In our 21st century, many things have changed within nations, customs, and traditions. Yet in regards to Ghanaian customs and traditions, much has not changed for those who practice.
Personally, I love my heritage as a Ghanaian- Kwahu region. However, I do not believe practicing every single custom and tradition nowadays is conducive.
My parents think I am too westernized when I discuss this issue with them but I beg to differ. My first reason for believing this is due to the economic downturn the world is experiencing currently.
Amongst Ghanaians, the customs of an elaborate funeral, wedding engagement (knocking), and baby outdooring is unrealistic for those who are trying to pay their bills.
Secondly, I am not a fan of inviting every single Ghanaian individual to a personal event that my parents, brothers, grandparents, uncles, aunts, godmother, and neighbor know. My parents are famous for inviting a host of people to events that they claim to know back in the days. However, I believe some events should be held private.
Thirdly, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) equates ignorance. How is practicing this custom helpful in reducing temptation?
Fourth on my list, as a born again Christian, I personally do not believe in the pouring of libations. The idea of honoring my ancestors is different without having to invoke spirits from the dead in addition to idols.
Lastly, I believe that enemies do exist. I know for a fact that not everyone wishes the best for me and wants my success. Therefore, I refrain from involving myself in certain traditional activities that would conjure envy and jealousy amongst individuals who are known for displaying these behaviors- especially amongst certain family members and friends.
The last thing I need is to be told from a pastor that someone placed a hex on me. What are your thoughts? Is it necessary to practice almost every Ghanaian custom and tradition in the 21st century?
Which particular Ghanaian customs and tradition do you think must be discontinued and why?
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Trokosi and witchhunting
one thing i hate in this ghanaian tradition is when females have to shave their heads for schooling, i think thats complete crap
this is a stupid article, why do you have to ask that question? custom and tradition is always going to be part o us because if we change our customs and traditions, that means we have change our identity and who we are as Ghanaian’s/Africans. only west Africans wanna be “western culture” especially Ghanaian’s, let see East and North Africans there are so proud of their customs and traditions, there practice it everywhere they are. in Ghana most people believe that this practice it for witchcraft and we wanna be Americas, this very sad.
@frempomah, I totally agree with you, about how stupid this article is. I couldn’t even finish reading ti!!!!
Maybe you should have finished reading it honey 🙂
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, But Chris, you can modernise a tradision to fit into todays World but to give it up, NO!!!!! Many Western countries and other parts of the World have done it, modernising their tradision, in Danmark tradision is very much going on, but, in a very modernised way! Your tradision is part of who you are!
Who told you that? Any custom or tradition which is not regularly reviewed or subject to dynamism ends up being barbaric and that is what majority of our customs and traditions have become…
Why should some past generation dictate the lives of another generation? How relevant can a prediction or rules made 100 years ago be to us today?
Who wants to stick to some primitive identity? Do you find tribal marks cool in this contemporary world? Do you find putting precious ornaments that we can sell to improve the lives of the poor into the grave to go with some dead chief or king?
Do you find spending huge money to marry a woman in this economic hardship, after which, you become broke and cannot pay for proper education or child care prudent?
When did witchcraft become a custom or tradition? You must have forgotten your social studies/cultural studies…LOL
I think you need a re-read of this piece.
What is worthy of a man marrying 5 women because his tradition allows it and he cannot take care of these women and over 15 kids?
Is it great that women are subject to some absurd widowhood rights or rituals because custom and traditions demand so?
Must a woman stay at home for almost a year when her husband die when she can go back to work in 2 months to continue life, better herself and take care of the poor kids left behind?
Must a woman loose everything she has worked hard with a man for when the man dies, simply because the man did not marry her before dying as some customs demand?
GOSH
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, Christ some of the points you have mentioned the article and the above statement is actually fading out and not such an issue with in the ghanaian culture any more. Most of your views are personal. But it is irresponsible for you to write an article like this . Considering that, am thinking you may have become too full of yourself living in the west . Take yourself seriously and stop unproductive debates like this. I suppose.
Where in the article does it say I wrote it? And what point did I make that says I am full of living in the West?
What is West to you? Is your Christianity not a western propaganda? Is your God not a western God?
So what west are you talking about?
Is the internet you using to comment not a western tool and invention?
It is the weakest mind with nothing substantive to say or with no debating skill who will go on to try to say something is West, when in fact, almost everything we have today is Western founded…
The topic is about Ghanaian custom and tradition, where in my comment did I mention anything to do with West?
Did I sound West in my comment or I sounded very well informed about Ghanaian custom and tradition by mentioning the many that I think must be subject to change?
When we talk about Ghanaian customs, you think what you see in the urban areas like Accra is what we mean by customs?
I hate to do this but sometime I guess you got make people see how they are sounding from the other end…
@Posted By: Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri, Read your and critically appriaise your own article. Then you understand where am coming from. . And your argument is very shallow. Is is you who had nothing substantive to say in you whole article. I don’t get you at all. Considering you are the head of GC. You should learn to be conservative about your views and comments instead of taking things personal.
