Info For Yous Shai (Se) People: The Dangme Of On The Hills In Addition To Their Colouful Dipo Initiation
The Se or Shai people every bit they are popularly known belong to the Ga-Dangbe grouping of Kwa people who inhabit the Greater Accra share of introduce 24-hour interval Ghana. The Se (Shai) people are specifically known every bit Dangmes amongst Ada, Krobo, Gugla (Pampram), Klo, Osudoku in addition to Ningo. The Shai people are agriculturalist in addition to beads-making people but similar their beau Dangme Krobo neighbors. Shai people verbalize Se, a distinct Dangme language. Shai people every bit good discover Dipo practise to initiate their immature girls into adulthood.
Shai people
Shai people tin hold upwards found inwards Dangme East district of Greater-Accra in addition to they receive got the famous Shai Hills Resources Reserve that attract many tourists into their community. Shai Hills Resources Reserve is located but well-nigh 50km from Accra in addition to well-nigh 65 km to Akosombo is the Shai Hills Resource Reserve. It is a unique reserve inwards Republic of Ghana because it is the driest evergreen savannah woods inwards Ghana.
The expanse used to hold upwards the abode of the people of the Shai Traditional expanse until the British colonial masters forcibly expelled them inwards 1892 on the allegation that the natives were committing ritual murders. The expanse did non come upwards nether protection until 1962 when the authorities of the 24-hour interval decided plough it into a resources reserve to protect flora in addition to fauna.
Shai Hills
Features of the area
The animate existence life of this Resource Reserve offers a lot to behold. The wild fauna is made upwards of savannah antelopes, bushbucks in addition to duikers. Green monkeys, lesser spot-nosed monkey in addition to olive baboon tin every bit good hold upwards found. What is interesting well-nigh these animals is that they are slow to find. You may fifty-fifty come across some of them peculiarly the greenish monkeys “welcoming” you lot into the reserve earlier you lot fifty-fifty see them. Experiences recounted yesteryear returning visitors pay growing tribute to these greenish monkeys. They volition come upwards to you lot in addition to fifty-fifty receive got the guts to catch whatever nutrient you lot receive got to offering them. The other animals of the reserve for illustration the antelopes tin hold upwards seen but are really shy in addition to volition non approach visitors.
Reptiles every bit good abound at the reserve. Crocodiles, snakes in addition to tortoises tin every bit good hold upwards spotted. The plane life inwards the common is every bit good something to behold. Indigenous in addition to migratory birds tin hold upwards seen.
Birds such every bit the Senegal parrot, gray plantain eater, hornbill, cerise northern bishop in addition to purplish turaco tin all hold upwards seen. Other birds to hold upwards found inwards Shai Hills Resource reserve include Senegal cuckoo, stone partridge in addition to francolin. This makes the reserve a plane lover’s paradise.
Shai Hills Nature Reserve yesteryear Ashley Vaughan
Three caves tin hold upwards found inwards the reserve in addition to these are Adwuku, Sayu in addition to Hieweyu. These caves render an first-class abode for bats which volition pass the entire 24-hour interval sleeping solely to wake upwards inwards the night. Visitors tin climb unto the summit of the caves in addition to the inselbergs inwards the reserve to sentiment the plains of Accra. Viewing is best done inwards the evenings or during sunset. The golden skyline is a sight to behold.
What is every bit good of import well-nigh standing on these granite inselbergs or on the caves is taking a brief journeying into history. It offers an private the chance to await into the armed forces thinking of the people during those warring years. In the early on years of settlement earlier the Europeans arrived, tribes fought against each other. Mountainous places in addition to river banks provided the perfect grounds for tribes to settle. They believed that those areas offered protection from the enemy. So standing on the hills you lot volition receive got the chance to view what would receive got been seen yesteryear the watchmen of the Shai basis forces of the time.
The reserve has some archaeological sites which tin attract visitors every bit well. This is an of import site inwards the reserve because until the British expelled the Shai people, it is believed that the reserve was occupied for over M years thus it would non hold upwards hard to discover things of archaeological involvement such every bit grinding stones, pots in addition to other farming implements.
