About 100 language and cultural groupings were identified in Ghana in 1960. Even if the ethnic and cultural makeup of the population was given less weight in successive censuses, by the middle of the 1990s, variations were still present. The Akan, Ewe, Mole-Dagbane, Guan, and Ga-Adangbe are prominent Ghana tribe. Each group’s divisions are united by a common origin, history, language, and cultural legacy. A number of factors, including these shared characteristics, influenced the precolonial period’s state creation. Competition to secure land for farming, control trade routes, or join alliances for security also aided in the development of group cohesiveness and states. A notable illustration of such dynamics at work in Ghana’s past is the formation of the union that eventually became the Asante confederacy in the late seventeenth century.
Precolonial tribal rivalry, variations in colonialism’s effects across the nation, and the unequal distribution of social and economic amenities in Ghana after independence have contributed to current ethnic tensions. Even though there are minor conflicts between tribes in this current era, it is nothing too serious as they used to be. Within these tribes, everyone has their own language, food, culture, dreeing style and more, making every trip unique.
If you are looking to know more about the Ghana tribe then you are on the right page. In this article, Mrpocu.com will outline all tribes in Ghana and all the things you need to know.
List Of All Tribes In Ghana
The Ashanti Tribes
The Ashanti tribe of the Akan is the largest in Ghana, making up around half of the nation’s population. The Ashantis founded an empire in 1670, designated Kumasi as their capital ten years later, and the regions surrounding the city joined this affluent and powerful kingdom. The majority of Ashanti tribe members either speak Twi as their first or second language.
A king or queen, who retains governmental control over the Ashanti country and people, leads the tribe. With an estimated 11 million members now, the Ashantis have survived for centuries thanks to their wealth-preserving economic contributions, which include agricultural exports like coffee and cocoa, diamonds, lumber, and industrial minerals.
The Fantes Tribe
The Fante are a group of people from southern Ghana who live in and around Cape Coast and along the coast between Accra and Sekondi-Takoradi. The tribespeople left the Techiman region in the 17th century and later settled in various small states, each of which has a Fante chief who is a descendant of the monarchy. Several more, more junior subchiefs are placed under this primary chief.
According to estimates, there are roughly 2.5 million Fante people in Ghana today, all of whom are descended from twelve patrilineal clans. Each clan has a set of family names, and the majority of tribal members use an Akan dialect of the Kwa language. Every lineage also has a sacred stool that is an integral part of customary rituals and is thought to house the ancestors’ souls. The Fanti tribe is one of the best tribes in Ghana.
The Ewe Tribe
The Ewe tribe, which makes up 11% of Ghana’s total population, is one of the most well-known in the nation for its long-standing traditions and musical heritage. The Ewe people, who originated in Togo and the Volta region, are mostly farmers and fishermen. However, more recently, they have expanded into weaving and other trades when rainfall has been scarce.
The primary social group for many Ewe tribe members is their extended family, with whom they spend a lot of time. Other distinctive features of this tribe include dancing and drumming, and on important occasions, hunting dances, peace dances, and war dances are frequently performed to the rhythm of drums. The Ewe have the view that if a tribe member is a skilled drummer, they have been imbued with the spirit of an ancestor who possessed the same talent.
The Ga Tribe
Around 2 million people, or 8% of Ghana’s population, are Ga-Adangbe. They primarily reside in Accra, Tema, La, Ningo, Kpone, Prampram, and Ada in the Greater Accra region’s southeast coastal area. Most Ga people are a mixture of traditionalists, Christians, and Muslims.
The huge Homowo festival, which roughly translates as “mocking hunger,” is observed by the Ga people. This celebration honours the end of a severe famine that occurred hundreds of years ago. Asafotu, a yearly festival honouring warriors and observed by the Ada people, is another well-known Ga celebration. The Ga people are noted for their ornate funeral festivities, during which unique coffins that represent a person’s occupation or status in the community are built. The Ga tribe is one of the famous tribes in Ghana.
The Dagomba Tribe
A sizable group of people called the Dagomba live in northern Ghana and Burkina Faso. Dagbani and Hausa are the most widely spoken local languages among these Muslims and traditionalists. The chief’s residence is typically a dome-shaped hut in the centre of the community or elevated above the others in Dagomba villages. Drummers are essential both as court historians and musicians.
The Ya Naa, or King of Absolute Power, is the title of the traditional ruler of the Dagbon people. His cow skin throne can be found in the Ya Naa’s court, which is called Yendi. Monday and Friday mornings in Yendi are often when his court is in session. Dagomba villages celebrate a festival known as Bugun, which means “fire” or “hell,” in commemoration of their ancestors. The festivities start with a large feast and come to a close when everyone gathers together to remember their ancestors and hurl torches.
The Guang Tribe
Ghana is home to the Guan tribespeople, who is said to have spread over the country over a thousand years ago. It is known that a number of subtribes of the Guan people are derived from them, notably the Gonja, who are primarily found in northern Ghana and makeup around a quarter of the entire Guan population.
The Guang tribe, which today includes about 26 ethnic groups, is thought to have been Ghana’s first occupants. Many of the tribal groupings converse in Fante and Guan dialects. The Anum tribe are well-known artisans, while some of the subgroups, like the Gonja, are famed for their historical prowess as warriors.
The Kusasi Tribe
Currently, the Nawku areas in the northern half of the country are home to roughly 400,000 Kusasis. The dominance of Bawku and Paramountcy has been the main source of the current conflict in the relations between the Kusasi and other ethnic groups. These strained ties have also bred racial mistrust and soured relations with their neighbours.
The Mole-Dagbon Tribe
Despite having the potential to be the second most numerous tribe in Ghana, only one in every seven Ghanaians is a member of the Mole-Dagbon tribe. The majority of them reside primarily in the northern regions of the nation, such as Bolgatanga, and are further divided into smaller sub-tribes. The market controlled by this tribe has started to receive notice and recognition on a global scale thanks to their expert art in basket weaving and African crafts.
The Hause Tribe
The majority of the Hausa live in various sections of Togo, Chad, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Nigeria, among other nations. They are by far the largest tribe in all of West Africa. The Hausa language is an Afro-Asianic tongue spoken by the Hausa.
The Rasta Tribe
The 1930s saw the emergence of the Rastafari movement in Jamaica. Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974, is revered by followers of the sect as God manifest, the Second Advent, or the reincarnation of Jesus. According to legend, Haile Selassie was the 225th ruler of the Solomonic Dynasty to rule Ethiopia. Menelik I, the son of the biblical King Solomon and Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, who had visited Solomon in Israel, are claimed to have created this dynasty in the 10th century BC.
The Rastafari movement covers topics including the spiritual use of cannabis and the denial of western culture, sometimes known as “Babylon.” It declares that Africa, commonly referred to as “Zion,” was where humans first evolved. Royalty is another recurring subject, as Rastafarians identify as African royalty and give their names titles like “Prince” or “King” to reflect this.
The world is home to Rastafarian communities. In Ghana, there are a lot of Rastafari temples, especially along the shore. In Ghana, the Rasta neighbourhood near Kokrobite is highly known. Rasta items are sold and there are numerous Rasta music festivals.
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