I know exactly whom your insinuation is pointed at, that desperate Akyem politician calling himself Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo; this combination of Akyem and Akwapim names simply tells you the man adopted both ethnic names ... read full comment
I know exactly whom your insinuation is pointed at, that desperate Akyem politician calling himself Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo; this combination of Akyem and Akwapim names simply tells you the man adopted both ethnic names for political reasons. Remember Akuffo Addo would want us to forget that he was christened Williams and rather prefers to be called Nana. Nana is to help him appeal to the Ghanaian Akan traditional leaders just for politics.It's obvious his Akwapim father didn't give him that string of names, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo. By picking both the Akwapim and Akyem names, William Akuffo Addo's intention was to politically resonate with and appeal to both the Akwapims and the Akyems that he is one of them and therefore they must remember that name when they enter the polling booth. Unfortunately for him, his antics have backfired since no discerning Ghanaian gives a hoot about how he wants to call himself.
KOLA, INSIDE LONDON. 11 years ago
You just know them as they call their names with Nana, very inferior as you spot them.
The educated ones do not use it any more as they can spot the 'inferiority' tagging that goes with it these days.
You just know them as they call their names with Nana, very inferior as you spot them.
The educated ones do not use it any more as they can spot the 'inferiority' tagging that goes with it these days.
NDC Homosexuality & Lesbian is our pr 11 years ago
I disagree with the writer, someone is called Abugri and it is a name so I wonder why you have spent your time to write this article.
Anyway, your article is meaningless to me that is my opinion.
I disagree with the writer, someone is called Abugri and it is a name so I wonder why you have spent your time to write this article.
Anyway, your article is meaningless to me that is my opinion.
Kassim Yussif 11 years ago
Indeed Antubam, as youir name suggests and means you really did not copme to meet your father alive. Tjhus you had no man to instil family and traditional discipline in your brains. A BUFOON of a columnist.
Indeed Antubam, as youir name suggests and means you really did not copme to meet your father alive. Tjhus you had no man to instil family and traditional discipline in your brains. A BUFOON of a columnist.
PHILTY McNASTY 11 years ago
Say it again, Kassim. The writer is a buffoon.
His beef is with the culture of some people which he does not understand and admits he does not care about. In short he is inbred bigot, what he does not understand he must po ... read full comment
Say it again, Kassim. The writer is a buffoon.
His beef is with the culture of some people which he does not understand and admits he does not care about. In short he is inbred bigot, what he does not understand he must pour scorn on it. Antobam indeed. He never met his father and and thus lacked certain proper upbringing.
He probably has a western Christian or family name but purposely withheld that for obvious reasons. He comes from the part of the country who exhibit most brainwashed colonial mindset, to the extent that even the educated amongst them have all aspects of their name westernized, eg John Evans Mills' Pratt, Arthur Kennedy, Woods, Sam, etc. Adwee like that.
OH GHFUO, WHY SO PRIMITIVE? 11 years ago
I WAS TOLD ITS A TITLE. I WAS BORN IN TORONTO, MY FIRST NAME IS NANA. I ASKED MY DAD WHY HE GAVEME THIS FIRST NAME. HE SAID HE HAD WANTED TO NAME ME QUINCY, AND THEN CHANGED HIS MIND. HE SIMPLY BRUSHED IT AWAY. AS AKID, I WAS ... read full comment
I WAS TOLD ITS A TITLE. I WAS BORN IN TORONTO, MY FIRST NAME IS NANA. I ASKED MY DAD WHY HE GAVEME THIS FIRST NAME. HE SAID HE HAD WANTED TO NAME ME QUINCY, AND THEN CHANGED HIS MIND. HE SIMPLY BRUSHED IT AWAY. AS AKID, I WAS TEASED A LOT IN SCHOOL. SO I SIMPLY BEAT UP MY CLASSMATES. SO I WAS TOLD ANYWAY. I WAS SO NOTORIOUS, THE TEACHERS USED TO TALK TO PARENTS ABOUT ME. I PROLLY WOULD HAVE ENDED UP IN JAIL HAD I NOT BEEN SHIPPED TO GH. AS AN ADULT, I HAVE HAD SOME NEGATIVITY WITH THIS "TITLE". WHITEFOLK THINK IM ROYALTY. THEY ARE NOT VERY WELCOMING OF MY FIRST NAME. I HAVE HAD THOUGHTS OF CHANGING MY NAME. IVE EVEN HAD WHITE FOLK ASK ME TO CHANGE MY FIRST NAME TO "FIT IN". I SAID SCREW THEM. VERY SOON, THEY WILL TELL ME TO BLEACH MYSELF LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON. I DONT CARE ANYMORE. WHATEVER WILL BE WILL BE. MY MOM EVEN THINKS I SHOULD MOVE BACK TO GH, WHERE AS THE TV SHOW CHEERS WILL SAY" WHERE EVERYONE KNOW YOUR NAME" BUT I SIMPLY DONT CARE ANYMORE. I WILL ACCEPT IT, AND WONT CHANGE IT. IVE SEEN LESS INTELLIGENT/LESS FANCIED FOREIGN STUDENTS WITH ENGLISH NAMES GET NODS OVER ME SIMPLY BECOS OF MY FIRST NAME. ITS FUNNY....
