Traditions and Customs of Gadangmes of Ghana


Book Description

GaDangmes of Ghana claim through oral history that they are descendants of ancient Hebrew Israelites. They refer to themselves as Yudafoi, meaning they are Jews. This book traces the origins of GaDangmes and their migration from ancient Israel, following the attack of Israel by the Assyrians to their present abode in Ghana. The ancestors of the GaDangmes were ruled by Wulomei (The High Priesthood). The book discusses GaDangme custom and traditions, including the Homowo Festival, Otufo/Dipo, circumcision, and outdooring (sanctification) of the child after birth. These traditions and customs of GaDangmes are of Hebraic origins. GaDangmes names are like genetic markers and are scattered throughout The Old Testament. Some of the names of their towns and villages bear Hebrew names. Tamar Kemp describes the GaDangmes of Ghana as descendants of authentic biblical Hebrew/Israelites whose ancestors once reigned supreme in the motherland. Joseph Nii Abekar Mensah, PhD., is currently a clinical/educational consultant with Progressive Learning Institute & Counselling Services in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Mensah is the founder of GaDangme Heritage & Cultural Foundation. Born and raised in Accra (Ganyobi), Ghana, the author pursued studies in applied biology in London, England, with specialization in pharmacology. He also holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology and in education. "I had always wanted to know why my people call themselves 'Gamei, ' meaning 'Ga people.' I learned they are of Hebrew Israelite origins, possibly from the tribes of Gad and Dan." Publisher's website: http: //sbpra.com/JosephNiiAbekarMensah




Brazilian-African Diaspora in Ghana


Book Description

Brazilian-African Diaspora in Ghana is a fresh approach, challenging both pre-existing and established notions of the African Diaspora by engaging new regions, conceptualizations, and articulations that move the field forward. This book examines the untold story of freed slaves from Brazil who thrived socially, culturally, and economically despite the challenges they encountered after they settled in Ghana. Kwame Essien goes beyond the one-dimensional approach that only focuses on British abolitionists’ funding of freed slaves’ resettlements in Africa. The new interpretation of reverse migrations examines the paradox of freedom in discussing how emancipated Brazilian-Africans came under threat from British colonial officials who introduced stringent land ordinances that deprived the freed Brazilian- Africans from owning land, particularly “Brazilian land.” Essien considers anew contention between the returnees and other entities that were simultaneously vying for control over social, political, commercial, and religious spaces in Accra and tackles the fluidity of memory and how it continues to shape Ghana’s history. The ongoing search for lost connections with the support of the Brazilian government—inspiring multiple generations of Tabom (offspring of the returnees) to travel across the Atlantic and back, especially in the last decade—illustrates the unending nature of the transatlantic diaspora journey and its impacts.




Psycho-Educational Assessments of Children and Adolescents


Book Description

This book is intended to help school administrators, teachers, counsellors, support staff, parents, and other professionals to read and understand psychoeducational reports and to work as a team to help alleviate the students difficulties. Furthermore, this book is aimed as sensitizing the school personnel to the elements of a quality psychoeducational assessment to make them informed consumers who are able to understand good quality report so as to apply the information contained in the report effectively in the schools.







Living in Two Worlds


Book Description

From a difficult, rural existence in Ghana to the promise of life in the United States, Living in Two Worlds shows how the necessities of life can be found in perseverance and faith. With inspiring and encouraging stories that chronicle his and his familys journey, author Sadik Aboagye shares for posterity and for insight both the contrasts and comparisons of life on two sides of the globe. The author offers an impressionistic view of rural life in Ghana with its concomitant challenges. With some of us, it is a reminder of the good old days in the village where basic amenities like good schooling, electricity, pipe-borne water, and clinics were virtually nonexistentand yet where life was normal and joyful. It equally serves as a useful resource for all those who never tasted rural life but grew up in the cities of Africa and other countries. Though the author went through myriads of problems and challenges with school, finances, fatal accidents, diseases, frustrations, and perilous times on the seas aboard a ship from Nigeria to Ghanaas well as many other heartbreaking events in his lifeGod protected him and his family in their journey through life. It is also an encouraging story of how maximization and utilization of available natural and human resources can propel the individual and society to greater heights. I am deeply honored to write these few lines about this timely, needed, and informative book. Dr. Gabriel Amoateng-Boahen, Professional Staff Chaplain, University of Chicago Medical Center







Aspect and Modality in Kwa Languages


Book Description

This book explores the thesis that in the Kwa languages of West Africa, aspect and modality are more central to the grammar of the verb than tense. Where tense marking has emerged it is invariably in the expression of the future, and therefore concerned with the impending actualization or potentiality of an event, hence with modality, rather than the purely temporal sequencing associated with tense. The primary grammatical contrasts are perfective versus imperfective. The main languages discussed are Akan, Dangme, Ewe, Ga and Tuwuli while Nzema-Ahanta, Likpe and Eastern Gbe are also mentioned. Knowledge about these languages has deepened considerably during the past decade or so and ideas about their structure have changed. The volume therefore presents novel analyses of grammatical forms like the so-called S-Aux-O-V-Other or “future” constructions, and provides empirical data for theorizing about aspect and modality. It should be of considerable interest to Africanist linguists, typologists, and creolists interested in substrate issues.




Dancing with the Gods


Book Description

Dancing with the Gods: Essays in Ga Ritual explores cosmological concepts and ritual actions of the Ga people of southeastern Ghana through case studies of calendrical agricultural rites, social status transition rites, and redressive rites. Based on fieldwork in the 1960s, the essays present descriptive analyses of verbal and non-verbal ritual action. While verbal ritual actions specify ideas pertinent to a particular rite, non-verbal ritual actions express more general concepts. Kilson's analyses show how the same motifs of non-verbal ritual action recur in sacred and secular Ga rites. Whenever and wherever such motifs occur, they convey the same basic underlying Ga concepts, thereby creating a unified conceptual network of belief that is the foundation of the Ga ritual system. The essays in this collection previously appeared in Anthropos, Journal of African Studies, Journal of Religion in Africa, Parabola, and Sextant.




Culture and Customs of Ghana


Book Description

Provides an overview of the history and culture of Ghana, featuring discussion of the country's religion and thought, the arts, cuisine and traditional dress, gender roles, marriage and family, social customs, and lifestyle.




Kings, Priests, and Kinsmen: Essays on Ga Culture and Society


Book Description

This collection of E. A. Ammah's ethnographic writing includes essays, some poetry, and other documents. Created over four decades, these pieces cover a wide range of topics including Ga culture in comparative perspective, Ga social organization, Ga political structure and history, Ga life transition ceremonies, and Ga religion. The collection provides a unique cultural insider's twentieth century perspective on Ga society and history.