Info For Yous Tallensi People: The Custodians Of Ancient Gurunshi Traditional Shrines In Addition To Holders Of Traditional Ancestral Worship Tradition
The Tallensi people are agriculturalist Gur-speaking people of the larger Gurune/Grunshie ethnic grouping living inward the northern component subdivision of Ghana. They are component subdivision of the Gurune ethnolinguistic grouping at nowadays known equally the Frafra cluster or Mabia family.
Tallensi dancing at annual Golib Festival at Tongo Hills, Ghana
The Tallensi people are the famous alongside the Northern tribe when it comes to the report of anthropology inward Republic of Ghana in addition to the World. Their traditional ancestral worship revolving around the famous shrines has attracted many toursits in addition to anthropology across the public to come upwardly in addition to report their civilization in addition to traditions.
Sweeping away Mansami’s evil Destiny. The rite of “sweeping” the patients with the white chicken. The aeroplane is presented wings spread out for the “wife” to spit nether the wing.Meyer Fortes
Tallensi people are also noted for their "Firstborns" showing special condition inward their tradition. “The argue for this strong emphasis on having a firstborn boy or firstborn immature lady is that a someone tin never attain the fulfillment necessary to go a revered ancestor after expiry if he or she does non receive got children to send on rituals.
Tallensi men
The nascency of a firstborn boy or firstborn immature lady makes a homo genuinely mature in addition to fulfilled, in addition to it represents his control to the highest topographic point inward the society.”(Fortes, Meyer (1969)
Fetishes protector of Tongo hills, due north of Ghana. The secret of the magic Tongo hills due north of Ghana:
the hamlet of Tengzug surrounded past times fields of sorghum in addition to sacred rocks in addition to of holy shrines in addition to run across Traditional priests, guardians of ancestral tradition.to see the cave where is kept a powerful fetish that attracts pilgrims from all over Ghana, ask to uncovering the breast in addition to go barefoot, earlier coming together the animist priest dressed traditionally with an fauna skin. Anthony Pappone
Location
Their country, which, for convience of reference may live called Taleland, embraces most of the southern
one-half of the district betwixt the 2 Voltas in addition to the western boundary. On the due north it tin e demarcated
only past times an arbitrary boundary which extends inward a wavy line from Zuarungu due due east to the river. H5N1 typical
department of the district, Taleland includes the Tong Hills, the vicinity of which harbours the densestand
oldest settlements of the country.”
Tallensi people fetching H2O from the will, Tongo, Ghana
Ecology (natural environment):
It has been variously described equally ‘parkland’, ‘savannah’, or ‘orchard bush’ country, terms which indicate
the lean in addition to uniform forestation characteristic of this zone. Stretching irregularly in addition to almost correct across
Africa, betwixt the viii in addition to the sixteenth parallels N. latitude, it merges into the Sahara on the due north and
is bounded past times the tropical pelting woods on the south.”
Tongo Hills
“The climate of the Sudanese Zone exhibits 2 clearly defined seasons, a dry out flavour lasting well-nigh half
the twelvemonth (October to March) in addition to a moisture flavour lasting the remaining half dozen or 7 months (April to
Octobe). H5N1 characteristic characteristic of the dry out flavour is the harmattan, a hot parching current of air laden with fine
dust which blows from the Sahara, so strongly at times equally to obscure the landscape inward a haze which limits
visibility to a few hundred yards.
Heavy dew in addition to mists crusade the mornings to live chilly in addition to bracing… p.m the Sun blazes relentlessly through the faint haze; sunset ushers inward a cool in addition to balmy evening; in addition to nighttime brings a relatively marked driblet inward temperature.”
“Violent nocturnal tornadoes from the due east in addition to north-east, accompanied past times lightning in addition to thunder,
innovate the rainy season, during which the prevailing current of air blows from the management of the Gulf of
Guinea, to the due south in addition to south-east. During this flavour the temperature remains fairly stable throughout
the day. Though it is never equally hot equally inward the hottest days of the dry out season, the humidity makes it at times
excessively oppressive.”
Tallensi festish priest at Tongo Hills
Language
Tallensi people speaks Talni language,which is a branch of the Gur linguistic communication grouping of the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication phylum. 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 inward plough considered to live sis languages to Gurune. There are obvious linguistic similarities alongside these in addition to the other languages of the Mabia linguistic communication grouping (Bodomo 1994; St. John-Parsons 1960).
Tallensi boy
History
Tallensi history exactly follows that of their raise tribe, frafra. However, the oral traditions of the community at TongoTengzuk claim that their ancestors receive got ever been there, or alternately, sprouted from the basis or descended from sky (Gabrilopoulos 1995), equally do the other indigenous Talensi living around the base of operations of the hill. Those Talensi known equally Namoos at Tongo, who are really migrant Mamprusi, admit the antiquity of the existent Talensi living on the colina or at the pes of it, in addition to affirm peaceful coexistence with their neighbours (Fortes 1945, Rattray 1932).
Tallensi Dancers. Photograph past times Meyer Fortes, July - September 1934
Tallensi People
Upper East Region, Ghana
For centuries the Tongo hills formed component subdivision of a frontier belt betwixt centralized states. The conquest states of Dagbon in addition to Mamprugu lay to the due south in addition to those of the Mossi kingdoms to the North. By the fourth dimension of European contact, the Talensi were sedentary horticulturists with a loose, acephalous political organization. Tongo-Tengzuk was recognized equally an established site of sacred might with the arrival of colonial dominion at the halt of the nineteenth century. It was i of the final areas inward Republic of Ghana to submit to British rule; only inward 1911 did a British military machine expedition tempest the hills in addition to halt the resistance. The Tallensi were evicted in addition to access to the expanse banned. In 1915, the British found out that many people had clandestinely returned to the hills in addition to a 2d assail was launched inward the same year. By the 1920s many people had returned to the expanse because of its sacred power.
Tallensi Gologo dancers at the Golibdaana House, Tengzug
Economy
“The entire unit of measurement of nutrient economic scheme thus draws its main provide of grain, the staple foodstuff, from a
mutual source. But every household, every primary family, in addition to indeed every private other than young
children has a grade of economical independence, which is limited only past times the obligations to the bigger
unit. An industrious householder usually possesses some poultry in addition to perhaps sheep in addition to goats of his own,
supplies a skillful bargain of the modest crops consumed past times his ain wives in addition to children, in addition to fifty-fifty some grain to
augment his wives’ rations from the main store. Every woman, again, adds to the nutrient provide of her
primary business solid unit of measurement past times her ain efforts. If she is a marketplace topographic point trader or potteress, for example, she volition receive got money
of her own, volition sometimes buy extra foodstuffs in addition to may invest inward alive stock which volition eventually
go to her sons. Her hubby has no powers of disposal over her property. If he uses whatever of it, past times her
permission, it is a debt which must live repaid."
Tallensi women inward Sorghum farm
Main saccharide staple(s): In South of the [Gambaga] scarp a shape of shifting tillage is customary, in addition to yams (Dioscorea spp.) are grown on a large scale side past times side with millet (Pennisetum typhoides, var.), guinea corn (Sorghum vulgare), in addition to maize (Zea mays). North of it yams volition non grow easily in addition to cereal crops shape the staple nutrient supply.”
Main protein-lipid sources: It is rare for the Tallensi to eat meat/lipids: “A well-to-do chemical compound may receive got a moo-cow or two, fifty-fifty several cows, or a twain of donkeys, but the ordinary homo usually comes into possession of these animals only inward the shape of bride-wealth, which volition equally probable equally non live used forthwith to pay a debt or, to a greater extent than rarely, to brand a special in addition to urgent sacrifice. In whatever case, a moo-cow is never slaughtered specifically for nutrient past times the average man.” Sheep in addition to goats are owned past times all but the poorest; but again, no i would wantonly slaughter an fauna for food.
Sexual segmentation of production
The mass of agricultural labour falls to the lot of men, though women in addition to children assist inward planting.” This all of import farm production is organized through the articulation family, living inward i compound, nether the leadership of the chemical compound head. He is responsible for the sorting, selection, preservation in addition to storing of grain, the command of distribution, the organisation of labour, etc. He also holds the Blue Planet from which the unit of measurement of nutrient economic scheme gains sustenance.” The men do the heavy piece of work of farming in addition to attention for the livestock.
The most exacting chore inward a woman’s routine is the provision of firewood in addition to water. Little fourth dimension tin live available for to a greater extent than straight participation inward production, particularly equally cooking, the most of import chore for the woman, must select upwardly a considerable proportion of her time. She usually prepares 2 meals per day, in addition to must ever provide relish in addition to contrive some variation inward the meals.”
Trade:
All compounds percentage inward the export merchandise inward fowls; wage-labourers select coin dorsum home. Fifty-four
per centum of compounds ain some cattle, which are principally used inward matrimony transactions, but also serve
equally a marketable reserve inward fourth dimension of famine, an payoff enjoyed past times owners of large herds over others.
Livestock are increasingly used equally commodities inward ordinary exchange, rather than inward matrimony transactions alone. Great quantities of textile are imported in addition to must live paid for. Yams in addition to other foodstuffs are imported.