There are serveral accommodation facilities inwards in addition to approximately the reserve so visitors shouldn’t receive got problems finding somewhere to stay. It is withal advisable to form our your acccomodatoin earlier your
Shai Hills
History
The history of the Se people is a fascinating even out of perseverance in addition to resilience. Oral history documents that the Ga-Dangmes [Se, Klo, Ada, Osudoku, Gbugla (Prampram) in addition to Ningo] migrated from State of Israel through Arab Republic of Egypt in addition to Southern Sudan, settling for a menstruation of fourth dimension at Simeh inwards Niger in addition to and then at Ileife inwards Nigeria. In the twelvemonth 1100 A.D. they migrated over again to Dahomey, Togo in addition to later settled inwards Huatsi, where they stayed for a curt time.
His Royal Majesty Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, coronated in addition to gazetted Suapolor of the Se (Shai) people,
From Huatsi, they traveled to the eastern banks of the River Volta, originally named Jor. They managed to cross the Volta at a identify betwixt Old Kpon in addition to Akuse, establishing settlements on the plains of Tag-logo, where they remained until 1200 A.D. They later migrated to the plains of Lorlorvor, betwixt the Lorlorvor in addition to Osudoku Hills.
Archaeological inquiry at the ancient site of Se has shown that their settlement was already inwards existence yesteryear AD 1300 in addition to that it had expanded into large townships yesteryear the 1500s. The Se witnessed tremendous prosperity in addition to expansion during the 16th in addition to 17th centuries, primarily due to coastal merchandise with Europeans.
The Se kingdom continued to flourish inwards the secluded Se (Shai) highland fortress until the goal of the 19th century. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 topographic point out of Basel Missionaries who visited the Se (Shai) hills recorded eyewitness accounts on the government, culture, architecture, in addition to pottery traditions of the locals. One missionary who visited Se (Shai) inwards 1853 recorded inwards his diary, “The Shai people are well-known potters in addition to every bit i who knows something of pottery making, I was astonished how they brand pots, every bit beautifully circular every bit if they were turned on a potter’s wheel”.
It is inwards the expanse of herbal medicine, however, that the historic Dangme receive got left a most of import legacy for Republic of Ghana every bit good every bit the world. According to archival records of the belatedly 18th century, ii Danish scientists, Paul Isert in addition to Peter Thonning, researched Shai ethnomedicine. They collected some 2000 works life specimens, which were sent to Professor Martin Vaal of the Botany Faculty at Copenhagen University. Annotated samples were distributed to herbaria throughout the basis such every bit Britain, Denmark, France, Holland, FRG in addition to Russia. Many of the wild in addition to cultivated medicinal in addition to nutritional plants collected in addition to studied yesteryear Isert in addition to Thonning from the Se inwards the Accra plains are silent well-known in addition to used yesteryear introduce 24-hour interval herbalists in addition to nutritionists.
During the 18th century in addition to showtime one-half of the 19th century, the Government of Denmark, operating from Christiansborg Castle, exercised a loosely-defined “Protectorate” over most of the territories of Ga, Dangme in addition to Ewe principalities of southeastern Ghana. In March of 1850, Kingdom of Denmark sold its possessions to U.K. in addition to left the Gold Coast. The Danish Governor, Carstensen, in addition to the British Governor, W. Winniett, together journeyed to the regal courts such every bit Se, Prampram, Krobo, Akuapem in addition to Auna for the role of arranging the “transfer” of the unlike ethnic groups to their novel colonial governor, Britain. The alter of colonial lordship did non bode good for the Dangme. Near the goal of the 19th century, the relative peace in addition to prosperity which the Se had enjoyed inwards their highland Kingdom came to an sudden end.
In 1892, allegations reached the British Administration that the Se (Shai), Krobo in addition to Osudoku people living inwards the hills were offering human sacrifices to their gods – Kotoklo, Korle, Sabu in addition to Nadu – in addition to were sacrificing strangers for annual propitiatory rites. The British Governor, Griffith, sent a Regiment of colonial troops to the Krobo, Se (Shai), in addition to Osudoku hills. The Dangmes were driven from their colina settlements inwards 1892. All the kings of the Se (Shai), Krobo (Yilo, Manya) in addition to Osudoku people had to seek shelter inwards their farming villages spread all over the plains. The forced displacement of these ethnic groups had a pregnant lawsuit upon them, from which they are silent recovering.
