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 Periodical article |
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| Title: | The Past and Present of an Anlo-Ewe Oral Tradition |
| Author: | Greene, Sandra E. |
| Year: | 1985 |
| Periodical: | History in Africa |
| Volume: | 12 |
| Pages: | 73-87 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Ghana |
| Subjects: | Anlo traditional rulers oral traditions Education and Oral Traditions Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) |
| External link: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/3171713 |
| Abstract: | European observers (Jean Barbot, 1680; P. Thøning, 1802; D. Westermann, 1935; R.A. Kea, 1969) have suggested an association between religious concerns and the awoamefia, the highest leadership position in Anlo. In 1978, however, Anlo elders, consulted on this issue, surprisingly vehement denied any such association, past or present. Yet, a number of 'less popular, less well-known' traditions do, in fact, suggest that the European observations of pre-twentieth century Anlo were not wholly inaccurate. Why is it that the contemporary popular traditions of the Anlo now fail to reflect the notion of religious concerns having been associated with the office of awoamefia? What purpose do the traditions in their present form serve if they do not contain at least some clue as to what is being assumed here for the purposes of argument to have been a historical reality? This paper explores these questions by determining the extent to which religion was important in shaping and defining the character of the criteria upon which certain groups has access to the office of awoamefia. The circumstances that may have been influential in shaping the contemporary character of the popular oral traditions are explored. - Notes. |