I THINK IVE DONE WELL FOR MYSELF ALL THESE YRS. IF MY FIRST NAME WERE ENGLISH, THINGS WILL DEFINITELY BE MUCH SIMPLER AND EASIER, U KNOW. LESS COMPLICATED. LIFE GOES ON AND I WILL SURVIVE....
Nana Bawuah 11 years ago
cultural illiteracy is something! A widespread disease among the ghanaian society.
Nana has several meanings. It can be the appelation of a traditional ruler. Nana Barima goes for a paternal grand-parent, Nana Baa for a ma ... read full comment
cultural illiteracy is something! A widespread disease among the ghanaian society.
Nana has several meanings. It can be the appelation of a traditional ruler. Nana Barima goes for a paternal grand-parent, Nana Baa for a maternal grand-parent and Nana Obaa means grandchild. You may as well adress an elderly family member or your father brothers as Nana out of respect (i.e. great ancestor).Nana was the ancient Babylonian Goddess, she was the wife of God Nebo, and was worshipped since 2000 B/C. Our ancestors in Mesophotamia also referred to the Moon God as Nana. An Ohemaa among the Akan is regarded as representing the mother-moon-godess (symbolizying all female aspects of Nyame, the creator). While the Ohene symbolizes the son of sun god (whose mother is the moon). Hence, we have the saying "Ohemaa ye bosom, na ohene ye awia"
We Akans are Hebrew-Aramaic folk of Jewish religion and culture..The first Akan was the son of Ezer, the son of Seir the Horite, the first foreign conqueror of Egypt. The second Akan was a descendant of Juda and the third, a descendant of Gad, all belonged to the twelve tribes of Israel. Akan folk in this sense, are made up of Isreal-Edomites, Twi (Tawi/Egyptians) and Babylonians.
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 11 years ago
Nana Bawuah, I agree with you that Nana is not necessarily for chiefs, grand parents or the elderly. The writer claimed children in Ghana are named after grandparents. That is wrong and not true. In addition to grand parent ... read full comment
Nana Bawuah, I agree with you that Nana is not necessarily for chiefs, grand parents or the elderly. The writer claimed children in Ghana are named after grandparents. That is wrong and not true. In addition to grand parents, children in Ghana are also named after someone elderly in the family, some respectable member of society or even someone who has done something of value to the parents or family. Again, like the writer's name, one could be named after an event or the name tells a story, etc. Nana is not only for chiefs, grandparents or the elderly but also used for respect. If a child is named after grandparents or great grandparents s/he could be called Nana despite the fact that s/he is a baby or child to show respect to the age of the person who bears the original name.
Yes, Nana has lost it importance in Ghana but the real title that is being abused in Ghana is "Honourable". Even the dishonourable is called honourable in Ghana.
Nana Bawuah 11 years ago
Yes, you are right!
Children as far as Akan society is concerned are named after one of their maternal ancestors (generally a respected one or of great fame). As for soul/day (kradin) names its a different issue, because unl ... read full comment
Yes, you are right!
Children as far as Akan society is concerned are named after one of their maternal ancestors (generally a respected one or of great fame). As for soul/day (kradin) names its a different issue, because unlike our "mogya-blood", the soul (okra/ntoro) is believed to be transfered from father to child. That is why certain stools, which demand the skill for performing special assignments are paternal stools, i.e. Bantama (Kontire) stool. Then there are names given for certain events.
There are also names which are actually not names, but used to be titles such as "Agyeman" just to mention one example. By the way, Nana is just one title for a traditional ruler. There are many titles for each important ruler of its stool such as Otumfuo, Daasebre, Barima, Osagyefuo, Katakyie etc.
"Honourable", "Excellency" etc. is a british traditon, such titles for politicians cannot be found anywhere else in the western world. These titles are ridiculous. Nkrumah was very good at showering ridiculous titles upon himself such as "Showboy", "His essianic Dedication", "Osagyefo","Fount of Honour", etc.
Nana Bawuah 11 years ago
Some time ago, I saw a documentary on GTV or TV3, where they were trying to give the history of a town. They then stated that until now they didnt know that villages, towns and cities have names based on historical events. I ... read full comment
Some time ago, I saw a documentary on GTV or TV3, where they were trying to give the history of a town. They then stated that until now they didnt know that villages, towns and cities have names based on historical events. I could not believe my ears. This tells you how cultural illierate our society has become. Today you can even ask many young Akans, what clan they belongs to and they will respond Akyem, Akuapem etc., which are just Akan states, but not clans.
Nana Yaw III 11 years ago
.... I mean the last paragraph... You believe in this crap?
With all these ancestry tracking and we are so backward in some of our traditions? eg. human sacrifices; physically impaired been classified as unfit in the prese ... read full comment
.... I mean the last paragraph... You believe in this crap?