There are markets inward Taleland. In the past times the principal i was at Ba’ari; this used to live raided past times men
from the Tong Hills. Foreign merchandise was also carried on with caravans on the North-South route…
Land tenure:
Patrimonial Blue Planet is inherited inside the lineage from fathers to sons inward monastic enjoin of seniority past times generation or
past times age. It is obviously that such Blue Planet cannot provide for the needs of rapidly-growing lineage, in addition to the records
of borrowing, pledging, in addition to sale of land, together with show of migration, brand this clear.
The keystone of the institutional framework of Tale agriculture is safety of Blue Planet tenure…The landowning unit of measurement is a segment of a maximal lineage in addition to its belongings are an aspect of its corporate human relationship to the maximal lineage in addition to clan. Within a short town the stretch of Blue Planet parceled out into farm plots corresponds to the clan occupying that locality equally it segmented into a hierarchy of lineage units.
All segments of the clan of the same monastic enjoin are equal to i another. They receive got an equal weight inward the
construction of the clan, equal might inward its affairs. The have, inward resultant equal belongings correct (though non necessarily equal amounts of property), equal chance for holding in addition to farming Blue Planet (though not
necessarily equal achievement), in addition to equal social duties to i another…Just equally members of the same clan
must non kill i some other or abduct i another’s wives, so they must non trespass on i another`s land. For this would wreck the mutual loyalties of segment to segment in addition to brand impossible the maintenance of the reciprocity of rights in addition to duties on which their corporate life depends. There is, inward other words, a general
trunk of jural in addition to moral norms, binding on all members of the clan in addition to cementing its solidarity, in addition to supported past times the powerful sanctions of the ancestor cult in addition to the public cult. The safety of Blue Planet tenure is
guaranteed past times this.
Tallensi elder
Family system
The Tallensi receive got i of the most consistent patrilineal in addition to patriarchal business solid unit of measurement systems equally yet observed inward Africa . At the peak of the bike of business solid unit of measurement evolution the homestead is unremarkably occupied past times business solid unit of measurement grouping consisting of an onetime homo his adult sons in addition to maybe sons together with the wives of these men in addition to all their single children. This is the ideal every homo aims at. Three generation patrilineal polygynous families are common.
Tallensi onetime homo in addition to his grandchildren
By the dominion of lineage exogamy daughters hook upwardly with out Men are born grow upwardly in addition to alive their lives inward the same identify in addition to often homestead. Even if they pass many years working inward Southern Republic of Ghana they tin in addition to unremarkably do render freely to their natal homes when they wishing to do so. Women alive inward their parental dwelling equally daughters in addition to motion to their husbands homes equally wives in addition to though the physical distance of the motion may
live less than mile the social distance is felt to live significant. Furthermore the men of lineage united past times ties of mutual patrilineal descent which go dorsum many generations tend to alive close i another.
Since past times the rules of classificatory kinship they are all brothers fathers in addition to sons to i some other the feeling of business solid unit of measurement solidarity embraces whole cluster of kinship-linked parental families each of which nonetheless has its dissever business solid or component subdivision of house. Thus the marrow of every community is grouping of patrilineally linked men in addition to it is they who concord the reins of authorization in addition to might inward regard to Blue Planet in addition to livestock the command of women in addition to children in addition to particularly inward the all-important religious cult of ancestor worship.
House at Tongo with shrine at the front
At the same fourth dimension women receive got remarkable grade of autonomy. Throughout life they hold inward closed touching with their ain parental kinsfolk Indeed equally alongside other African patrilineal peoples the blood brother plays an of import component subdivision inward life equally the indulgent protective non-authoritarian counterpoise to the manly someone raise in addition to paternal kin married adult woman with children is entitled to receive got her ain storey which is the private domain of herself in addition to her children.
The room both inward reality in addition to inward the imagery in addition to conceptualisation of business solid unit of measurement construction is the pump of the family. Sexual relations betwixt hubby in addition to married adult woman are prohibited from the fourth dimension of nascency until it tin run well-nigh in addition to feed itself. Thus children are unremarkably spaced at three-yearly intervals about in addition to forthwith successive matri-siblings are believed in addition to expected to receive got strong feelings of rivalry which they often display inward early on childhood
Tallensi Children of Tongo Hills, Upper East Region, Ghana
From dot of stance in addition to so his life infinite falls into serial of zones corresponding to successive stages of development. The innermost zone is centred on his woman raise in addition to her room side past times side comes the zone of the father-centred homestead associated with the ideas of half-siblingship in addition to of paternal authorization in addition to and so operative increasingly after the historic period of time of well-nigh 5 the cluster of related families contrapuntal pattern of social organisation inward which patrilateral in addition to matrilateral relationships are balanced against each other is fundamental inward all spheres of Tallensi social construction in addition to personal attitudes.
Attachment to the business solid unit of measurement in addition to honor for the manly someone raise remain so strong that educated immature men working equally clerks teachers etc. go along to alive inward their parental homes in addition to to contribute to the business solid unit of measurement income exactly equally their fathers did earlier them.
Men in addition to women select equal please in addition to present equal affection in addition to indulgence inward looking after their young
children. Corporal penalization is really rare. Obedience to parents is built into the domestic routine in addition to the value scheme rather than enforced past times coercion Individuals fifty-fifty quite immature children receive got large mensurate of independence inside the framework of duty to the family.
Notable aspect of Tallensi civilization is the way which their business solid unit of measurement scheme is mirrored in addition to sanctioned inward their ancestral cult. The shrines dedicated to the departed ancestors are placed all over the homestead in addition to when non receiving sacrifice or worship are quite informally used equally tables or seats. This shows vividly how the ancestors go along to shape component subdivision of the business solid unit of measurement almost equally if they were soundless alongside them They receive got inward fact been reincorporated inward the business solid unit of measurement inward their spiritual identity.
Essentially all ancestors worshipped are translated parents Both paternal in addition to maternal ancestors are thus worshipped. All ancestor figures are invested with mystically punitive equally good equally but rather to a greater extent than than beneficent qualities but significantly plenty maternal ancestors in addition to ancestresses who are extensions of the loving in addition to self-sacrificing woman raise to whom unqualified affection in addition to trust are due are believed to live to a greater extent than vindictive than paternal ones who stand upwardly for the respected in addition to legally supreme father.
From the dot of stance of their descendants the ancestors are perpetually demanding recognition service in addition to propitiation past times agency of libations in addition to blood-sacrifices claiming the credit for skillful fortune in addition to to a greater extent than usually asserting their rights past times inflicting misfortune sickness in addition to higher upwardly all death. Being unpredictable their
intervention only gets known after the lawsuit when diviner is consulted to uncovering the ancestral agent of an affliction or death. Ancestors tin live seen equally the projection inward symbol in addition to concept of the coercive authorization in addition to superior might that prevarication behind the affection in addition to devotion of parents particularly fathers for their children In some other ancestor worship may live seen equally machinery for dealing with the ambivalence inward the relations of parents in addition to children which Tallensi custom openly recognises. For illustration homo in addition to his initiative of all born boy in addition to prospective heir are deemed to live rivals in addition to are hence obliged to avoid certainly forms of intimate contact in addition to similar dominion applies inward an attenuated shape to adult woman in addition to her oldest daughter. Furthermore homo does non attain the condition of total jural independence until his manly someone raise dies no affair what his historic period of time may be.
In some ways ancestors are much similar little children or really onetime people noticed only when they brand nuisance of themselves past times their demands or past times getting ill. Then they must live placated in addition to i tin relax until the side past times side outburst.
Tallensi Fetish priest at Tenzug
Marriage in addition to Divorce
In Tallensi traditional marriage, "the bridegroom’s guardian must send the placation gift (lu sendaan) to the bride’s guardian, in addition to must pay a proportion of the bride-price acceptable to the latter. H5N1 married adult woman is usually espoused (sol) past times paying the bride-price of iv caput of cattle or their equivalent inward installments over a issue of years. If he does non fufill these jural requirements, a homo has no rights to in addition to over his wife.”
Tallensi club frown s on a adult woman committing adultery. H5N1 adult woman who commits adultery exposes her hubby in addition to children to mystical dangers…she is haled to the homestead of the caput of her husband’s medial lineage in addition to subjected to the ordeal of entering the gateway. If she confesses she may come inward safely. If not, the lineage ancestors volition crusade her to acquire sick if she enters the gateway. This is a powerful sanction of marital fidelity alongside women in addition to is i argue why adultery is non really common.”
Tallensi woman
There is hardly a divorce illustration inward Tallensi society, however, a matrimony sometimes interruption upwardly when a adult woman commits adultery. “A matrimony breaks upwardly either through the activity of i of the spouses, to a greater extent than often than non the woman, or through that of the wife’s guardian. The Tallensi receive got no formal physical care for for divorce. If a man
wishes to acquire rid of a married adult woman (which happens really seldom) he to a greater extent than often than non does so past times with-holding the bride-price, so that her guardian eventually recalls her, or he makes her life so uncomfortable that she deserts him. If a adult woman decides to exit a husband, she exactly absconds. She may do so because she dislikes him, or because he does non feed her good enough, or neglects her sexually or otherwise, or, natives say, out of mere caprice. All women, according to the men, are fickle in addition to gullible; a plausible suitor tin seduce whatever woman. So if a immature married adult woman goes to see her parents in addition to stays longer than 2 or 3 days, her husband, live he an ardent immature homo or a sober greybeard, hurries off to fetch her, usually inward considerable dudgeon, for fright that she may live abducted past times some other man.”
