flake larger than an average-sized bracelet. They are tied off with triple knots as well as sent to marketplace to discovery their way into the world.

Soul of Somanya buys its Krobo beads at marketplace prices to offering for resale inwards the global marketplace. In improver to boosting local bead sales, this helps us to pay our jewelry artisans a consistent living wage piece simultaneously increasing the visibility of, as well as demand for, these beautiful petty works of fine art throughout the world. To date, nosotros take hold shipped Krobo beads to good over 2 dozen countries worldwide.