Indigenous Communication: A Narrative of Selected Indigenous Practices of the Akan Group of Ghana

Introduction

Communication can be defined as a way of transferring information, sharing ideas, opinions and feelings through speech, writing or signs. Indigenous communication can therefore be defined as the informal way of transmitting entertainment, news, persuasion, announcements, and social exchanges of every type (Mundy & Llyod-Laney, 1992). This type of communication is either expressed in verbal or non-verbal mode. Verbal mode of indigenous communication includes oral storytelling and narrations at various community gatherings including gathering around fires for story telling in the evenings, durbars and festivals during the year. Non-verbal mode of indigenous communication is a process of sending and receiving wordless messages such as gestures, postures, body language and facial expression. Object such as clothing, hairstyles or symbols can also be used as a non-verbal form of indigenous communication. The Akan ethnic group uses both verbal and non-verbal modes of indigenous communication to portray their rich culture which is inclusive of the selected practices documented in this chapter.

The aim of the study is to document the selected practices of the Akans which are gradually being lost through:

• 1.

  Being handed down from generation to generation orally, and

• 2.

  The adoption of Christian principles which has replaced some of the indigenous practices.

Documenting the selected practices will promote access, preservation and dissemination of valuable indigenous information for both present and future generations.

Background

Akans are the largest ethnic group in Ghana. The Akans occupy five of the ten Regions in Ghana. These are: Ashanti Region, Brong Ahafo Region, Central Region, Eastern Region and Western Region (Agyekum, 2006). This constitutes the total population of Akans in Ghana to be about 57.9% according to the population census of 2010 (Ghana Statistical Service, 2012). The Akan language comprises of a group of dialects which when grouped together forms Twi (Asante, Akuapem, Akwamu, Kwahu, Brong and Akyem) and Fanti (Agona, Wassa, Anomabo, Abura, Gomua and Fante) (Robert, 1973; Agyekum, 2006). Subgroups of the Akan ethnic group are Sehwi, Nzema and Ahanta. The groups and subgroups of the Akan dialects are also known as ethnic tribes. The Akan ethnic groups have similar cultural attributes. Of notable recognition are the tracing of descent, inheritance of property, and succession to royalty which will be highlighted in the next sections.