Tallensi adult woman in addition to his hubby at their compound, Tongo Hills
Political system: (chiefs, clans etc, wealth or condition classes)
The politico-ritual integration of a Tale clan is focused inward the politico-ritual business office or offices vested inward it or
inward its constituent maximal lineages. These offices are either chiefship (na’am) (or its equivalent, the senior
business office connected with an External Boyar) or tendaanaship. Chiefship is primarily associated with the
Namoos, though non solely so, tendaanaship with the clans in addition to maximal lineages claiming to live the
autochthonous inhabitants of the country, though, again, non solely so.
Portrait Traditional priest inward the cave of the sacrifices of tengzug, due north of Republic of Ghana past times anthony pappone photographer
Both chiefship in addition to tendaanaship are, to the natives, unitary institutions made upwardly of offices distributed alongside a issue of clans in addition to lineages. The hit of these institutions is non fifty-fifty limited to Taleland. All chiefs are ‘brothers’ since they derive their business office from a mutual source, the Paramount Chief of Mampurugu; all tendaanas, similarly, are ‘brothers’ since their business office has the same component subdivision in addition to ritual value everywhere inward relation to the Earth. The chain of ritual collaboration is i seem of this notion. Among the Tale chiefs the Chief of Tongo ranks highest. He has no political, administrative, or judicial authorization over whatever other
chiefs, or whatever other clan than his own, but his business office incarnates the quintessence of na’am. He represents
all the chiefs of the Blue Planet inward the ritual attributes of chiefship.Tendaanas, inward keeping with the elaborate
segmentation of the clans inward which this business office is vested, are to a greater extent than equal inward status. But inward every cluster of
closely interdependent contiguous clans at that topographic point is i tendaana who ranks higher than his confreres. The
Gbizug tendaana ranks higher upwardly the tendaana of Zubiun, Gbeog, in addition to Wakii, in addition to the Doo tendaana higher upwardly the
other Tenzugu tendaanas.
Chiefs in addition to tendaanas had no political power, equally nosotros sympathise it, earlier the coming of the white man.
They had no administrative, or executive, in addition to only rudimentary judicial powers. They were the leaders
in addition to non the rulers, the fathers in addition to non the princes of their clans.
Food taboos:
There are many restrictions in addition to taboos commonly associated with menstruum inward traditional Ghanaian
thought in addition to practice. There is a widely recognized traditional taboo on a menstruating woman’s cooking
nutrient for whatever homo including her husband. It may live thought necessary to protect fifty-fifty crops from her evil
influence…She may non live allowed to come inward whatever current to acquire water.
Firstborn Son in addition to Father
“When a man child is 6 years of age, he may non eat from the same dish equally his father. This is a taboo. Other taboos relate to the occupation of the father's weapons, the father's clothes, or the father's tools. Furthermore, when a boy arrives at adolescence, around the historic period of time of 12 or 13, he cannot come inward the business solid chemical compound at the same fourth dimension equally his father. If, for some reason, the boy violates this taboo, in addition to so at that topographic point must live purification rites.
o Firstborn Daughter in addition to Mother
“The firstborn immature lady cannot seem into her mother's storage containers, vases, pots, or tubs; this is a taboo.”
Death in addition to afterlife beliefs
When a someone dies, it is the firstborn boy or immature lady who leads inward the ritual ceremonies. Only
at this minute tin the boy really set on his father's cap in addition to his father's textile in addition to walk inward the
father's shoes.”
Everything inward the Tallensi club works together to maintain this residuum betwixt the secular lineage and
the ancestral dead. “From the dot of stance of their descendants, the ancestors are perpetually demanding recognition, service in addition to propitiation past times agency of libations in addition to blood sacrifices, claiming the credit for a persons skillful fortune, sickness in addition to higher upwardly all death. Being unpredictable, their intervention only gets known after the event, when a diviner is consulted to uncovering the ancestral agent of an affliction or a death.”
The Sacred Crocodile
Among the Tallensi tribe at that topographic point is a belief inward the sacred crocodile. As Meyer Fortes highlighted inward his ethnographic piece of work "The concept of the person", special crocodiles inward special pools are considered persons alongside the Tallensi. No local man, indeed no Tallensi would dare kill or hurt a sacred crocodile. Every Tallensi knows that these crocodiles are the incarnation of of import clan ancestors. To kill i of these is similar killing a person. It is murder of the most heinous form in addition to it would select disaster on the whole clan.
However, non all crocodiles are considered persons (ni-saal) for instance, inward the rivers that are fished inward the dry out flavour - is non a person, non sacred. It tin live killed in addition to eaten.
The cultural landscape of Tongo-Tenzuk
BENJAMIN WARINSIE KANKPEYENG
Head of Regional Office, Republic of Ghana Museums in addition to Monuments Board, Bolgatanga
TRADITIONAL CONSERVATION PRACTICES
The Tongo Hills, embracing the unique cultural landscape of Tongo-Tengzuk, are located only 10 miles from Bolgatanga. The expanse is of outstanding natural beauty in addition to cultural richness. The hills, with their amazing stone formations, caves in addition to natural stone shelters, are the sacred epicentre of the Talensi, an ethnic grouping inward northern Ghana. Over countless generations, through piece of work in addition to play, inward their buildings in addition to rituals, the Talensi at Tongo-Tengzuk receive got managed to master copy their unique environment.
Tengzuk shrine inward the hamlet of Tongo
Interdependence betwixt Nature in addition to Culture.
The environmental mastery at Tongo-Tengzuk has come upwardly well-nigh through effective occupation of Blue Planet for buildings, agriculture (which engages well-nigh ninetyeight per centum of the population) in addition to shrines. The local architecture blends seamlessly into the natural environment, patch also creating human monastic enjoin inside nature. The pattern in addition to placement of structures has served the social needs of the community for many centuries in addition to is carefully preserved through tradition. The houses mirror the social in addition to ideological relations alongside the Talensi. The footpaths, the shaded spaces, the shrines in addition to groves, cattle kraals in addition to granaries, reflect the cosmological scheme in addition to sociopolitical structures. The numerous compounds, clustered alongside the rocks of the hills, create a landscape of extraordinary beauty in addition to tranquillity, typical of a superb illustration of the interdependence of nature in addition to culture, of humans in addition to their environment. Retention of H2O for agricultural purposes is achieved through careful stone terracing. Some rocky areas are used for processing foods: threshing, pounding or grinding grains in addition to shea butter. Some of the caves, stone boulders, rocky pavements, Blue Planet in addition to groves are sacred or serve equally shrines for the community.
Historical Background
The oral traditions of the community at TongoTengzuk claim that their ancestors receive got ever been there, or alternately, sprouted from the basis or descended from sky (Gabrilopoulos 1995), equally do the other indigenous Talensi living around the base of operations of the hill. Those Talensi known equally Namoos at Tongo, who are really migrant Mamprusi, admit the antiquity of the existent Talensi living on the colina or at the pes of it, in addition to affirm peaceful coexistence with their neighbours (Fortes 1945, Rattray 1932).
For centuries the Tongo hills formed component subdivision of a frontier belt betwixt centralized states. The conquest states of Dagbon in addition to Mamprugu lay to the due south in addition to those of the Mossi kingdoms to the North. By the fourth dimension of European contact, the Talensi were sedentary horticulturists with a loose, acephalous political organization. Tongo-Tengzuk was recognized equally an established site of sacred might with the arrival of colonial dominion at the halt of the nineteenth century. It was i of the final areas inward Republic of Ghana to submit to British rule; only inward 1911 did a British military machine expedition tempest the hills in addition to halt the resistance. The Tallensi were evicted in addition to access to the expanse banned. In 1915, the British found out that many people had clandestinely returned to the hills in addition to a 2d assail was launched inward the same year. By the 1920s many people had returned to the expanse because of its sacred power.
Stone shrine at Tenzug
Conservation Practices
The conservation of the Tongo-Tengzuk cultural landscape site is tied upwardly with the Talensi worldview. The site contain numerous sacred shrines including basis shrines (tengban) in addition to ancestral shrines (ba’ar). The Talensi believe inward a supreme existence in addition to worship this existence through lesser gods represented past times a host of natural features inward the shape of rocks or boulders, cliffs, caves in addition to constructed ancestral shrines. Paramount alongside the basis shrines is Tonna’ab, nestled inward the cliffs to the due west of the short town at the department called Kpatari, which has provided the expanse with enormous sacred might for both the Talensi in addition to other ethnic groups inward Ghana. Tonna’ab has dominated the religious topography of the expanse equally good equally attracting pilgrims from surrounding populations (Guruni, Kusasi, Builsa, Dagomba in addition to Mossi). It has also been viewed historically past times the Akan inward southern Republic of Ghana equally a site of potential ritual power. Rattray (1932) observed the presence
of wealthy Asante businessmen in addition to women inward the area. Tonna’ab is a benevolent, protective, in addition to curative shrine that abhors evil. It has been the unifying factor for the Talensi in addition to continues to flourish today.