In Seland (Shailand), the full general public was scattered inwards the plains westward of the Se (Shai) hills where they had farms. Over the side yesteryear side ii years, some regrouped in addition to founded a topographic point out of villages in addition to townships that afterwards became the novel Se (Shai) – Dodowa, Agomeda, Kodiabe, Doryumu, Ayikuma in addition to Jopanya. Dodowa became a topographic point of authorities for colonial powers. The Se (Shai) played a pregnant role inwards the evolution of cocoa every bit the Gold Coast’s leading in addition to most highly profitable commodity. Many Se (Shai) people migrated to function every bit farmers on palm in addition to cocoa plantations inwards various regions throughout the province in addition to were able to accumulate upper-case missive of the alphabet for the buy of their ain lands inwards various territories. The Se (Shai) tin currently hold upwards found inwards over 160 townships throughout the nation.
Shai Dipo ceremony
After the kid naming ceremony, puberty rites are the side yesteryear side laid of rituals of social condition transformation which children undergo inwards Ghanaian culture. The most good preserved puberty rites are the Dipo of the Krobo and Shai ethnic groups. These ceremonies grade the entry of immature women into adulthood.
Shai girls celebrate iii stages inwards their Outdooring ceremony.
In training for their Outdooring ceremony, Shai initiates are draped with strings of drinking glass beads oft weighing upwards to twenty-five pounds. Tied approximately their necks in addition to hips, the beads are of dandy value to the Krobo in addition to receive got oft been passed downward through a identify unit of measurement for many generations. The Krobo are amidst the oldest in addition to most famous makers of ground-glass beads inwards Africa. Many of the beads, known every bit Akori, or Aggrey, are made locally; others hace been traded from Venice since the seventeenth century, in addition to from Kingdom of the Netherlands in addition to Czechoslovakia since the nineteenth century. Denoting identify unit of measurement wealth in addition to social status, each type of bead worn yesteryear an initiate has a advert in addition to significance. Blue beads, called Koli, which literally means, something you lot dearest really much, are associated with affection in addition to woman mortal tenderness. All shades of yellowish beads symbolize maturity in addition to prosperity. White beads stand upwards for purity, in addition to when worn yesteryear initiates they announce virginity: when priestesses vesture them, they signify abide by for the gods in addition to ancestors. The ii large yellowish beads inwards the collection are imitations of the legendary bodum bead, which is believed to receive got magical properties. Kept inwards a jounce of H2O at the entrance to a bedroom, this bead allegedly volition bark similar a domestic dog should an intruder enter. Said to hold upwards so powerful that they tin fifty-fifty reproduce themselves, bodum beads are shrouded inwards mystery, in addition to are amidst the most coveted inwards all of Africa. Dipo initiates vesture beads of all colours, in addition to of considerable value. Some girls volition trip the lite fantastic at their Outdooring ceremony wearing a collection of beads worth every bit much every bit $5,000.
In training for their Outdooring ceremony, when the girls volition hold upwards presented to the public every bit women, Shai initiates vesture an elaborate headdress called Cheia. Made of hoops of cane wrapped inwards blackened cord, the headdress is constructed on the girl's caput the 24-hour interval earlier the ceremony. It takes vi hours to consummate in addition to volition remain inwards identify for a week. Unique to the Shai, this dramatic headdress is reminiscent of styles recorded inwards Central Africa inwards the nineteenth century.
At the goal of the showtime calendar week of instruction, the girls topographic point on Dipo-pe straw hats in addition to perform the klama dance, which emphasizes the graceful motility of hands in addition to feet. With pocket-size rhythmic steps in addition to heads turned demurely downward, the dancers embody placidity elegance. The unlike movements of the trip the lite fantastic are designed to give away the beauty of the dancers. Suitors watching from the sidelines volition oft approach a girl's identify unit of measurement after the ceremony in addition to brand an offering of marriage.
source:http://seghana.com/history.php
http://www.pinterest.com/MonikaEttlin/africa-adorned-ghana/
Shai people
Shai people tin hold upwards found inwards Dangme East district of Greater-Accra in addition to they receive got the famous Shai Hills Resources Reserve that attract many tourists into their community. Shai Hills Resources Reserve is located but well-nigh 50km from Accra in addition to well-nigh 65 km to Akosombo is the Shai Hills Resource Reserve. It is a unique reserve inwards Republic of Ghana because it is the driest evergreen savannah woods inwards Ghana.