Your reply should have been more constructive. After all we are all entitled to own views. I am really dissapointed with you considering I use to find you inspirational and am a big fun for the past few years. Hmmmm
If by telling you the truth you hate to hear (like many people) will make you disappointed, then I am proud of that!
I agree with this article 100%. Most of our customs and tradition are irrelevant in this 21st century. I will explain why we should do away with our primitive traditions when i get back. Bravo to whoever wrote this thought provoking article. I shall be back
God bless the person who wrote this article …
yes some of the tradional rites are absolutly unnecessary ,such as using human as a sacrifice ,even the western world have stop using human as sacrifice ,thanks to human right,also marying a dead person is also baseless ,only God knows how many people have died due to this traditional rites.
Whiles some customs maybe outdated.Cultures and traditions is what defines u and makes us who we are.Most westerners will kill to have what we take for granted here.Everyone wants as sense of belonginess and what better way than thru ur traditions and cultures. Abt the witchcraft stuff my dad always says “if u don’t fear the devil don’t test him”.If u are lucky not to be a victim don’t say it doesn’t exist.
@27calibre (O_0 ), when was the last time u head of the things u are mentioning here.Those days are long gone.Besides marrying of the dead was used to deter ppl from living together and having kids whiles they were not married so us to uphold the sanctity of marriage.
@Frog,THE ARTICLE IS TALKING ABOUT 21 CENTURY UPTILL NOW
@27calibre (O_0 ),THIS 21 CENTURY SO WE ARE IN MODERN WORLD AND WE SHOULD DO AWAY WITH SOMETHINGS WHICH ARE NOT IMPORTANT BUT KILL US PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY
@Frog you have to agree that some of the rites are not good to be practice ,do you know how many women have been put to death due to the traditional rites ,have you heared of female genetal mutilation (FGM) ,if you are a girl will you allow your private part to be cut with untidy knife or blade?which can even spread HIV easily ,i will be glad if you try to google some of the barbaric rites, after that you will never deffend some of the traditional rites.
COME ON GIVE WHAT BELONGS TO CAESER TO CAESER
@27calibre (O_0 ), have to agree with u on the FGM is very horrible.I think there is a law against that although am not too sure.
HELLOOOOOOO IT SEEMS SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE ARTICLE ,PLEASE TRY TO READ ,IF YOU FIND ANY WORD DIFFICULT JUST CONTACT YOUR DICTIONARY AND STOP POINTING FINGERS.
LET ME PONDER ON WHAT HE ARTICLE IS BASSING ON, THE ARTICLE IS SAYING
(What are your thoughts? Is it necessary to practice almost every Ghanaian custom and tradition in the 21st century?) °°°°°°° HERE IT EVERY°°°°°°°
AND
(Which particular Ghanaian customs and tradition do you think must be discontinued and why?)
°°°°°AND HERE WHICH ONE MUST BE DISCONTINUE °°°°°°°
FOR YOUR INFO THE ARTICLE IS NOT SAYING ALL THE TRADITION IS GOOD OR BAD ,JUST GET IT
I think life is not about paying bills only but enjoying the little things in life that we render as a blessing, it doesn’t have to be too big but a little something to mark that day as special, bringing a child to the world is one of the most special and exciting events in ones life, so I don’t see why the parents can’t organize a little get-together to celebrate the child especially after the mother has been through nine months of “hard labor”, its the same way the americans have baby showers, bachelorette parties, engagement parties, house warmings and other occasions which have become a part of their culture, life is too short, so when u work very hard a little bit of a celebration on special events in your life is really not bad I think!
one thing that i really want to c change is funeral ceremonies these days. plz don’t get me wrong i m not against funeral cos its part of rite of passage. what i am against is extravagant funeral ceremonies. i m taking about keeping the dead in the morgue for months + customized expensive coffins. some families go to the extent of having announcements on radio and putting billboards on the street. the village/town that do all is this is the same village kids go to school under trees.
@`madam social,
@ Chris, I agree with u totally my dear, weird tribal marks, a man marrying 5 women because his tradition allows it, extravagant wedding ceremonies, burying the dead with expensive gifts, extended widow rites, FGM and the rest are (excuse me to say) very barbaric!!! My fiance and i are getting married and we have decided to invite only our family members and closest friends for the ceremony…..and for those widowhood rites, it very respectful to mourn your beloved late husband, am a Methodist and after every funeral the Rev. will tell the widow or widower that, “when u were getting married you swore to be with your partner no matter what, till death do you part, therefore, it is only death that can separate both of you”….now that the death has happened, the rest of your life and that of your children shouldn’t come to standstill… because there is no where in the bible that says one should marry the dead (if we go according to scripture). Indeed, there are some cultures that shouldnt be practiced at all.