At Kpatari at that topographic point are 2 sacred groves, Bonab in addition to Nnoo, that also greatly influence the civilization of the entire Talensi community. Bonab performs the same ritual functions equally Tonna’ab. The Nnoo shrine serves equally the dwelling of the Golib god. The Golib god has a lot of influence on the agricultural life of the community, ensuring the maintenance of several cultural practices inward the area. The Gologo festival, which takes identify at the halt of the dry out flavour or the kickoff of the rainy season, is celebrated to reinforce the community belief inward the Nnoo shrine or Golib god.
The historical establishment of, in addition to adherence to, many taboos in addition to norms inward honor to the needs of the Golib god has helped to evolve in addition to maintain a issue of traditional conservation practices which over the years receive got preserved this unique cultural landscape. These taboos, norms in addition to penalties receive got been instituted to strengthen the human relationship betwixt the Talensi in addition to this god or shrine. The social conventions of the Talensi, which receive got a strong ideological background related to ancestor worship, also serve to conserve the cultural landscape.
Tongo Hills, shrine
Architecture
H5N1 cursory seek out of architectural variation at Tongo-Tengzuk reveals 2 architectural types: at Kpatari in addition to Bonchiig, at that topographic point are only flat mud roofs, patch all other short town receive got roofs of thatch or modern materials (aluminium or galvanized sheets). The difference is explained past times the fact that the Golib god abhors fire in addition to hence thatch, equally it tin crusade a gusting fire. The displeasure of the god tin select well-nigh catastrophes inside the community, such equally drought, pathetic crop harvest in addition to sicknesses. Consequently, at that topographic point is a proscription against the occupation of thatch inward construction past times the Kpatari in addition to Bonchiig communities, where the 3 of import shrines of Tonna’ab. Bonab in addition to Nnoo are located.
Historically, all worshippers of the Golib god from the external Bogyar clan (the existent Talensi in addition to non the Namoo or migrants) celebrated the outflow festival of Gologo in addition to autumn festival of Boaram in addition to upheld this proscription, but today the province of affairs has changed. Only the Kpatari in addition to Bonchiig communities go along to adhere to the regulation in addition to hence their houses consist of mud structures, except for a few rooms built with cement past times wealthy individuals, though fifty-fifty these retain a flat roof.
The establishment in addition to maintenance of the edifice tradition at Tongo-Tengzuk has been due to the passing of the essential elements of edifice construction or conservation from members of the older knowledgeable generation to their successors. The transmission of the knowledge is conducted verbally or past times demonstration. Oral traditions tin live formulaic inward nature (Gabrilopoulos 1995) in addition to their transmission includes mnemonic devices.Building is a semi-permanent occupation, conducted in addition to supervised past times experienced individuals inward the community. These individuals, who are also farmers, volition assist families who wishing to build novel compounds, equally good equally those who are expanding or maintaining existing ones. One does non prepare formally to live a builder. Individuals in addition to youngsters acquire knowledge of edifice techniques past times seeking out experienced builders or relatives who volition engage them inward informal apprenticeships. As they help, they larn the rules of traditional design, construction in addition to traditional norms relating to the built form.Several factors boundary the location in addition to the shape of the building. These include the availability of edifice materials, natural features in addition to obstructions,
minimal requirements for shelter in addition to comfort, and, higher upwardly all, social in addition to ideological needs. The edifice physical care for alongside the Talensi is negotiated in addition to practised according to convention. In addition, the compound
is constructed inward a vogue ‘facilitating domestic life segregating activities, animals in addition to people, reinforcing
relationships in addition to affirming beliefs, the construction of the compound, inward concert with its occupants use’
(Gabrilopoulos 1995), in addition to it has its ain social logic.
The social conventions of the expanse provide some other rootage or impetus for the conservatism displayed with honor to the conservation of the built environment. ‘Social conservatism reduces anxiety well-nigh the hit of actions that a particular thespian may take. Modifications to the built surroundings receive got a logic of their own, that must live negotiated inside the community’ (ibid.). Rich individuals who could afford to buy modern materials are pressured past times the community to adjust to the hamlet planning norms in addition to to occupation to a greater extent than traditional ones instead.
Building piece of work is conducted from Jan to April. Women in addition to men both contribute to the construction in addition to maintenance of buildings. Women send the mud in addition to men do the actual building. Maintenance is necessary during each dry out season. Wind, rain, fire, in addition to human in addition to fauna impacts contribute to the deterioration of the mud structures. Mud is best conceptualized equally a semi-permanent material. Replastering is usually done annually. Courtyards are repaired inward full general every 2 years. Mud roofs are repaired somewhat to a greater extent than oft because of the straight rainwater impact. High traffic areas, steps, in addition to walls that suffer impacts from livestock are repaired frequently. Thatch roofs exterior Kpatari are replaced every 3 years. Compounds are also remodelled to accommodate changes inward social relations inward the house: men acquire novel wives in addition to sons come upwardly of age, hook upwardly with in addition to beget children. Entire novel courtyards may accrete onto the compound. Additional ancestor shrines are added after the expiry of to a greater extent than elders or landlords. Compounds consist of circular in addition to foursquare rooms, except for the Dakore’s business solid which contains of import oracles for the community in addition to consists of only circular rooms because the oracles loathe whatever other form.
Farmland in addition to Shrines
The stone boulders forming the stone terraces forestall fires, laid to burn downward stalks inward training for the side past times side season, from getting out of command because of the Golib god. Stone terracing effectively retains in addition to checks H2O erosion for farming purposes. The terracing helps to save the fertility of the soil. The proscription against gusting fires has helped to save the natural vegetation around the shrines.
Tradition also prohibits the cutting of the trees, shrubs in addition to grasses around the 3 shrines. There are prescribed walkways to each shrine.
Natural Landscape
The community has resisted attempts to destroy the physical or natural landscape of the area. For example,
their Tallensi neighbours at Wakyii, a hamlet at the base of operations of the hill, gave a concession roofing parts of
the colina nether their command to a quarrying company, allowing degradation of the area. In contrast, the Tengzuk community violently resisted attempts past times the same society to extend their operations beyond the pes of the hill. Complaints were made to the district in addition to regional authorities, in addition to to the Republic of Ghana Museums in addition to Monuments Board (the national establishment responsible for the preservation of the stuff cultural heritage) past times the leaders of the Tengzuk community. Steps receive got at nowadays been taken past times these governmental agencies to halt the quarrying operations.
Legal Protection
Traditionally, the earth-priests of the 7 sections of Tengzuk, namely, Sameed, Sakpiega, Tamboog,
Gundari, Nanchieyir, Kpatari in addition to Bonchiig, equally good equally the custodian of Tonna’ab, enforce the laws on
the occupation of the natural in addition to cultural environment. The Goldana, the most senior basis priest, acts equally the chief.
The Tongo-rana, paramount primary of the Talensi, has only administrative responsibleness with honor to
traditional political matters. The Bolgatanga District Assembly has been enthusiastic about, in addition to interested
in, the preservation of the site, since it has potential for tourism development. The assembly has a computer program to
create a route from the base of operations of the colina through to the halt of the settlement. It has also demonstrated its
involvement past times providing funds for the limited ethnographic documentation in addition to mapping of the short town past times the
Upper East Regional Museum, Bolgatanga. The Republic of Ghana Museums in addition to Monuments Board, empowered past times police clit NLCD 387 of 1969 for the preservation of the stuff civilization of Ghana, has identified in addition to nominated the short town to UNESCO for consideration equally a public heritage cultural landscape site.
Conclusions
Tongo-Tengzuk is a masterpiece of a cultural landscape, i that the Talensi community receive got attempted over the years to save for posterity, despite increasing threats from modernity in addition to fiddling exterior intervention or support. Limited inquiry has provided some knowledge well-nigh the community’s ethnography in addition to history (Allman 1999; Fortes 1945; Gabrilopoulos 1995; Kankpeyeng 2000; Rattray 1932).
The community has conserved the site for several decades past times relying on traditional methods, inspired in addition to strengthened past times their worldview. The TongoTengzuk community’s human relationship with staff at the Upper East Regional Museum has demonstrated its enthusiasm in addition to back upwardly for whatever assistance to save the site for posterity. Preserving the site for posterity volition require detailed inquiry piece of work on the ethnography, archaeology, traditional architecture, soil management in addition to environmental techniques This inquiry volition provide us with an agreement of the chronology of the site, the kinds of materials needed to conserve it, in addition to those philosophical in addition to psychological elements inside the community that stimulated its preservation. The application of modern conservation techniques volition greatly get upwardly the preservation of the site. Equally of import is back upwardly for the community in addition to didactics to assist its members maintain their traditional civilization inward the human face of the many present-day challenges that human face them.
Bibliography
Allman, Jean (n.d.), ‘A Brief on Tongo-Tengzuk’.
Unpublished newspaper submitted to Republic of Ghana Museums
in addition to Monuments Board.
Fortes, Meyer (945), The dynamics of clanship among
the Talensi (Oxford University Press).
Gabrilopoulos, Nick (995), ‘Ethnoarchaeology of the
Tallensi Compound (Upper East Region, Ghana)’.
H5N1 Master of Arts thesis submitted to the Faculty of
Graduate Studies, University of Calgary, Canada.
Kankpeyeng, Benjamin Warinsie (2000), ‘A Brief on
Tongo-Tengzuk’. Unpublished newspaper submitted to
the Bolgatanga District Assembly.
Rattray, R. S. (932), The tribes of the Ashanti
Hinterland, Vol. II (Oxford University Press).