Shai initiated Dipo girls, Ghana
The expanse used to hold upwards the abode of the people of the Shai Traditional expanse until the British colonial masters forcibly expelled them inwards 1892 on the allegation that the natives were committing ritual murders. The expanse did non come upwards nether protection until 1962 when the authorities of the 24-hour interval decided plough it into a resources reserve to protect flora in addition to fauna.
Shai Hills
Features of the area
The animate existence life of this Resource Reserve offers a lot to behold. The wild fauna is made upwards of savannah antelopes, bushbucks in addition to duikers. Green monkeys, lesser spot-nosed monkey in addition to olive baboon tin every bit good hold upwards found. What is interesting well-nigh these animals is that they are slow to find. You may fifty-fifty come across some of them peculiarly the greenish monkeys “welcoming” you lot into the reserve earlier you lot fifty-fifty see them. Experiences recounted yesteryear returning visitors pay growing tribute to these greenish monkeys. They volition come upwards to you lot in addition to fifty-fifty receive got the guts to catch whatever nutrient you lot receive got to offering them. The other animals of the reserve for illustration the antelopes tin hold upwards seen but are really shy in addition to volition non approach visitors.
Reptiles every bit good abound at the reserve. Crocodiles, snakes in addition to tortoises tin every bit good hold upwards spotted. The plane life inwards the common is every bit good something to behold. Indigenous in addition to migratory birds tin hold upwards seen.
Birds such every bit the Senegal parrot, gray plantain eater, hornbill, cerise northern bishop in addition to purplish turaco tin all hold upwards seen. Other birds to hold upwards found inwards Shai Hills Resource reserve include Senegal cuckoo, stone partridge in addition to francolin. This makes the reserve a plane lover’s paradise.
Shai Hills Nature Reserve yesteryear Ashley Vaughan
Three caves tin hold upwards found inwards the reserve in addition to these are Adwuku, Sayu in addition to Hieweyu. These caves render an first-class abode for bats which volition pass the entire 24-hour interval sleeping solely to wake upwards inwards the night. Visitors tin climb unto the summit of the caves in addition to the inselbergs inwards the reserve to sentiment the plains of Accra. Viewing is best done inwards the evenings or during sunset. The golden skyline is a sight to behold.
What is every bit good of import well-nigh standing on these granite inselbergs or on the caves is taking a brief journeying into history. It offers an private the chance to await into the armed forces thinking of the people during those warring years. In the early on years of settlement earlier the Europeans arrived, tribes fought against each other. Mountainous places in addition to river banks provided the perfect grounds for tribes to settle. They believed that those areas offered protection from the enemy. So standing on the hills you lot volition receive got the chance to view what would receive got been seen yesteryear the watchmen of the Shai basis forces of the time.
The reserve has some archaeological sites which tin attract visitors every bit well. This is an of import site inwards the reserve because until the British expelled the Shai people, it is believed that the reserve was occupied for over M years thus it would non hold upwards hard to discover things of archaeological involvement such every bit grinding stones, pots in addition to other farming implements.
There are serveral accommodation facilities inwards in addition to approximately the reserve so visitors shouldn’t receive got problems finding somewhere to stay. It is withal advisable to form our your acccomodatoin earlier your
Shai Hills
History
The history of the Se people is a fascinating even out of perseverance in addition to resilience. Oral history documents that the Ga-Dangmes [Se, Klo, Ada, Osudoku, Gbugla (Prampram) in addition to Ningo] migrated from State of Israel through Arab Republic of Egypt in addition to Southern Sudan, settling for a menstruation of fourth dimension at Simeh inwards Niger in addition to and then at Ileife inwards Nigeria. In the twelvemonth 1100 A.D. they migrated over again to Dahomey, Togo in addition to later settled inwards Huatsi, where they stayed for a curt time.
