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Basic 3 · History · The People of Ghana

How We Learn Where Our People Came From

In this topic you will learn what "origin" means and how we find out where ethnic groups came from.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Explain the meaning of origin
  • Name sources that tell us about origins
  • Explain why people migrate

What you already know

  • The people of Ghana (Basic 2)

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
My country Ghana
Sub-strand
The People of Ghana
Indicator
B3.2.1.1.1 – Discuss the origins of the major ethnic groups in Ghana

Introduction

Long ago, the ethnic groups in Ghana did not all live where they live today. Many moved from other places. Elders still tell these stories.

1. What is Origin?

Origin: The place where something or a group of people first came from.

Migration: Moving from one place to settle in another.

2. How We Know About Origins

Sources of history about origins
SourceExample
oral traditionstories told by elders and chiefs
festivalsHogbetsotso remembers the Ewe journey from Notsie
songs and drum languagetalking drums recite the history of a state
written recordsbooks by historians and travellers
objectsold pots and tools found in the ground
An elder telling children the history of their people under a tree
Figure 1: Learning history from elders Draw an elder telling a story.Illustration: Sirbus

3. Why People Migrated

  • to find good land for farming
  • to escape war or a cruel ruler
  • to find water and food
  • to trade

Remember: Different elders may tell the story of origin in slightly different ways.

New words

origin
The place a group first came from.
migration
Moving to settle in another place.
oral tradition
History passed on by word of mouth.
settle
To make a home in a place.

Summary

  • Origin is where a group first came from.
  • We learn origins from oral traditions, festivals, songs and records.
  • People migrated for land, safety, food and trade.

Class activity: Origin Questions

  1. Write two questions to ask an elder about where your people came from.
  2. Look at the Ghana map and the photographs of ethnic groups.
  3. Share your questions with the class.

You need: Ghana map, Printed photographs of Ghanaian ethnic groups, Kente, Smock fabric samples

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Moving to settle in another place is…

    • A. Migration
    • B. Celebration
    • C. Recreation
    • D. Education
    Show answer
    Answer: MigrationThat is migration.

  2. 2. History passed on by word of mouth is…

    • A. Oral tradition
    • B. A newspaper
    • C. A computer
    • D. A map
    Show answer
    Answer: Oral traditionElders pass it on by speaking.

  3. 3. Festivals can remind us of our origins.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueHogbetsotso is an example.

  4. 4. All ethnic groups in Ghana have always lived in the same place.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseMany migrated from other places.

  5. 5. The place a group first came from is its ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: originThat is origin.

  6. 6. Give two reasons why people migrated long ago.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: farmland, escape war, food and water, trade.These caused migration.

Homework

  1. Ask an elder where your family's ancestors came from.