Beautiful Ghanaian Culture And How They Have Been Preserved Over The Years

Culture is a simple word, but it entails a lot. It's about people's shared beliefs, values, behaviors, and their general way of life. Ghana has several tribes, all playing a crucial role in shaping the country's cultural landscape. These tribes have unique methods of preserving their culture, and as a proud Asante man, I have always loved the way our rich culture and traditions have been preserved over the years.

The Asante's are noted as one of the powerful tribes that have a rich history, military strength, abundant natural resources, and strong cultural continuity. Over the years, their culture has remained vibrant due to their effective methods or ways of passing it on to the next generation. The Asante's achieve this in several ways, one being through oral traditions, often using proverbs while speaking.

In Ghana, it's easy to identify a person who is raised, especially in a palace or by an elderly person, as they never speak without using an Akan adage or proverb. The use of Akan proverbs while speaking is an indication of wisdom, maturity, and the quality of being a good speaker and eloquent. Furthermore, elders transmit their knowledge through storytelling and demonstrate traditional practices, to show these traditions for younger generations to emulate.

In times of marriage, couples are expected to adorn themselves in traditional attire, primarily in Kente clothing or other African wear. Marriage ceremonies involve strict traditional rites that the couple and their families must adhere to transition into marriage that is traditionally approved or recognized.

During funerals, it's customary to wear traditional fabric, either in black locally known as "Birisi" or red clothings also called "Kɔbene", serving as a demonstration of your understanding of tradition. Whether it's marriage, funeral, child christening, or festivals,it is best that appear in African wear. In Ghana, these African fabrics are mostly designed with Adinkra symbols.

Every symbol you will see in clothings have specific patterns and colors conveying various meanings. This is how you will know which one to choose that will be fitting for the occasion. Apart from these methods, educational institutions have also promoted our rich culture by organizing cultural activities or dedicated days for schoolchildren to learn about tribes and their cultural heritage.

On such occasions, every child is expected to come dressed in traditional attire. Some schools provide access to traditional costumes to ensure that every child, depending on their tribe, has appropriate attire for the occasion. During these events, children are taught how to perform cultural dances, recite poems, and share folktales.

Over the years, western cultures have had influence on Ghanaians leading some people to forgo certain cultural practices. Notwithstanding, the majority of tribes have successfully upheld their cultural heritage. Having an identity is indeed important, as it helps us recognize our worth as people and the value of what we possess. I have loved how tribes have excelled in preserving their culture.