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Basic 3 · History · The People of Ghana

The Origin of the Ga-Adangbe

In this topic you will learn the traditions about where the Ga-Adangbe came from.

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

  • Tell the traditions of Ga-Adangbe origin
  • Name Ga and Adangbe towns
  • Link Homowo to Ga history

What you already know

  • The origin of the Akan

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

The Ga live on the Accra plains and the Adangbe live to the east of them. Their traditions say their ancestors came from the east.

1. Traditions of Origin

  • Ga-Adangbe traditions say their ancestors came from the east, from the area of present-day Nigeria.
  • They travelled west through present-day Benin and Togo.
  • They settled on the Accra plains, at places like Lolovor and Ayawaso.
  • Later they spread out to form towns.
Map showing the Ga-Adangbe migration route from the east to the Accra plains
Figure 1: Ga-Adangbe migration Draw the migration arrow on a map.Base map: Sémhur, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2. Ga and Adangbe Towns

Towns
Ga townsAdangbe towns
Accra (Ga Mashie)Ada
OsuKrobo (Odumase, Somanya)
TeshieShai
TemaPrampram

3. Homowo

Ga tradition says that long ago there was a famine. When the rains came and crops grew well, the people "hooted at hunger". This is Homowo.

New words

plain
A large flat area of land.
famine
A time when there is very little food.
Homowo
A Ga festival meaning "hooting at hunger".
settle
To make a home in a place.

Summary

  • Ga-Adangbe traditions say they came from the east, from the area of present-day Nigeria.
  • They settled on the Accra plains.
  • Homowo remembers how they overcame famine.

Class activity: Migration Route

  1. Trace the Ga-Adangbe migration route on the map.
  2. Name two Ga towns and two Adangbe towns.
  3. Explain the meaning of Homowo.

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. Where do the Ga live?

    • A. Accra plains
    • B. Upper West
    • C. Volta Lake
    • D. Ashanti forest
    Show answer
    Answer: Accra plainsThe Ga live around Accra.

  2. 2. Ga-Adangbe traditions say they came from the…

    • A. East
    • B. South Pole
    • C. Sahara
    • D. Moon
    Show answer
    Answer: EastFrom the area of present-day Nigeria.

  3. 3. Ada is an Adangbe town.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueAda is Adangbe.

  4. 4. Homowo means "dancing with joy".

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseIt means "hooting at hunger".

  5. 5. A time with very little food is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: famineThat is famine.

  6. 6. Name two Ga towns.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: Accra, Osu, Teshie, Tema.These are Ga towns.

Homework

  1. Ask an adult what they know about the Homowo festival.