Upper East Regional Museum (n.d.), ‘The Cultural
Landscape of the Tongo Hills’ (exhibition brochure)
Sourcehttp://www.iccrom.org/pdf/iccrom_ics02_traditionalpractices_en.pdf
Tallensi dancing at annual Golib Festival at Tongo Hills, Ghana
The Tallensi people are the famous alongside the Northern tribe when it comes to the report of anthropology inward Republic of Ghana in addition to the World. Their traditional ancestral worship revolving around the famous shrines has attracted many toursits in addition to anthropology across the public to come upwardly in addition to report their civilization in addition to traditions.
Sweeping away Mansami’s evil Destiny. The rite of “sweeping” the patients with the white chicken. The aeroplane is presented wings spread out for the “wife” to spit nether the wing.Meyer Fortes
Tallensi people are also noted for their "Firstborns" showing special condition inward their tradition. “The argue for this strong emphasis on having a firstborn boy or firstborn immature lady is that a someone tin never attain the fulfillment necessary to go a revered ancestor after expiry if he or she does non receive got children to send on rituals.
Tallensi men
The nascency of a firstborn boy or firstborn immature lady makes a homo genuinely mature in addition to fulfilled, in addition to it represents his control to the highest topographic point inward the society.”(Fortes, Meyer (1969)
Fetishes protector of Tongo hills, due north of Ghana. The secret of the magic Tongo hills due north of Ghana:
the hamlet of Tengzug surrounded past times fields of sorghum in addition to sacred rocks in addition to of holy shrines in addition to run across Traditional priests, guardians of ancestral tradition.to see the cave where is kept a powerful fetish that attracts pilgrims from all over Ghana, ask to uncovering the breast in addition to go barefoot, earlier coming together the animist priest dressed traditionally with an fauna skin. Anthony Pappone
Location
Their country, which, for convience of reference may live called Taleland, embraces most of the southern
one-half of the district betwixt the 2 Voltas in addition to the western boundary. On the due north it tin e demarcated
only past times an arbitrary boundary which extends inward a wavy line from Zuarungu due due east to the river. H5N1 typical
department of the district, Taleland includes the Tong Hills, the vicinity of which harbours the densestand
oldest settlements of the country.”
Tallensi people fetching H2O from the will, Tongo, Ghana
Ecology (natural environment):
It has been variously described equally ‘parkland’, ‘savannah’, or ‘orchard bush’ country, terms which indicate
the lean in addition to uniform forestation characteristic of this zone. Stretching irregularly in addition to almost correct across
Africa, betwixt the viii in addition to the sixteenth parallels N. latitude, it merges into the Sahara on the due north and
is bounded past times the tropical pelting woods on the south.”
Tongo Hills
“The climate of the Sudanese Zone exhibits 2 clearly defined seasons, a dry out flavour lasting well-nigh half
the twelvemonth (October to March) in addition to a moisture flavour lasting the remaining half dozen or 7 months (April to
Octobe). H5N1 characteristic characteristic of the dry out flavour is the harmattan, a hot parching current of air laden with fine
dust which blows from the Sahara, so strongly at times equally to obscure the landscape inward a haze which limits
visibility to a few hundred yards.
Tongo Hills
Heavy dew in addition to mists crusade the mornings to live chilly in addition to bracing… p.m the Sun blazes relentlessly through the faint haze; sunset ushers inward a cool in addition to balmy evening; in addition to nighttime brings a relatively marked driblet inward temperature.”
“Violent nocturnal tornadoes from the due east in addition to north-east, accompanied past times lightning in addition to thunder,
innovate the rainy season, during which the prevailing current of air blows from the management of the Gulf of
Guinea, to the due south in addition to south-east. During this flavour the temperature remains fairly stable throughout
the day. Though it is never equally hot equally inward the hottest days of the dry out season, the humidity makes it at times
excessively oppressive.”
Tallensi festish priest at Tongo Hills
Language
Tallensi people speaks Talni language,which is a branch of the Gur linguistic communication grouping of the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication phylum. 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 inward plough considered to live sis languages to Gurune. There are obvious linguistic similarities alongside these in addition to the other languages of the Mabia linguistic communication grouping (Bodomo 1994; St. John-Parsons 1960).
Tallensi boy
History
Tallensi history exactly follows that of their raise tribe, frafra. However, the oral traditions of the community at TongoTengzuk claim that their ancestors receive got ever been there, or alternately, sprouted from the basis or descended from sky (Gabrilopoulos 1995), equally do the other indigenous Talensi living around the base of operations of the hill. Those Talensi known equally Namoos at Tongo, who are really migrant Mamprusi, admit the antiquity of the existent Talensi living on the colina or at the pes of it, in addition to affirm peaceful coexistence with their neighbours (Fortes 1945, Rattray 1932).
Tallensi Dancers. Photograph past times Meyer Fortes, July - September 1934
Tallensi People
Upper East Region, Ghana
For centuries the Tongo hills formed component subdivision of a frontier belt betwixt centralized states. The conquest states of Dagbon in addition to Mamprugu lay to the due south in addition to those of the Mossi kingdoms to the North. By the fourth dimension of European contact, the Talensi were sedentary horticulturists with a loose, acephalous political organization. Tongo-Tengzuk was recognized equally an established site of sacred might with the arrival of colonial dominion at the halt of the nineteenth century. It was i of the final areas inward Republic of Ghana to submit to British rule; only inward 1911 did a British military machine expedition tempest the hills in addition to halt the resistance. The Tallensi were evicted in addition to access to the expanse banned. In 1915, the British found out that many people had clandestinely returned to the hills in addition to a 2d assail was launched inward the same year. By the 1920s many people had returned to the expanse because of its sacred power.
Tallensi Gologo dancers at the Golibdaana House, Tengzug
Economy
“The entire unit of measurement of nutrient economic scheme thus draws its main provide of grain, the staple foodstuff, from a
mutual source. But every household, every primary family, in addition to indeed every private other than young
children has a grade of economical independence, which is limited only past times the obligations to the bigger
unit. An industrious householder usually possesses some poultry in addition to perhaps sheep in addition to goats of his own,
supplies a skillful bargain of the modest crops consumed past times his ain wives in addition to children, in addition to fifty-fifty some grain to
augment his wives’ rations from the main store. Every woman, again, adds to the nutrient provide of her
primary business solid unit of measurement past times her ain efforts. If she is a marketplace topographic point trader or potteress, for example, she volition receive got money
of her own, volition sometimes buy extra foodstuffs in addition to may invest inward alive stock which volition eventually
go to her sons. Her hubby has no powers of disposal over her property. If he uses whatever of it, past times her
permission, it is a debt which must live repaid."
Tallensi women inward Sorghum farm
Main saccharide staple(s): In South of the [Gambaga] scarp a shape of shifting tillage is customary, in addition to yams (Dioscorea spp.) are grown on a large scale side past times side with millet (Pennisetum typhoides, var.), guinea corn (Sorghum vulgare), in addition to maize (Zea mays). North of it yams volition non grow easily in addition to cereal crops shape the staple nutrient supply.”
Main protein-lipid sources: It is rare for the Tallensi to eat meat/lipids: “A well-to-do chemical compound may receive got a moo-cow or two, fifty-fifty several cows, or a twain of donkeys, but the ordinary homo usually comes into possession of these animals only inward the shape of bride-wealth, which volition equally probable equally non live used forthwith to pay a debt or, to a greater extent than rarely, to brand a special in addition to urgent sacrifice. In whatever case, a moo-cow is never slaughtered specifically for nutrient past times the average man.” Sheep in addition to goats are owned past times all but the poorest; but again, no i would wantonly slaughter an fauna for food.
Sexual segmentation of production
The mass of agricultural labour falls to the lot of men, though women in addition to children assist inward planting.” This all of import farm production is organized through the articulation family, living inward i compound, nether the leadership of the chemical compound head. He is responsible for the sorting, selection, preservation in addition to storing of grain, the command of distribution, the organisation of labour, etc. He also holds the Blue Planet from which the unit of measurement of nutrient economic scheme gains sustenance.” The men do the heavy piece of work of farming in addition to attention for the livestock.
The most exacting chore inward a woman’s routine is the provision of firewood in addition to water. Little fourth dimension tin live available for to a greater extent than straight participation inward production, particularly equally cooking, the most of import chore for the woman, must select upwardly a considerable proportion of her time. She usually prepares 2 meals per day, in addition to must ever provide relish in addition to contrive some variation inward the meals.”
Trade:
All compounds percentage inward the export merchandise inward fowls; wage-labourers select coin dorsum home. Fifty-four
per centum of compounds ain some cattle, which are principally used inward matrimony transactions, but also serve
equally a marketable reserve inward fourth dimension of famine, an payoff enjoyed past times owners of large herds over others.
Livestock are increasingly used equally commodities inward ordinary exchange, rather than inward matrimony transactions alone. Great quantities of textile are imported in addition to must live paid for. Yams in addition to other foodstuffs are imported.
There are markets inward Taleland. In the past times the principal i was at Ba’ari; this used to live raided past times men
from the Tong Hills. Foreign merchandise was also carried on with caravans on the North-South route…
Land tenure:
Patrimonial Blue Planet is inherited inside the lineage from fathers to sons inward monastic enjoin of seniority past times generation or
past times age. It is obviously that such Blue Planet cannot provide for the needs of rapidly-growing lineage, in addition to the records
of borrowing, pledging, in addition to sale of land, together with show of migration, brand this clear.
