'Space' and the Marking of 'Space' in Ga History, Culture and Politics

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Periodical article

Title:	'Space' and the Marking of 'Space' in Ga History, Culture and Politics
Author:	Osei-Tutu, John Kwadwo
Year:	2000-2001
Periodical:	Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana (ISSN 0855-3246)
Issue:	4-5
Pages:	55-82
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Ghana West Africa
Subjects:	space Ga Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) History and Exploration Philosophy, Psychology Gã (African people) history culture political science philosophy Theory
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/41406657
Abstract:	The events associated with the annual Ga thanksgiving festival, 'Homowo', indicate that the Ga perceive and demarcate their physical and social space at several levels. These include the abstract, the territorial, the political, the economic, the ritual, and the personal (private, domestic and lineage). None of these spaces are discrete, they intersect at different points in time, place and situation. At the political level, the 'Homowo' partially re-enacts the spatial fragmentation of the Ga 'State' dating from the 17th century. The boundaries between the various communities express power relations. The power relations between the ruler and the ruled are based on the principle of mutual recognition. In demarcating and re-enacting their unity, the Ga have needed to redefine their spatial particularities in relation to external actors, notably their immediate neighbours and the larger State and society of Ghana. Bibliogr., notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]