His Royal Majesty Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, coronated in addition to gazetted Suapolor of the Se (Shai) people,
From Huatsi, they traveled to the eastern banks of the River Volta, originally named Jor. They managed to cross the Volta at a identify betwixt Old Kpon in addition to Akuse, establishing settlements on the plains of Tag-logo, where they remained until 1200 A.D. They later migrated to the plains of Lorlorvor, betwixt the Lorlorvor in addition to Osudoku Hills.
Archaeological inquiry at the ancient site of Se has shown that their settlement was already inwards existence yesteryear AD 1300 in addition to that it had expanded into large townships yesteryear the 1500s. The Se witnessed tremendous prosperity in addition to expansion during the 16th in addition to 17th centuries, primarily due to coastal merchandise with Europeans.
Shai lady performing traditional trip the lite fantastic to visiting the States Soldiers at Shai Hills
The Se kingdom continued to flourish inwards the secluded Se (Shai) highland fortress until the goal of the 19th century. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 topographic point out of Basel Missionaries who visited the Se (Shai) hills recorded eyewitness accounts on the government, culture, architecture, in addition to pottery traditions of the locals. One missionary who visited Se (Shai) inwards 1853 recorded inwards his diary, “The Shai people are well-known potters in addition to every bit i who knows something of pottery making, I was astonished how they brand pots, every bit beautifully circular every bit if they were turned on a potter’s wheel”.
The primary of the Shai people, Nene Teye Kwesi Agyeman, along with tribal elders in addition to traditional healers, welcome the United States of America participants of MEDFLAG xi showtime at historic Dodowa Forest in addition to and then at Shai Hills Resource Reserve July 17 during a special..
It is inwards the expanse of herbal medicine, however, that the historic Dangme receive got left a most of import legacy for Republic of Ghana every bit good every bit the world. According to archival records of the belatedly 18th century, ii Danish scientists, Paul Isert in addition to Peter Thonning, researched Shai ethnomedicine. They collected some 2000 works life specimens, which were sent to Professor Martin Vaal of the Botany Faculty at Copenhagen University. Annotated samples were distributed to herbaria throughout the basis such every bit Britain, Denmark, France, Holland, FRG in addition to Russia. Many of the wild in addition to cultivated medicinal in addition to nutritional plants collected in addition to studied yesteryear Isert in addition to Thonning from the Se inwards the Accra plains are silent well-known in addition to used yesteryear introduce 24-hour interval herbalists in addition to nutritionists.
During the 18th century in addition to showtime one-half of the 19th century, the Government of Denmark, operating from Christiansborg Castle, exercised a loosely-defined “Protectorate” over most of the territories of Ga, Dangme in addition to Ewe principalities of southeastern Ghana. In March of 1850, Kingdom of Denmark sold its possessions to U.K. in addition to left the Gold Coast. The Danish Governor, Carstensen, in addition to the British Governor, W. Winniett, together journeyed to the regal courts such every bit Se, Prampram, Krobo, Akuapem in addition to Auna for the role of arranging the “transfer” of the unlike ethnic groups to their novel colonial governor, Britain. The alter of colonial lordship did non bode good for the Dangme. Near the goal of the 19th century, the relative peace in addition to prosperity which the Se had enjoyed inwards their highland Kingdom came to an sudden end.
In 1892, allegations reached the British Administration that the Se (Shai), Krobo in addition to Osudoku people living inwards the hills were offering human sacrifices to their gods – Kotoklo, Korle, Sabu in addition to Nadu – in addition to were sacrificing strangers for annual propitiatory rites. The British Governor, Griffith, sent a Regiment of colonial troops to the Krobo, Se (Shai), in addition to Osudoku hills. The Dangmes were driven from their colina settlements inwards 1892. All the kings of the Se (Shai), Krobo (Yilo, Manya) in addition to Osudoku people had to seek shelter inwards their farming villages spread all over the plains. The forced displacement of these ethnic groups had a pregnant lawsuit upon them, from which they are silent recovering.