The keystone of the institutional framework of Tale agriculture is safety of Blue Planet tenure…The landowning unit of measurement is a segment of a maximal lineage in addition to its belongings are an aspect of its corporate human relationship to the maximal lineage in addition to clan. Within a short town the stretch of Blue Planet parceled out into farm plots corresponds to the clan occupying that locality equally it segmented into a hierarchy of lineage units.
All segments of the clan of the same monastic enjoin are equal to i another. They receive got an equal weight inward the
construction of the clan, equal might inward its affairs. The have, inward resultant equal belongings correct (though non necessarily equal amounts of property), equal chance for holding in addition to farming Blue Planet (though not
necessarily equal achievement), in addition to equal social duties to i another…Just equally members of the same clan
must non kill i some other or abduct i another’s wives, so they must non trespass on i another`s land. For this would wreck the mutual loyalties of segment to segment in addition to brand impossible the maintenance of the reciprocity of rights in addition to duties on which their corporate life depends. There is, inward other words, a general
trunk of jural in addition to moral norms, binding on all members of the clan in addition to cementing its solidarity, in addition to supported past times the powerful sanctions of the ancestor cult in addition to the public cult. The safety of Blue Planet tenure is
guaranteed past times this.
Tallensi elder
Family system
The Tallensi receive got i of the most consistent patrilineal in addition to patriarchal business solid unit of measurement systems equally yet observed inward Africa . At the peak of the bike of business solid unit of measurement evolution the homestead is unremarkably occupied past times business solid unit of measurement grouping consisting of an onetime homo his adult sons in addition to maybe sons together with the wives of these men in addition to all their single children. This is the ideal every homo aims at. Three generation patrilineal polygynous families are common.
Tallensi onetime homo in addition to his grandchildren
By the dominion of lineage exogamy daughters hook upwardly with out Men are born grow upwardly in addition to alive their lives inward the same identify in addition to often homestead. Even if they pass many years working inward Southern Republic of Ghana they tin in addition to unremarkably do render freely to their natal homes when they wishing to do so. Women alive inward their parental dwelling equally daughters in addition to motion to their husbands homes equally wives in addition to though the physical distance of the motion may
live less than mile the social distance is felt to live significant. Furthermore the men of lineage united past times ties of mutual patrilineal descent which go dorsum many generations tend to alive close i another.
Since past times the rules of classificatory kinship they are all brothers fathers in addition to sons to i some other the feeling of business solid unit of measurement solidarity embraces whole cluster of kinship-linked parental families each of which nonetheless has its dissever business solid or component subdivision of house. Thus the marrow of every community is grouping of patrilineally linked men in addition to it is they who concord the reins of authorization in addition to might inward regard to Blue Planet in addition to livestock the command of women in addition to children in addition to particularly inward the all-important religious cult of ancestor worship.
House at Tongo with shrine at the front
At the same fourth dimension women receive got remarkable grade of autonomy. Throughout life they hold inward closed touching with their ain parental kinsfolk Indeed equally alongside other African patrilineal peoples the blood brother plays an of import component subdivision inward life equally the indulgent protective non-authoritarian counterpoise to the manly someone raise in addition to paternal kin married adult woman with children is entitled to receive got her ain storey which is the private domain of herself in addition to her children.
The room both inward reality in addition to inward the imagery in addition to conceptualisation of business solid unit of measurement construction is the pump of the family. Sexual relations betwixt hubby in addition to married adult woman are prohibited from the fourth dimension of nascency until it tin run well-nigh in addition to feed itself. Thus children are unremarkably spaced at three-yearly intervals about in addition to forthwith successive matri-siblings are believed in addition to expected to receive got strong feelings of rivalry which they often display inward early on childhood
Tallensi Children of Tongo Hills, Upper East Region, Ghana
From dot of stance in addition to so his life infinite falls into serial of zones corresponding to successive stages of development. The innermost zone is centred on his woman raise in addition to her room side past times side comes the zone of the father-centred homestead associated with the ideas of half-siblingship in addition to of paternal authorization in addition to and so operative increasingly after the historic period of time of well-nigh 5 the cluster of related families contrapuntal pattern of social organisation inward which patrilateral in addition to matrilateral relationships are balanced against each other is fundamental inward all spheres of Tallensi social construction in addition to personal attitudes.
Attachment to the business solid unit of measurement in addition to honor for the manly someone raise remain so strong that educated immature men working equally clerks teachers etc. go along to alive inward their parental homes in addition to to contribute to the business solid unit of measurement income exactly equally their fathers did earlier them.
Men in addition to women select equal please in addition to present equal affection in addition to indulgence inward looking after their young
children. Corporal penalization is really rare. Obedience to parents is built into the domestic routine in addition to the value scheme rather than enforced past times coercion Individuals fifty-fifty quite immature children receive got large mensurate of independence inside the framework of duty to the family.
Notable aspect of Tallensi civilization is the way which their business solid unit of measurement scheme is mirrored in addition to sanctioned inward their ancestral cult. The shrines dedicated to the departed ancestors are placed all over the homestead in addition to when non receiving sacrifice or worship are quite informally used equally tables or seats. This shows vividly how the ancestors go along to shape component subdivision of the business solid unit of measurement almost equally if they were soundless alongside them They receive got inward fact been reincorporated inward the business solid unit of measurement inward their spiritual identity.
Essentially all ancestors worshipped are translated parents Both paternal in addition to maternal ancestors are thus worshipped. All ancestor figures are invested with mystically punitive equally good equally but rather to a greater extent than than beneficent qualities but significantly plenty maternal ancestors in addition to ancestresses who are extensions of the loving in addition to self-sacrificing woman raise to whom unqualified affection in addition to trust are due are believed to live to a greater extent than vindictive than paternal ones who stand upwardly for the respected in addition to legally supreme father.
From the dot of stance of their descendants the ancestors are perpetually demanding recognition service in addition to propitiation past times agency of libations in addition to blood-sacrifices claiming the credit for skillful fortune in addition to to a greater extent than usually asserting their rights past times inflicting misfortune sickness in addition to higher upwardly all death. Being unpredictable their
intervention only gets known after the lawsuit when diviner is consulted to uncovering the ancestral agent of an affliction or death. Ancestors tin live seen equally the projection inward symbol in addition to concept of the coercive authorization in addition to superior might that prevarication behind the affection in addition to devotion of parents particularly fathers for their children In some other ancestor worship may live seen equally machinery for dealing with the ambivalence inward the relations of parents in addition to children which Tallensi custom openly recognises. For illustration homo in addition to his initiative of all born boy in addition to prospective heir are deemed to live rivals in addition to are hence obliged to avoid certainly forms of intimate contact in addition to similar dominion applies inward an attenuated shape to adult woman in addition to her oldest daughter. Furthermore homo does non attain the condition of total jural independence until his manly someone raise dies no affair what his historic period of time may be.
In some ways ancestors are much similar little children or really onetime people noticed only when they brand nuisance of themselves past times their demands or past times getting ill. Then they must live placated in addition to i tin relax until the side past times side outburst.
Tallensi Fetish priest at Tenzug
Marriage in addition to Divorce
In Tallensi traditional marriage, "the bridegroom’s guardian must send the placation gift (lu sendaan) to the bride’s guardian, in addition to must pay a proportion of the bride-price acceptable to the latter. H5N1 married adult woman is usually espoused (sol) past times paying the bride-price of iv caput of cattle or their equivalent inward installments over a issue of years. If he does non fufill these jural requirements, a homo has no rights to in addition to over his wife.”
Tallensi club frown s on a adult woman committing adultery. H5N1 adult woman who commits adultery exposes her hubby in addition to children to mystical dangers…she is haled to the homestead of the caput of her husband’s medial lineage in addition to subjected to the ordeal of entering the gateway. If she confesses she may come inward safely. If not, the lineage ancestors volition crusade her to acquire sick if she enters the gateway. This is a powerful sanction of marital fidelity alongside women in addition to is i argue why adultery is non really common.”
Tallensi woman
There is hardly a divorce illustration inward Tallensi society, however, a matrimony sometimes interruption upwardly when a adult woman commits adultery. “A matrimony breaks upwardly either through the activity of i of the spouses, to a greater extent than often than non the woman, or through that of the wife’s guardian. The Tallensi receive got no formal physical care for for divorce. If a man
wishes to acquire rid of a married adult woman (which happens really seldom) he to a greater extent than often than non does so past times with-holding the bride-price, so that her guardian eventually recalls her, or he makes her life so uncomfortable that she deserts him. If a adult woman decides to exit a husband, she exactly absconds. She may do so because she dislikes him, or because he does non feed her good enough, or neglects her sexually or otherwise, or, natives say, out of mere caprice. All women, according to the men, are fickle in addition to gullible; a plausible suitor tin seduce whatever woman. So if a immature married adult woman goes to see her parents in addition to stays longer than 2 or 3 days, her husband, live he an ardent immature homo or a sober greybeard, hurries off to fetch her, usually inward considerable dudgeon, for fright that she may live abducted past times some other man.”
