THE GHANAIAN CULTURE

BY: JULIET ELIKEM ALIFUI

K. Nkrumah’s
Mausoleum The Independence Arch

[Link]
The University of Ghana
Tamale Sports Stadium
Independence
Square
 The Golden Jubilee
House

The Supreme Court

 What Do You Know About
Ghana?
 In Continent of Africa, precisely W/A


 First African country south of the Sahara to gain Independence from their Colonial
Masters (Great Britain) on March 6, 1957


 The home country of the former UN secretary General Kofi Annan
 (Jan. 1, 1997-Dec. 31, 2006)
v Recipient of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize
v Chancellor, Univ. of Ghana


 The world’s second largest producer of Cocoa
God Bless Our Homeland,
Ghana!

Ghanaian Flag

African Map
Map of Ghana

Coat of Arms
 What is Culture?
 Culture is from the Latin word CULTURA which stems from
COLERE ( To cultivate)

 In 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of
164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of
Concepts and Definitions. However, the word "culture" is
most commonly used in three basic senses:


Ø Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known

as high culture
Ø
Ø An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior
that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and
social learning
Ø
Ø The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that
characterizes an institution, organization or group
 Aspects of Culture
 Dress  Beliefs &Values
 Food  Religion
 Ethnicity  Education
 Arts and crafts 

 Traditional
Ceremonies
 Music

 How do Ghanaians dress?
Different cloths to suit


the occasion
 Gents
 Ladies  Fugu
Ø Kaba & slit
 Shorts and T-Shirts
Ø Bubu / Patapata
Ø Traditional Cloth
Ø Skirts & Blouses
Ø Pant suit
Ø Dresses

Ø Pant suits
Ø
What do Ghanaians wear?

Corporate World
Casual

Professional Outfit

Different clothes for Different

OCCASSIONS

Wedding

African Office Wear

 Local Foods in Ghana

vWaakye
vBanku with soup
vJollof rice
vKenkey with fish
vOmotuo (rice balls)
 Ethnicity
 Ghana is a country of about 24  Ghana has rich traditional
million people comprising cultures that differ from one
over 60 ethnic groups ethnic group to the other.
 
 Fifty two major languages and 
hundreds of dialects are
spoken in Ghana

 On the basis of language and
culture, historical
geographers and cultural
anthropologists classify the
indigenous people of Ghana
into five major groups.
v Akan
v Ewe
v MoleDagbane
v Guan
v Ga-Adangbe.

 Arts and crafts

vIt is a symbol of our

tradition and chieftaincy

vIt is hand-woven
v
v
vThe
v colors and patterns of
the Kente are carefully
chosen by the weaver and the
wearer.

The golden stool The Kente

 Some of our Traditional
Ceremonies include
 Naming Ceremonies  Funeral
 Puberty Ø Festivals
Ø Dipo Ø Aboakye
Ø Bragoro Ø Homowo
 Marriage Ø Fetu-Afahye
Ø Traditional Ø Odwira
Marriage
Ø Wedding
Ø
 Music In Ghana

There are three distinct types of Ghanaian
music:
 Ethnic or traditional music, normally played

during festivals and at funerals

 “Highlife" music, which is a blend of

traditional and ‘imported’ music

 Choral music, which is performed in concert

halls, churches, schools and colleges.

 Hip life:


Contemporary Ghanaian Music

 Beliefs and Values
Ghanaians emphasize communal


We have three (3)basic


values such as:
beliefs 


 Family
  Respect for one another especially the
elderly,

God is a supreme being,



“Do unto others…”
the creator of the


Ø Unity is Strength.
universe and the Ø Everyone has a right to…life, freedom,
sustainer of our lives… 
good health & education

  Respect for tradition


honoring traditional rulers
 We are one nation, one 

people, with a common  The importance of dignity and proper social

destiny 
conduct.

 Individual conduct is seen as having impact on an



entire family, social group and community.

 

 Education is the key to

success
 Our daily lives are built on
proverbs & Wise sayings
Common wise sayings

Typical Ghanaian proverbs


q A stitch in time saves nine… q What an adult sees

q sitting, a child will
q Charity begins at home not see even if he
climbs the eroko
q tree…
q Speech is silver, silence is gold
q
q
q Good name is better than
q A child who says his
riches mother should not
sleep…
q
q Not all that glitters, is gold… 

q 
q The people you meet when
climbing up…
 Education: The key to
success…
 Four Years of Pre- school
Ø Daycare
Ø Kindergarten

 Nine years of Basic education(BECE)
 6yrs Primary
 3yrs Junior High

 Four years of High School ( SHSCE)

 Tertiary Institutions
Ø 3yr Technical College ( Polytechnic)
Ø 3yr College of Education ( Teacher Training)
Ø 3yr College of Health Sciences ( Nursing)
Ø 4yr University
q 7yr Medical School
q 7yrs Law School
 Religion
 Religious make up: Three main religions


Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø

 Why is culture Important to
us???
q Reminds us of our heritage, and also helps to helps to
preserve it
q Gives us a sense of belonging
q Distinct us from the rest of the world
q Teaches us to respect and uphold tradition
q Checks moral behavior
q Binds us together as one nation in Peace and unity



 From the Presentation:
 Basic Knowledge about Ghana
 Culture

q Aspects of Ghanaian Culture


Dress
Food
Beliefs &Values
Religion
Ethnicity
 and crafts Education
Arts
Traditional Ceremonies
Music


Importance of culture to the People of
Ghana