With all these ancestry tracking and we are so backward in some of our traditions? eg. human sacrifices; physically impaired been classified as unfit in the presence of a chief; storing of corpses for weeks and months before burial? Somebody help me!
Nana Bawuah 11 years ago
You see what cultural illiteracy does to you? It makes you spewing out propaganda and falsehood. Akan is one of the oldest race on earth, we have established many great kingdoms from Mesophotomaia to Nubia to Kush to Egypt to ... read full comment
You see what cultural illiteracy does to you? It makes you spewing out propaganda and falsehood. Akan is one of the oldest race on earth, we have established many great kingdoms from Mesophotomaia to Nubia to Kush to Egypt to the formation of the ancient Ghana empire. Our footprints can be found all over. Upon all those stolen religion, culture and cilivization of the Akan they still give us the impression, they are the civilized ones, even though, they are still living at the expense of our civlization just under a different name, believing we will ever remain blind.Africans are to blame for it, because we have not been able to assert our authority and civilisation for people to appreciate that we knew democracy and civilization before the advent of Western democracy. Because if we are able to assert ourselves with our own identity as Africans, to tell people that this is our way of life, this is how we live, this is the way we do things, this is our type of civilisation, they wouldn't be able to portray us in the way they do.
The first europeans (including the British) entering our soil touted us as one of the most civilized people they had come across on the african continent. In reference to our highly sophisticated form of administration, legal system, social system, abundant wealth and remarkable city states with multiple storey buildings and beautiful alleys our ancestors had put in place. Africa is mighty, but we are making it weak by not believing in ourselfs. In fact, our so called illiterate ancestors were far more advanced than our present generation which pride itself with having gone through western education.
If you really have a problem with your own culture, then you must stop practising it! You must stop in performing Akan naming ceremonies, stop conducting funerals in the Akan fashion, stop pouring libation, stop engaging in Akan festivals such as Akwasidae, stop the practise of customary marriages, even stop bearing an Akan soul/day name, since it has a spiritual connection to the cosmology of the Akan people. You must also avoid praising Nyame/Nyankopon since this is how the Akans referred to their creator.You must stop practising all aspects of our culture.One cannot say I embrace my culture, but I reject the spiritual aspect of it.This is not possible, one does not exist without the other. Our culture is deeply rooted in our religious/spiritual beliefs.
Nana Yaw III 11 years ago
Me spewing out propaganda and falsehood???? You make me laugh. Did you understand what I wrote before embarking on the lecture? I thought Akan folklore has it that we (I'm part Akan) emerged from a hole somewhere in the for ... read full comment
Me spewing out propaganda and falsehood???? You make me laugh. Did you understand what I wrote before embarking on the lecture? I thought Akan folklore has it that we (I'm part Akan) emerged from a hole somewhere in the forest of modern day Ghana.
They stole our "religion, culture and cilivization" and left us with no brain and memory to move forward?
How do "they" potray us? Is their portrait much different from the way we live to-day?
The reports of the early europeans about us stiil lives and were reflections of what they saw. What you wrote in your second paragraph has nothing to do with the cultural bankruptcy we have imposed on ourselves to-day that we tout as African.
For your information, keeping dead bodies in a morgue for an average of 4 weeks has nothing to do with akan (and for that matter, any ghanaian) culture or tradition.
I really am not sure if your response has to do with my thread. If it is so, then I beg to tell you that denouncing "human sacrifices" and meetings with "physically impaired persons" in today's world cannot be described as a rejection one's culture.
Nana Bawuah 11 years ago
"Me spewing out propaganda and falsehood????"
Yes you doing this par excellence! No, some of our ancestresses are said to have emerged from the ground at Asantemanso in the state of Asumegya and Adanse. But this is not the ... read full comment
"Me spewing out propaganda and falsehood????"
Yes you doing this par excellence! No, some of our ancestresses are said to have emerged from the ground at Asantemanso in the state of Asumegya and Adanse. But this is not the birth of the Akan race nor our place of origin. We do not originate from present day Ghana or Ivory Coast, not even from West-Africa. These are only our final settlements.
"How do "they" potray us? Is their portrait much different from the way we live to-day?"
As a savage people.
We live the way we live today, because we are suffering from mental slavery and adore everything that is foreign and reject everything that is native.
"For your information, keeping dead bodies in a morgue for an average of 4 weeks has nothing to do with akan (and for that matter, any ghanaian) culture or tradition."
Where did I write so?
"I beg to tell you that denouncing "human sacrifices" and meetings with "physically impaired persons" in today's world cannot be described as a rejection one's culture."
Human sacrifices have never been part of our culture.Degenerating African religions saying its backward and babaric is far from the truth. Its very sophisticated, if you take the time to analyze it.Trying to push away African spirituality without making an effort to understand it, will surely lead you astray. We do not discriminate handicaped people, but they are not entitled to occupy certain positions. If you knew your culture, then you would understand, why it is that way. Why don`t you go and tell the Vatican that he is backward because no woman or physically impaired person can become pope? Why dont you ask him to stop making sacrifices? Why dont you ask him to stop oppressing women?