Tallensi adult woman in addition to his hubby at their compound, Tongo Hills
Political system: (chiefs, clans etc, wealth or condition classes)
The politico-ritual integration of a Tale clan is focused inward the politico-ritual business office or offices vested inward it or
inward its constituent maximal lineages. These offices are either chiefship (na’am) (or its equivalent, the senior
business office connected with an External Boyar) or tendaanaship. Chiefship is primarily associated with the
Namoos, though non solely so, tendaanaship with the clans in addition to maximal lineages claiming to live the
autochthonous inhabitants of the country, though, again, non solely so.
Portrait Traditional priest inward the cave of the sacrifices of tengzug, due north of Republic of Ghana past times anthony pappone photographer
Both chiefship in addition to tendaanaship are, to the natives, unitary institutions made upwardly of offices distributed alongside a issue of clans in addition to lineages. The hit of these institutions is non fifty-fifty limited to Taleland. All chiefs are ‘brothers’ since they derive their business office from a mutual source, the Paramount Chief of Mampurugu; all tendaanas, similarly, are ‘brothers’ since their business office has the same component subdivision in addition to ritual value everywhere inward relation to the Earth. The chain of ritual collaboration is i seem of this notion. Among the Tale chiefs the Chief of Tongo ranks highest. He has no political, administrative, or judicial authorization over whatever other
chiefs, or whatever other clan than his own, but his business office incarnates the quintessence of na’am. He represents
all the chiefs of the Blue Planet inward the ritual attributes of chiefship.Tendaanas, inward keeping with the elaborate
segmentation of the clans inward which this business office is vested, are to a greater extent than equal inward status. But inward every cluster of
closely interdependent contiguous clans at that topographic point is i tendaana who ranks higher than his confreres. The
Gbizug tendaana ranks higher upwardly the tendaana of Zubiun, Gbeog, in addition to Wakii, in addition to the Doo tendaana higher upwardly the
other Tenzugu tendaanas.
Chiefs in addition to tendaanas had no political power, equally nosotros sympathise it, earlier the coming of the white man.
They had no administrative, or executive, in addition to only rudimentary judicial powers. They were the leaders
in addition to non the rulers, the fathers in addition to non the princes of their clans.
Food taboos:
There are many restrictions in addition to taboos commonly associated with menstruum inward traditional Ghanaian
thought in addition to practice. There is a widely recognized traditional taboo on a menstruating woman’s cooking
nutrient for whatever homo including her husband. It may live thought necessary to protect fifty-fifty crops from her evil
influence…She may non live allowed to come inward whatever current to acquire water.
Firstborn Son in addition to Father
“When a man child is 6 years of age, he may non eat from the same dish equally his father. This is a taboo. Other taboos relate to the occupation of the father's weapons, the father's clothes, or the father's tools. Furthermore, when a boy arrives at adolescence, around the historic period of time of 12 or 13, he cannot come inward the business solid chemical compound at the same fourth dimension equally his father. If, for some reason, the boy violates this taboo, in addition to so at that topographic point must live purification rites.
o Firstborn Daughter in addition to Mother
“The firstborn immature lady cannot seem into her mother's storage containers, vases, pots, or tubs; this is a taboo.”
Death in addition to afterlife beliefs
When a someone dies, it is the firstborn boy or immature lady who leads inward the ritual ceremonies. Only
at this minute tin the boy really set on his father's cap in addition to his father's textile in addition to walk inward the
father's shoes.”
Everything inward the Tallensi club works together to maintain this residuum betwixt the secular lineage and
the ancestral dead. “From the dot of stance of their descendants, the ancestors are perpetually demanding recognition, service in addition to propitiation past times agency of libations in addition to blood sacrifices, claiming the credit for a persons skillful fortune, sickness in addition to higher upwardly all death. Being unpredictable, their intervention only gets known after the event, when a diviner is consulted to uncovering the ancestral agent of an affliction or a death.”
The Sacred Crocodile
Among the Tallensi tribe at that topographic point is a belief inward the sacred crocodile. As Meyer Fortes highlighted inward his ethnographic piece of work "The concept of the person", special crocodiles inward special pools are considered persons alongside the Tallensi. No local man, indeed no Tallensi would dare kill or hurt a sacred crocodile. Every Tallensi knows that these crocodiles are the incarnation of of import clan ancestors. To kill i of these is similar killing a person. It is murder of the most heinous form in addition to it would select disaster on the whole clan.
However, non all crocodiles are considered persons (ni-saal) for instance, inward the rivers that are fished inward the dry out flavour - is non a person, non sacred. It tin live killed in addition to eaten.
The cultural landscape of Tongo-Tenzuk
BENJAMIN WARINSIE KANKPEYENG
Head of Regional Office, Republic of Ghana Museums in addition to Monuments Board, Bolgatanga
TRADITIONAL CONSERVATION PRACTICES
The Tongo Hills, embracing the unique cultural landscape of Tongo-Tengzuk, are located only 10 miles from Bolgatanga. The expanse is of outstanding natural beauty in addition to cultural richness. The hills, with their amazing stone formations, caves in addition to natural stone shelters, are the sacred epicentre of the Talensi, an ethnic grouping inward northern Ghana. Over countless generations, through piece of work in addition to play, inward their buildings in addition to rituals, the Talensi at Tongo-Tengzuk receive got managed to master copy their unique environment.
Tengzuk shrine inward the hamlet of Tongo
Interdependence betwixt Nature in addition to Culture.
The environmental mastery at Tongo-Tengzuk has come upwardly well-nigh through effective occupation of Blue Planet for buildings, agriculture (which engages well-nigh ninetyeight per centum of the population) in addition to shrines. The local architecture blends seamlessly into the natural environment, patch also creating human monastic enjoin inside nature. The pattern in addition to placement of structures has served the social needs of the community for many centuries in addition to is carefully preserved through tradition. The houses mirror the social in addition to ideological relations alongside the Talensi. The footpaths, the shaded spaces, the shrines in addition to groves, cattle kraals in addition to granaries, reflect the cosmological scheme in addition to sociopolitical structures. The numerous compounds, clustered alongside the rocks of the hills, create a landscape of extraordinary beauty in addition to tranquillity, typical of a superb illustration of the interdependence of nature in addition to culture, of humans in addition to their environment. Retention of H2O for agricultural purposes is achieved through careful stone terracing. Some rocky areas are used for processing foods: threshing, pounding or grinding grains in addition to shea butter. Some of the caves, stone boulders, rocky pavements, Blue Planet in addition to groves are sacred or serve equally shrines for the community.
Historical Background
The oral traditions of the community at TongoTengzuk claim that their ancestors receive got ever been there, or alternately, sprouted from the basis or descended from sky (Gabrilopoulos 1995), equally do the other indigenous Talensi living around the base of operations of the hill. Those Talensi known equally Namoos at Tongo, who are really migrant Mamprusi, admit the antiquity of the existent Talensi living on the colina or at the pes of it, in addition to affirm peaceful coexistence with their neighbours (Fortes 1945, Rattray 1932).
For centuries the Tongo hills formed component subdivision of a frontier belt betwixt centralized states. The conquest states of Dagbon in addition to Mamprugu lay to the due south in addition to those of the Mossi kingdoms to the North. By the fourth dimension of European contact, the Talensi were sedentary horticulturists with a loose, acephalous political organization. Tongo-Tengzuk was recognized equally an established site of sacred might with the arrival of colonial dominion at the halt of the nineteenth century. It was i of the final areas inward Republic of Ghana to submit to British rule; only inward 1911 did a British military machine expedition tempest the hills in addition to halt the resistance. The Tallensi were evicted in addition to access to the expanse banned. In 1915, the British found out that many people had clandestinely returned to the hills in addition to a 2d assail was launched inward the same year. By the 1920s many people had returned to the expanse because of its sacred power.
Stone shrine at Tenzug
Conservation Practices
The conservation of the Tongo-Tengzuk cultural landscape site is tied upwardly with the Talensi worldview. The site contain numerous sacred shrines including basis shrines (tengban) in addition to ancestral shrines (ba’ar). The Talensi believe inward a supreme existence in addition to worship this existence through lesser gods represented past times a host of natural features inward the shape of rocks or boulders, cliffs, caves in addition to constructed ancestral shrines. Paramount alongside the basis shrines is Tonna’ab, nestled inward the cliffs to the due west of the short town at the department called Kpatari, which has provided the expanse with enormous sacred might for both the Talensi in addition to other ethnic groups inward Ghana. Tonna’ab has dominated the religious topography of the expanse equally good equally attracting pilgrims from surrounding populations (Guruni, Kusasi, Builsa, Dagomba in addition to Mossi). It has also been viewed historically past times the Akan inward southern Republic of Ghana equally a site of potential ritual power. Rattray (1932) observed the presence
of wealthy Asante businessmen in addition to women inward the area. Tonna’ab is a benevolent, protective, in addition to curative shrine that abhors evil. It has been the unifying factor for the Talensi in addition to continues to flourish today.
At Kpatari at that topographic point are 2 sacred groves, Bonab in addition to Nnoo, that also greatly influence the civilization of the entire Talensi community. Bonab performs the same ritual functions equally Tonna’ab. The Nnoo shrine serves equally the dwelling of the Golib god. The Golib god has a lot of influence on the agricultural life of the community, ensuring the maintenance of several cultural practices inward the area. The Gologo festival, which takes identify at the halt of the dry out flavour or the kickoff of the rainy season, is celebrated to reinforce the community belief inward the Nnoo shrine or Golib god.