In Seland (Shailand), the full general public was scattered inwards the plains westward of the Se (Shai) hills where they had farms. Over the side yesteryear side ii years, some regrouped in addition to founded a topographic point out of villages in addition to townships that afterwards became the novel Se (Shai) – Dodowa, Agomeda, Kodiabe, Doryumu, Ayikuma in addition to Jopanya. Dodowa became a topographic point of authorities for colonial powers. The Se (Shai) played a pregnant role inwards the evolution of cocoa every bit the Gold Coast’s leading in addition to most highly profitable commodity. Many Se (Shai) people migrated to function every bit farmers on palm in addition to cocoa plantations inwards various regions throughout the province in addition to were able to accumulate upper-case missive of the alphabet for the buy of their ain lands inwards various territories. The Se (Shai) tin currently hold upwards found inwards over 160 townships throughout the nation.
Musicians perform traditional music of the Shai people July 17 during a presentation at Dodowa Forest, Ghana, for the United States of America participants of MEDFLAG 11, an annual bilateral Ghanaian-American medical exercise.
Shai Dipo ceremony
After the kid naming ceremony, puberty rites are the side yesteryear side laid of rituals of social condition transformation which children undergo inwards Ghanaian culture. The most good preserved puberty rites are the Dipo of the Krobo and Shai ethnic groups. These ceremonies grade the entry of immature women into adulthood.
Shai girls celebrate iii stages inwards their Outdooring ceremony.
picayune girls of the Shai people inwards introduce 24-hour interval Republic of Ghana simulate their older "sisters" inwards the Dipo trip the lite fantastic that marks a immature woman's credence into womanhood.
In training for their Outdooring ceremony, Shai initiates are draped with strings of drinking glass beads oft weighing upwards to twenty-five pounds. Tied approximately their necks in addition to hips, the beads are of dandy value to the Krobo in addition to receive got oft been passed downward through a identify unit of measurement for many generations. The Krobo are amidst the oldest in addition to most famous makers of ground-glass beads inwards Africa. Many of the beads, known every bit Akori, or Aggrey, are made locally; others hace been traded from Venice since the seventeenth century, in addition to from Kingdom of the Netherlands in addition to Czechoslovakia since the nineteenth century. Denoting identify unit of measurement wealth in addition to social status, each type of bead worn yesteryear an initiate has a advert in addition to significance. Blue beads, called Koli, which literally means, something you lot dearest really much, are associated with affection in addition to woman mortal tenderness. All shades of yellowish beads symbolize maturity in addition to prosperity. White beads stand upwards for purity, in addition to when worn yesteryear initiates they announce virginity: when priestesses vesture them, they signify abide by for the gods in addition to ancestors. The ii large yellowish beads inwards the collection are imitations of the legendary bodum bead, which is believed to receive got magical properties. Kept inwards a jounce of H2O at the entrance to a bedroom, this bead allegedly volition bark similar a domestic dog should an intruder enter. Said to hold upwards so powerful that they tin fifty-fifty reproduce themselves, bodum beads are shrouded inwards mystery, in addition to are amidst the most coveted inwards all of Africa. Dipo initiates vesture beads of all colours, in addition to of considerable value. Some girls volition trip the lite fantastic at their Outdooring ceremony wearing a collection of beads worth every bit much every bit $5,000.
Shai dipo initiates
In training for their Outdooring ceremony, when the girls volition hold upwards presented to the public every bit women, Shai initiates vesture an elaborate headdress called Cheia. Made of hoops of cane wrapped inwards blackened cord, the headdress is constructed on the girl's caput the 24-hour interval earlier the ceremony. It takes vi hours to consummate in addition to volition remain inwards identify for a week. Unique to the Shai, this dramatic headdress is reminiscent of styles recorded inwards Central Africa inwards the nineteenth century.
Shai daughter with her Dipo Cheia headress
At the goal of the showtime calendar week of instruction, the girls topographic point on Dipo-pe straw hats in addition to perform the klama dance, which emphasizes the graceful motility of hands in addition to feet. With pocket-size rhythmic steps in addition to heads turned demurely downward, the dancers embody placidity elegance. The unlike movements of the trip the lite fantastic are designed to give away the beauty of the dancers. Suitors watching from the sidelines volition oft approach a girl's identify unit of measurement after the ceremony in addition to brand an offering of marriage.
Shai Dipo-pe initiates wearing their straw hats in addition to perform the klama dance
source:http://seghana.com/history.php
http://www.pinterest.com/MonikaEttlin/africa-adorned-ghana/
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