"hey stole our "religion, culture and cilivization" and left us with no brain and memory to move forward?"
Of course there is a way forward, get rid of mentally enslaved minds, believing in ourselves, getting rid of foreign instiutions and idealogoies, embrace our culture and do it on our own. Then we shall reclaim our position and greatness of the past.
Nana Yaw III 11 years ago
Which of them emerged from the wholes? And which migrated from Mespotamia?
If they portray "us" as savage it is in part due to our behaviour. Is anyone imposing the foreign ways on you (us)?
You did not write anything ... read full comment
Which of them emerged from the wholes? And which migrated from Mespotamia?
If they portray "us" as savage it is in part due to our behaviour. Is anyone imposing the foreign ways on you (us)?
You did not write anything about our "modern" funeral system. I denounced it as part of our so-called "tradition/custom".
Where do you live? If human sacrifices have not been part of our culture what role has it played in our "ancestral system?" You are there defending the descrimination of physically impaired in this modern day, and you are proud of that? Can't you realise that times have changed and we must adapt to the changing times? I know my culture, and fortunately we do not make such descriminations.
You see, I'm not a catholic so I do not care what the Pope does, but I do not know what sacrifices he is making in the vatican. Enlighten me.
My reference to our "brain and memory" had to do with what happened to us when "they" stole it. We went blank????
Finally, "getting rid of foreign institutions and idealogies" is not (and cannot be) the way forward. The best we can do is to take the best of both worlds, adapt them to our situation and move forward!
Nana Bawuah 11 years ago
"I know my culture, and fortunately we do not make such descriminations."
Unfortunately you have not the slightest clue about Akan culture!
"Which of them emerged from the wholes? And which migrated from Mespotamia?"
... read full comment
"I know my culture, and fortunately we do not make such descriminations."
Unfortunately you have not the slightest clue about Akan culture!
"Which of them emerged from the wholes? And which migrated from Mespotamia?"
For instance the ancestress of the Adako/Oyoko clan of Kumasi/Kokofu and Nsuta named Nana Ikurru emerged from Asantemanso. But this is not even the place where she appeared the first time. She moved together with her sister Nana Adifa (ancestress of the Oyoko-Juaben people) they already stayed together at Timbuktu/Djenne in present day area of Mali, which was then part of the Ghana empire. The ancestress of the Bretuo and Tena clan (i.e. Mampong/Gyamase-Jamasi) emerged at Adanse. In fact, it is said the ancestresses of both the Bretuo and Tena clan emerged from the ground, but the ancestresses of the Tena clan immediately disappeared into the ground again (Tena is the sister clan of Bretuo clan). The ancestress of the Asona clan (i.e. Offinso, Ejisu, Akyem-Abuakwa) emerged at Adanse.
A similar story can be found among other native people such as the Maori people of Polynesia and the Hopi Indians. The people of ancient Sybiria (Mongolia) claim that the first true shamanism were women, who were very powerful. Some men wanted to capture them to steal there power, but they did not get caught. They finally ended up into an underground cave sanctuary. Periodically they would send some of their women to send out to see if it was safe.Siberian shaman is almost identical to that of the Akan.In addition, they call their spirit mount an 'oboo'. This is made from stones to house a territorial spirit. Among the Akan, the word for stone is "obo" And the term for nature spirits is "obo-som" (literally, "stone worship"). This phrase then evolved into a word that referred to all nature spirits as 'obosom' or 'abosom'.
A large section of the Akans migrated from the present day area of the Middle East of the Seir Mountains and were originally part of the Horite Group. As I already said,the first Akan was the son of Ezer, the son of Seir the Horite, the first foreign conqueror of Egypt. The second Akan was a descendant of Juda and the third, a descendant of Gad, all belonged to the twelve tribes of Israel.
"If they portray "us" as savage it is in part due to our behaviour. Is anyone imposing the foreign ways on you (us)?"
No, it is not due to our behaviour. Go and read reports of people like Rattray, Dupuis, Meyerowitz, Reindorf etc. who stayed with the Akans, in particular Asantes to study their culture and traditions. Even the British condemned the likes of McCarthy. Finally he was crushed into pieces because he did not know anything about his so called barbaric enemies. Yes, the had been imposing themselves on us and only a few were able to resist such as Asante.