The historical establishment of, in addition to adherence to, many taboos in addition to norms inward honor to the needs of the Golib god has helped to evolve in addition to maintain a issue of traditional conservation practices which over the years receive got preserved this unique cultural landscape. These taboos, norms in addition to penalties receive got been instituted to strengthen the human relationship betwixt the Talensi in addition to this god or shrine. The social conventions of the Talensi, which receive got a strong ideological background related to ancestor worship, also serve to conserve the cultural landscape.
Tongo Hills, shrine
Architecture
H5N1 cursory seek out of architectural variation at Tongo-Tengzuk reveals 2 architectural types: at Kpatari in addition to Bonchiig, at that topographic point are only flat mud roofs, patch all other short town receive got roofs of thatch or modern materials (aluminium or galvanized sheets). The difference is explained past times the fact that the Golib god abhors fire in addition to hence thatch, equally it tin crusade a gusting fire. The displeasure of the god tin select well-nigh catastrophes inside the community, such equally drought, pathetic crop harvest in addition to sicknesses. Consequently, at that topographic point is a proscription against the occupation of thatch inward construction past times the Kpatari in addition to Bonchiig communities, where the 3 of import shrines of Tonna’ab. Bonab in addition to Nnoo are located.
Historically, all worshippers of the Golib god from the external Bogyar clan (the existent Talensi in addition to non the Namoo or migrants) celebrated the outflow festival of Gologo in addition to autumn festival of Boaram in addition to upheld this proscription, but today the province of affairs has changed. Only the Kpatari in addition to Bonchiig communities go along to adhere to the regulation in addition to hence their houses consist of mud structures, except for a few rooms built with cement past times wealthy individuals, though fifty-fifty these retain a flat roof.
The establishment in addition to maintenance of the edifice tradition at Tongo-Tengzuk has been due to the passing of the essential elements of edifice construction or conservation from members of the older knowledgeable generation to their successors. The transmission of the knowledge is conducted verbally or past times demonstration. Oral traditions tin live formulaic inward nature (Gabrilopoulos 1995) in addition to their transmission includes mnemonic devices.Building is a semi-permanent occupation, conducted in addition to supervised past times experienced individuals inward the community. These individuals, who are also farmers, volition assist families who wishing to build novel compounds, equally good equally those who are expanding or maintaining existing ones. One does non prepare formally to live a builder. Individuals in addition to youngsters acquire knowledge of edifice techniques past times seeking out experienced builders or relatives who volition engage them inward informal apprenticeships. As they help, they larn the rules of traditional design, construction in addition to traditional norms relating to the built form.Several factors boundary the location in addition to the shape of the building. These include the availability of edifice materials, natural features in addition to obstructions,
minimal requirements for shelter in addition to comfort, and, higher upwardly all, social in addition to ideological needs. The edifice physical care for alongside the Talensi is negotiated in addition to practised according to convention. In addition, the compound
is constructed inward a vogue ‘facilitating domestic life segregating activities, animals in addition to people, reinforcing
relationships in addition to affirming beliefs, the construction of the compound, inward concert with its occupants use’
(Gabrilopoulos 1995), in addition to it has its ain social logic.
The social conventions of the expanse provide some other rootage or impetus for the conservatism displayed with honor to the conservation of the built environment. ‘Social conservatism reduces anxiety well-nigh the hit of actions that a particular thespian may take. Modifications to the built surroundings receive got a logic of their own, that must live negotiated inside the community’ (ibid.). Rich individuals who could afford to buy modern materials are pressured past times the community to adjust to the hamlet planning norms in addition to to occupation to a greater extent than traditional ones instead.
Building piece of work is conducted from Jan to April. Women in addition to men both contribute to the construction in addition to maintenance of buildings. Women send the mud in addition to men do the actual building. Maintenance is necessary during each dry out season. Wind, rain, fire, in addition to human in addition to fauna impacts contribute to the deterioration of the mud structures. Mud is best conceptualized equally a semi-permanent material. Replastering is usually done annually. Courtyards are repaired inward full general every 2 years. Mud roofs are repaired somewhat to a greater extent than oft because of the straight rainwater impact. High traffic areas, steps, in addition to walls that suffer impacts from livestock are repaired frequently. Thatch roofs exterior Kpatari are replaced every 3 years. Compounds are also remodelled to accommodate changes inward social relations inward the house: men acquire novel wives in addition to sons come upwardly of age, hook upwardly with in addition to beget children. Entire novel courtyards may accrete onto the compound. Additional ancestor shrines are added after the expiry of to a greater extent than elders or landlords. Compounds consist of circular in addition to foursquare rooms, except for the Dakore’s business solid which contains of import oracles for the community in addition to consists of only circular rooms because the oracles loathe whatever other form.
Farmland in addition to Shrines
The stone boulders forming the stone terraces forestall fires, laid to burn downward stalks inward training for the side past times side season, from getting out of command because of the Golib god. Stone terracing effectively retains in addition to checks H2O erosion for farming purposes. The terracing helps to save the fertility of the soil. The proscription against gusting fires has helped to save the natural vegetation around the shrines.
Tradition also prohibits the cutting of the trees, shrubs in addition to grasses around the 3 shrines. There are prescribed walkways to each shrine.
Natural Landscape
The community has resisted attempts to destroy the physical or natural landscape of the area. For example,
their Tallensi neighbours at Wakyii, a hamlet at the base of operations of the hill, gave a concession roofing parts of
the colina nether their command to a quarrying company, allowing degradation of the area. In contrast, the Tengzuk community violently resisted attempts past times the same society to extend their operations beyond the pes of the hill. Complaints were made to the district in addition to regional authorities, in addition to to the Republic of Ghana Museums in addition to Monuments Board (the national establishment responsible for the preservation of the stuff cultural heritage) past times the leaders of the Tengzuk community. Steps receive got at nowadays been taken past times these governmental agencies to halt the quarrying operations.
Legal Protection
Traditionally, the earth-priests of the 7 sections of Tengzuk, namely, Sameed, Sakpiega, Tamboog,
Gundari, Nanchieyir, Kpatari in addition to Bonchiig, equally good equally the custodian of Tonna’ab, enforce the laws on
the occupation of the natural in addition to cultural environment. The Goldana, the most senior basis priest, acts equally the chief.
The Tongo-rana, paramount primary of the Talensi, has only administrative responsibleness with honor to
traditional political matters. The Bolgatanga District Assembly has been enthusiastic about, in addition to interested
in, the preservation of the site, since it has potential for tourism development. The assembly has a computer program to
create a route from the base of operations of the colina through to the halt of the settlement. It has also demonstrated its
involvement past times providing funds for the limited ethnographic documentation in addition to mapping of the short town past times the
Upper East Regional Museum, Bolgatanga. The Republic of Ghana Museums in addition to Monuments Board, empowered past times police clit NLCD 387 of 1969 for the preservation of the stuff civilization of Ghana, has identified in addition to nominated the short town to UNESCO for consideration equally a public heritage cultural landscape site.
Conclusions
Tongo-Tengzuk is a masterpiece of a cultural landscape, i that the Talensi community receive got attempted over the years to save for posterity, despite increasing threats from modernity in addition to fiddling exterior intervention or support. Limited inquiry has provided some knowledge well-nigh the community’s ethnography in addition to history (Allman 1999; Fortes 1945; Gabrilopoulos 1995; Kankpeyeng 2000; Rattray 1932).
The community has conserved the site for several decades past times relying on traditional methods, inspired in addition to strengthened past times their worldview. The TongoTengzuk community’s human relationship with staff at the Upper East Regional Museum has demonstrated its enthusiasm in addition to back upwardly for whatever assistance to save the site for posterity. Preserving the site for posterity volition require detailed inquiry piece of work on the ethnography, archaeology, traditional architecture, soil management in addition to environmental techniques This inquiry volition provide us with an agreement of the chronology of the site, the kinds of materials needed to conserve it, in addition to those philosophical in addition to psychological elements inside the community that stimulated its preservation. The application of modern conservation techniques volition greatly get upwardly the preservation of the site. Equally of import is back upwardly for the community in addition to didactics to assist its members maintain their traditional civilization inward the human face of the many present-day challenges that human face them.
Bibliography
Allman, Jean (n.d.), ‘A Brief on Tongo-Tengzuk’.
Unpublished newspaper submitted to Republic of Ghana Museums
in addition to Monuments Board.
Fortes, Meyer (945), The dynamics of clanship among
the Talensi (Oxford University Press).
Gabrilopoulos, Nick (995), ‘Ethnoarchaeology of the
Tallensi Compound (Upper East Region, Ghana)’.
H5N1 Master of Arts thesis submitted to the Faculty of
Graduate Studies, University of Calgary, Canada.
Kankpeyeng, Benjamin Warinsie (2000), ‘A Brief on
Tongo-Tengzuk’. Unpublished newspaper submitted to
the Bolgatanga District Assembly.
Rattray, R. S. (932), The tribes of the Ashanti
Hinterland, Vol. II (Oxford University Press).
Upper East Regional Museum (n.d.), ‘The Cultural
Landscape of the Tongo Hills’ (exhibition brochure)
Sourcehttp://www.iccrom.org/pdf/iccrom_ics02_traditionalpractices_en.pdf
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