I dont support the idea of dividing one people "often of the same blood lineage" by artificial colonial boundaries. I don`t support an institution, which is based on the idealogoies of a colonial government. I have a problem with this whole system of "Westminster type" and "American type" of democracy in Africa. We have fashioned democracy without looking at our own peculiar systems of administration. We borrowed wholesale from the Western type of democracy without looking at our peculiarities as Africans, as Ghanaians. What was the system we were operating before the coming of the Europeans? How did we live, how did we govern ourselves before the coming of Western democracy? Who decides the four-year and five-year terms? Is it the people of Africa, of Ghana, or have we borrowed it because the Westminster type of democracy has a four-year or five-year term for the prime minister? Democracy had existed in Africa for aeons before the coming of the Europeans. We had our own system of governance which gave everybody the chance to air their views, people would call their own witnesses in judicial matters, we had our own systems of administration at the community and nation-state level, everywhere! And therefore, if we were fashioning this democratic, whatever it is now, couldn't we have looked at the circumstances within the African continent and designed some type of democracy that best suited Africa?
while traditional institutions’ roots are ancient, they are a repository of the history and the collective experience of a people. The history and the experience are the foundations on which solid modern institutions are built. Nothing emanates from a vacuum.Clearly, modernity requires more than mere institutions. It demands an evolution in the thinking of a people. Evolution in this sense is a gradual refinement of the fundamental ways of thinking and institutions of the people. Our post-colonial leaders did not seem to understand this fact. They adopted colonial institutions wholesale.
The problem for post-colonial African governments seeking to attain legitimacy is two-fold: One, the institutions they are basing their authority on are foreign. Two, since there were, and is, a multitude of traditional institutions with legitimacy and authority among the different ethnic communities in any given nation, it’s not efficient nor desirable, to have one uniform, blanket administrative approach in all regions. This argument necessarily leads to a federal arrangement that allows local government units flexibility in their political and administrative arrangements.It is no wonder then that most African constitutions are not quite worth the paper they are written on. Most start with an underlying premise that the people’s indigenous traditions, including their wisdom in matters of local governance, are best suppressed in favor of poorly understood foreign models.
In most parts of the western world you do not even find "centralized republics", but either federal republics (such as Germany) or a unitary/federal parliamentary constitutional monarchies such as Holland, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium etc.). The last big centralized socialistic republic was the former republic of East Germany, which was a dictatorship.
With whom are you trading with, with your own people from Ivory Coast, Togo etc? No, you are dealing with your former colonial masters or should I say you allow yourself to be exploited. If there was a west-african regional trading block, we would be very powerful, but this is not the case. Small countries trying to negoiate with big industrial countries and will always lose out, because they are politically weak. They even tell you in what you have to invest. Look for instance, at the Bretton Woods System, its gone wrong.
"You did not write anything about our "modern" funeral system. I denounced it as part of our so-called "tradition/custom".
I mentioned traditional Akan funerals. If you dont know what this is all about, then its not my fault. Do you know, why there are no funeral ceremonies for deceased children? Do you know, why we perform "awakening" one day before the actual burial? Do you know, why we dress a deceased person the way we do? Do you know why powder is showered upon a member of the deceased one? Do you know why siblings of the deceased are not allowed to go to his burial grounds? But only the children and grandchildren? Do you know why we perform celebrations after mourning time? Do you know why we perform such big funerals? Do you even know, why we pour libation? I am afraid, you dont even know the difference between a black, red and white cloth and who is supposed to wear which one.
"Where do you live? If human sacrifices have not been part of our culture what role has it played in our "ancestral system?"
I live in Germany, but also spend considerable amount of time at the Adako-Jachie and Asaman (Konya) a year. Will soon relocate entirely. I am Nana Kwabena Agyeman of the Nsuta-Adako royal family of Adako-Jachie, Bonkron and Asaman. Named after my grand-uncle, Nana Kwabena Agyeman who doubled as Adako-Jachiehene and Asamanhene and was the halfbrother of Asantehene, Nana Agyeman Prempeh I. Human sacrifices have never been part of our culture. Indeed discrimination against any of our fellow citizen is a capital punishement, this is even enshrined the Akan laws. Not even a royal was allowed to do so. An occupant of a stool must be without blemish due to his function. Which you dont seem to be aware of. Even if has a scar on his face, he is not qualified to occupy a stool. This is not about discriminating impaired persons. I guess you dont even know, why you dont talk to a traditional ruler directly, but through his linguist.Yes, we can adapt ourselves to suit certain circumstances such as the computer age and suchlike, but we are Africans and we, like all the other peoples of the world, have our own unique way of life that we must assert.We shouldn't negate the fact that we have our own identity as human beings, as Africans, and that identity must be protected.Once we feel inferior, it is our own making, we weaken ourselves so that when we meet the white man or his Western type of civilisation or whatever, we feel that we must adapt to suit his circumstances.That is why we feel that Western democracy or civilisation is superior to the African type of democracy or civilization--because we are negating our own civilised systems of administration and copying blindly from the West.
"You see, I'm not a catholic so I do not care what the Pope does, but I do not know what sacrifices he is making in the vatican. Enlighten me."
Christians do make sacrifices, during any holy communion they are drinking the blood of Jesus Christ.The Latin word sacrificium, ‘sacrifice’, is derived from sacrum facere, "to make holy". In Catholic liturgy, to make something holy is to set it apart by "consecration". The Christians use this word for the central moment of the Mass when the priest says the words of Jesus Christ at the Last Supper over the bread and wine in front of an altar. There do exist various occult symbols and items. Ironically you can even find many Akan symbols in the western churches, which they claim to be their own.How many people have died in the name of Christ, Christianity and Catholicism? Thousands and millions were killed, who refused to accept Christianity and their holy places being destroyed.Entire cities had been wiped out in the name of Christianity. Not to mention the numerous religious wars i.e. Catholic extermination camps,Catholic terror in Vietnam,Rwanda Massacres (where the catholic church had been actively involved) of course it does not end there, it goes on with the killings of Indians in South America etc.
"Finally, "getting rid of foreign institutions and idealogies" is not (and cannot be) the way forward. The best we can do is to take the best of both worlds, adapt them to our situation and move forward!"
I dont believe in colonial boundaries and this silly colonial construct called the "Republic of Ghana".
Nana Yaw III 11 years ago
Nana Bawuah, the day is gone and I do not know if you will be back to this thread. I will leave this just in case: my email is nanayawiii@gmail.com. You can contact me if you want to continue this discussion. I am happy fo ... read full comment
Nana Bawuah, the day is gone and I do not know if you will be back to this thread. I will leave this just in case: my email is nanayawiii@gmail.com. You can contact me if you want to continue this discussion. I am happy for one thing - that it has not been characterised by insults.
Now, to the issues raised. It looks as if we are riding on parallels. I have been referring to the present things we are doing and calling ghanaian culture and tradiitions, like the bigtime funerals we are organising, like some chiefs saying it's a taboo for the Minister of the National House of Chiefs to be a blind man (he is not a royal, and the position of a minister is neither a royal one), etc.
On the other hand you have gone back to trace some ancestry from Mespotamia (that sincerely I do not believe) and you are talking about sacrifices of the Catholic church in the past. I am talking about human sacrifices in the some Ghanaian traditional systems today - and they exist clandestinely. It may not be occuring in your royal house, but it is alleged to be happening especially before an enstoolment of burial of a chief. Check this out.
With regards to African political organisation, I love what we had, and continue to have in our towns and villages. But it looks as if time is overtaking us, and our political class will not allow us to go back to the "good old days" and make them (the politiicians, political scientists) redundant. Let me add that it started when our own brothers and sisters, parents, and grandparents sidestepped the chiefs of this land for lack of education and placed themselves in the legislative assembly in the 1940s.
Current developments make it impossible for us to go back (politically speaking) to those years.
Finally you may not believe in colonial boundaries and the Republic of Ghana, but that is the set-up whose passport you may be holding.
Nana Bawuah 11 years ago
Nana Yaw, I tried to write you an e-mail, but I received a message, that your e-mail adress "nanayawiii@gmail.com" does not exist.
Nana Yaw, I tried to write you an e-mail, but I received a message, that your e-mail adress "nanayawiii@gmail.com" does not exist.
Nana Bawuah 11 years ago
you can contact me on nka@arcor.de
you can contact me on nka@arcor.de
Nana Yaw III 11 years ago
I tried but your did not go either.
I made a mistake in mine.
The complete address is nanayawiiigh@gmail.com
I tried but your did not go either.
I made a mistake in mine.
The complete address is nanayawiiigh@gmail.com
ANGELO ALLIEVI 11 years ago
My name is Angelo
I was in ghana in 1966-1967 during the construction of the akosombo dam
the installation of the equipment for the electrical network.
I met a very kind lady who helped me so much and you
called Flor ... read full comment
My name is Angelo
I was in ghana in 1966-1967 during the construction of the akosombo dam
the installation of the equipment for the electrical network.
I met a very kind lady who helped me so much and you
called Florence NANA Agyeman, explaining that NANA indicated that
his family was of rank and therefore very important. This was the
explanation of the meaning of NANA. I am convinced that it is also true
why other people treated with much respect, as was
a boss or a Chief's daughter.
I'm trying to contacted but I notice that it is very difficult
I told him that was not on the map but kukurantumi appears and
Old friends and colleagues I and remained on track. I joined the
Ghanaweb leaving some photos of that time and maybe happen to find
An email from an old co-worker.
Have a nice day
Angelo Allievi
ATAKORA BEDIAKO 11 years ago
IF YOU SPENT YOUR TIME TO WRITE ABOUT PEOPLE USING UNDESERVING ACADEMIC TITLES, I WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH YOU. BUT I DO NOT SEE YOUR BEEF WITH SOMEBODY'S NAME.IT IS ALL MISCHIEF AND NOTHING ELSE.WHAT GOOD WILL YOUR ARTICLE DO ... read full comment
IF YOU SPENT YOUR TIME TO WRITE ABOUT PEOPLE USING UNDESERVING ACADEMIC TITLES, I WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH YOU. BUT I DO NOT SEE YOUR BEEF WITH SOMEBODY'S NAME.IT IS ALL MISCHIEF AND NOTHING ELSE.WHAT GOOD WILL YOUR ARTICLE DO YOU OR FOR THAT MATTER YOUR READERS??/
tertia 11 years ago
whatis wrong with this writer,is like u know nothing about ghanaian tradition,is not a force to write this rabish ok,y, havent u leaved in ghana b4 or studied in ghana,masa if u know notin just shutup ok,i think atumbam is th ... read full comment
whatis wrong with this writer,is like u know nothing about ghanaian tradition,is not a force to write this rabish ok,y, havent u leaved in ghana b4 or studied in ghana,masa if u know notin just shutup ok,i think atumbam is the best name i will call u for writing this cript,waboog papapa
NANA NYANSA, GERMANY 11 years ago
YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG !!! YES INDEED IN THE AKAN CUSTOM NANA IS FIRST, THE DIRECT TITLE FOR THE CHIEF OF THE TOWN, THEN SECOND, TO THE GRANDPARENTS; FOR PARENTS HAVE TO WAIT TWO OR MORE DECADES TO BE BECOME GRANDPARENTS. WHY C ... read full comment
YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG !!! YES INDEED IN THE AKAN CUSTOM NANA IS FIRST, THE DIRECT TITLE FOR THE CHIEF OF THE TOWN, THEN SECOND, TO THE GRANDPARENTS; FOR PARENTS HAVE TO WAIT TWO OR MORE DECADES TO BE BECOME GRANDPARENTS. WHY CHILDREN ARE CALL NANA ? IN THE AKAN CUSTOM WHEN A CHILD IS NAMED AFTER A CHIEF OR ABUSUAPANIN FOR RESPECT´S SAKE YOU DON´T CALL THE CHILD THE GIVEN NAME BUT RATHER NANA. MANY GHANAIANS DO SEE ANYTHING WRONG. WHAT ABOUT GHANAINS USING THE ENGLISH ALPHABET TO WRITE THEIR NAMES ??? WHAT ABOUT GHANAINS USING EUROPEAN NAMES ?? THINK DEEP KOBINA ANTOBAM!!!
Akora Oteng 11 years ago
" ANTOBAM" means one who did not meet his/her parent(s). I understand why you may be confused or jealous about those who met and are/were named after their Grand parents.There is always something in a name.
" ANTOBAM" means one who did not meet his/her parent(s). I understand why you may be confused or jealous about those who met and are/were named after their Grand parents.There is always something in a name.
Omanbapa Osei Oy3ade3yie 11 years ago
Antobam means exactly what you mean, but it does not mean any person called Antobam did not meet their father - the name has become a Last / Family name and has nothing to do with its lexical meaning!
Okumnipa (Murderer), ... read full comment
Antobam means exactly what you mean, but it does not mean any person called Antobam did not meet their father - the name has become a Last / Family name and has nothing to do with its lexical meaning!
Okumnipa (Murderer), Odiawuo (Killer) , Donkor (Slave), Bonsam (the Devil), Sono (elephant) are among names that have become Last names and have nothing to do with their lexical meaning.
Nii Akompi Ofadi-Nsuro 11 years ago
I believe the name Ni or Nii & Nana became popular during Jerry Rawlings time. I was born Ni you can never call me Koi because as said I am born Nikoi. Why are they calling themselfs Nii Ayitey, Nii Lamptey & Nana Yaw?
So ... read full comment
I believe the name Ni or Nii & Nana became popular during Jerry Rawlings time. I was born Ni you can never call me Koi because as said I am born Nikoi. Why are they calling themselfs Nii Ayitey, Nii Lamptey & Nana Yaw?
So are you going to call me Nii Nikoi?
Chia Po!
Tina usa 11 years ago
It hope fire
It hope fire
Tina usa 11 years ago
Live nana alone antobam
Live nana alone antobam
oldtimo 11 years ago
Start asking an American friend a simple question - what is your birthday? He/she will give you date of birth and not a day of birth. If you are an American citizen, during the ceremony of citizenship you are asked the ques ... read full comment
Start asking an American friend a simple question - what is your birthday? He/she will give you date of birth and not a day of birth. If you are an American citizen, during the ceremony of citizenship you are asked the question, what name do you call yourself? You choose what name you want - no question asked. I understand why a friend named Kofi in Ghana is called Nana Kofi in America. Stop opening the eyes of dead people before you find (nsaman) some kind of insects I cannot think of the actual mane now. Please let the sleeping dog lie. AND I THANK YOU.
Michael 8 years ago
Your comments about the word gay show that your are prejudiced.
Your comments about the word gay show that your are prejudiced.
And his entire npp clowns!
I know exactly whom your insinuation is pointed at, that desperate Akyem politician calling himself Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo; this combination of Akyem and Akwapim names simply tells you the man adopted both ethnic names ...
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You just know them as they call their names with Nana, very inferior as you spot them.
The educated ones do not use it any more as they can spot the 'inferiority' tagging that goes with it these days.
I disagree with the writer, someone is called Abugri and it is a name so I wonder why you have spent your time to write this article.
Anyway, your article is meaningless to me that is my opinion.
Indeed Antubam, as youir name suggests and means you really did not copme to meet your father alive. Tjhus you had no man to instil family and traditional discipline in your brains. A BUFOON of a columnist.
Say it again, Kassim. The writer is a buffoon.
His beef is with the culture of some people which he does not understand and admits he does not care about. In short he is inbred bigot, what he does not understand he must po ...
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I WAS TOLD ITS A TITLE. I WAS BORN IN TORONTO, MY FIRST NAME IS NANA. I ASKED MY DAD WHY HE GAVEME THIS FIRST NAME. HE SAID HE HAD WANTED TO NAME ME QUINCY, AND THEN CHANGED HIS MIND. HE SIMPLY BRUSHED IT AWAY. AS AKID, I WAS ...
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cultural illiteracy is something! A widespread disease among the ghanaian society.
Nana has several meanings. It can be the appelation of a traditional ruler. Nana Barima goes for a paternal grand-parent, Nana Baa for a ma ...
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Nana Bawuah, I agree with you that Nana is not necessarily for chiefs, grand parents or the elderly. The writer claimed children in Ghana are named after grandparents. That is wrong and not true. In addition to grand parent ...
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Yes, you are right!
Children as far as Akan society is concerned are named after one of their maternal ancestors (generally a respected one or of great fame). As for soul/day (kradin) names its a different issue, because unl ...
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Some time ago, I saw a documentary on GTV or TV3, where they were trying to give the history of a town. They then stated that until now they didnt know that villages, towns and cities have names based on historical events. I ...
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.... I mean the last paragraph... You believe in this crap?
With all these ancestry tracking and we are so backward in some of our traditions? eg. human sacrifices; physically impaired been classified as unfit in the prese ...
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You see what cultural illiteracy does to you? It makes you spewing out propaganda and falsehood. Akan is one of the oldest race on earth, we have established many great kingdoms from Mesophotomaia to Nubia to Kush to Egypt to ...
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Me spewing out propaganda and falsehood???? You make me laugh. Did you understand what I wrote before embarking on the lecture? I thought Akan folklore has it that we (I'm part Akan) emerged from a hole somewhere in the for ...
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"Me spewing out propaganda and falsehood????"
Yes you doing this par excellence! No, some of our ancestresses are said to have emerged from the ground at Asantemanso in the state of Asumegya and Adanse. But this is not the ...
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Which of them emerged from the wholes? And which migrated from Mespotamia?
If they portray "us" as savage it is in part due to our behaviour. Is anyone imposing the foreign ways on you (us)?
You did not write anything ...
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"I know my culture, and fortunately we do not make such descriminations."
Unfortunately you have not the slightest clue about Akan culture!
"Which of them emerged from the wholes? And which migrated from Mespotamia?"
...
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Nana Bawuah, the day is gone and I do not know if you will be back to this thread. I will leave this just in case: my email is nanayawiii@gmail.com. You can contact me if you want to continue this discussion. I am happy fo ...
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Nana Yaw, I tried to write you an e-mail, but I received a message, that your e-mail adress "nanayawiii@gmail.com" does not exist.
you can contact me on nka@arcor.de
I tried but your did not go either.
I made a mistake in mine.
The complete address is nanayawiiigh@gmail.com
My name is Angelo
I was in ghana in 1966-1967 during the construction of the akosombo dam
the installation of the equipment for the electrical network.
I met a very kind lady who helped me so much and you
called Flor ...
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IF YOU SPENT YOUR TIME TO WRITE ABOUT PEOPLE USING UNDESERVING ACADEMIC TITLES, I WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH YOU. BUT I DO NOT SEE YOUR BEEF WITH SOMEBODY'S NAME.IT IS ALL MISCHIEF AND NOTHING ELSE.WHAT GOOD WILL YOUR ARTICLE DO ...
read full comment
whatis wrong with this writer,is like u know nothing about ghanaian tradition,is not a force to write this rabish ok,y, havent u leaved in ghana b4 or studied in ghana,masa if u know notin just shutup ok,i think atumbam is th ...
read full comment
YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG !!! YES INDEED IN THE AKAN CUSTOM NANA IS FIRST, THE DIRECT TITLE FOR THE CHIEF OF THE TOWN, THEN SECOND, TO THE GRANDPARENTS; FOR PARENTS HAVE TO WAIT TWO OR MORE DECADES TO BE BECOME GRANDPARENTS. WHY C ...
read full comment
" ANTOBAM" means one who did not meet his/her parent(s). I understand why you may be confused or jealous about those who met and are/were named after their Grand parents.There is always something in a name.
Antobam means exactly what you mean, but it does not mean any person called Antobam did not meet their father - the name has become a Last / Family name and has nothing to do with its lexical meaning!
Okumnipa (Murderer), ...
read full comment
I believe the name Ni or Nii & Nana became popular during Jerry Rawlings time. I was born Ni you can never call me Koi because as said I am born Nikoi. Why are they calling themselfs Nii Ayitey, Nii Lamptey & Nana Yaw?
So ...
read full comment
It hope fire
Live nana alone antobam
Start asking an American friend a simple question - what is your birthday? He/she will give you date of birth and not a day of birth. If you are an American citizen, during the ceremony of citizenship you are asked the ques ...
read full comment
Your comments about the word gay show that your are prejudiced.