Basic 9 · Religious and Moral Education · The Environment
Indigenous Ghanaian Culture and the Environment
In this topic you will identify and describe how indigenous Ghanaian culture helps to take care of the environment through taboos, sacred groves, totems and other practices.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Identify cultural practices that protect nature
- Explain taboos, totems and sacred groves
- Evaluate their value today
What you already know
- Environmental care
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- God, His Creation & Attributes
- Sub-strand
- The Environment
- Indicator
- B9.1.2.1.2 – Identify and describe how indigenous Ghanaian culture helps in taking care of the environment
Introduction
Long before there was an Environmental Protection Agency, Ghanaian communities had rules that protected forests and rivers.
1. Traditional Conservation
Ghanaian communities have long had ways of protecting nature. They were based on religious belief, respect for ancestors and practical knowledge. Elders knew that if a river was fished every day, or if a forest was cut, the people would suffer. So they made rules, backed up by religious sanctions. These practices are known as indigenous knowledge.
2. Taboos
Taboo: A cultural or religious ban on an action.
| Taboo | Effect |
|---|---|
| no farming on certain days | the land rests |
| no fishing on Tuesdays in many coastal towns | fish can breed |
| no entering sacred groves without permission | forests remain |
| no cutting certain trees | valuable species survive |
| no metal in Lake Bosomtwe | traditional methods protect the lake |
In many Akan communities, certain days are rest days for the earth goddess, Asase Yaa. Many coastal communities do not fish on Tuesdays, as this day belongs to the sea god. At Lake Bosomtwe, fishermen traditionally use wooden planks (padua) and not metal boats, because the lake is regarded as sacred. These bans also help to prevent overuse.
3. Sacred Groves
Sacred grove: A forest protected for religious reasons.
Across Ghana, small forests have been left untouched as homes of gods and ancestors. Examples include the Malshegu grove near Tamale and the Tano Boase groves in the Bono East Region. At Boabeng-Fiema, in the Bono East Region, monkeys are considered sacred and live alongside people in a protected forest. Today, sacred groves protect rare plants and animals, and some are important for scientific study and tourism.
4. Enforcement
Traditional rules were enforced by chiefs, priests and elders. Breaking a taboo could attract a fine, a ritual cleansing or the fear of a spiritual penalty. Respect for the sacred had a strong effect. Today, with religious change and the search for money, some of these rules are being ignored. Some sacred groves have been cut down. This loss is serious, and communities are looking for ways to protect what remains.
5. A Respectful View
Not everyone shares these beliefs, and Christians or Muslims may not accept the spiritual reasons for them. Still, they can respect the wisdom behind the practices, because the results are good for everyone. A rule that protects a river serves all, whatever one's religion may be. Modern conservation can learn from traditional knowledge.
New words
- taboo
- A cultural or religious ban.
- sacred grove
- A forest protected for religious reasons.
- indigenous
- Belonging to a place.
- conservation
- Protecting nature.
Summary
- Traditional rules have long protected nature in Ghana.
- Taboos and sacred groves keep resources safe.
- These practices are weakening but still valuable.
Class activity: Taboo Survey
- Ask an elder about local taboos.
- Find the benefit of each.
- Report back.
You need: Local leaves, Calabash of clean water, Printed photograph of a Ghanaian sacred grove
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A forest protected for religious reasons is a…
- A. sacred grove
- B. market
- C. school
- D. farm
Show answer
Answer: sacred groveTerm.2. In many coastal towns, fishing is banned on…
- A. Tuesday
- B. Saturday
- C. Sunday
- D. Friday
Show answer
Answer: TuesdayTaboo.3. Boabeng-Fiema protects monkeys.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueSanctuary.4. A cultural or religious ban is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: tabooTerm.5. Give two examples of taboos that protect nature.
Show answer
Answer: No farming on certain days and no entry to sacred groves.Any two.6. Why might a Christian still value a fishing taboo?
Show answer
Answer: Its results protect fish for the whole community.Respect.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- God, His Creation & Attributes
- Sub-strand
- The Environment
- Indicator
- B9.1.2.1.2 – Identify and describe how indigenous Ghanaian culture helps in taking care of the environment
Introduction
Each Akan clan has an animal totem. The relationship between a clan and its totem has helped to protect wild creatures for generations.
1. Totems
Totem: An animal or plant that represents a clan or family.
| Clan | Totem |
|---|---|
| Aduana | dog |
| Asona | crow |
| Agona | parrot |
| Bretuo | leopard |
| Asene | bat |
| Oyoko | hawk |
| Ekuona | buffalo |
Totems vary between sources and places, so check with your own elders. Members of a clan often do not kill or eat their totem animal. This helps to protect those species. Totems also teach about the qualities of a clan, such as the wisdom or strength associated with its animal. Other Ghanaian peoples have similar traditions.
2. Proverbs on Nature
Traditional wisdom about nature is contained in proverbs and stories. "Dua koro gye mframa a, ɛbu" means that a single tree facing the wind will break. It teaches about unity, but it also shows that forests are stronger together. Other proverbs warn against greed and waste. Folk tales, too, teach respect for animals, and show the problems that come from cruelty or greed.
3. Traditional Farming and Land Use
| Practice | Benefit |
|---|---|
| shifting cultivation | land recovers |
| mixed cropping | less risk, better soil |
| leaving large trees on farms | shade and soil protection |
| compost and ash | natural fertiliser |
| rest days | less pressure on land |
| rotational grazing | grass recovers |
Farmers used rain signs, moon phases and birds to plan their work. Shifting cultivation worked when land was plentiful, although today population growth means that fallow periods are shorter. In northern Ghana, shea trees are protected on farms, for their nuts provide oil and income.
4. Traditional Medicine and Plants
Herbalists know the uses of many plants, and they harvest them with care. They may take only part of a plant, so that it can grow back. Some customs require people to ask permission or to offer a prayer before cutting a tree. This shows a relationship of respect, where nature is not just a resource to be used.
5. Combining the Old and the New
Ghana's Forestry Commission and non-governmental groups now work with communities that use traditional knowledge. Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) allow local people to help manage natural resources. Combining science with cultural respect can be powerful. When a chief, an imam, a pastor and a forestry officer stand together, people listen. Young people can help by recording elders' knowledge before it is lost.
New words
- totem
- An animal or plant representing a clan.
- clan
- A group descended from a common ancestor.
- fallow
- Left unplanted to recover.
- shea
- A tree of northern Ghana with oil-rich nuts.
Summary
- Totems protect species and show identity.
- Proverbs and farming practices carry wisdom about nature.
- Traditional knowledge works well with modern science.
Class activity: Elders' Knowledge
- Interview an elder about nature.
- Record what they say about plants and animals.
- Share the most useful idea.
You need: Local leaves, Calabash of clean water, Printed photograph of a Ghanaian sacred grove
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A clan's animal symbol is a…
- A. totem
- B. taboo
- C. tithe
- D. temple
Show answer
Answer: totemTerm.2. Land left to recover is…
- A. fallow
- B. flooded
- C. paved
- D. polluted
Show answer
Answer: fallowFarming.3. Clan members often avoid killing their totem.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueProtection.4. The ______ tree of northern Ghana provides nuts and oil.
Show answer
Answer: sheaTree.5. State three traditional farming practices.
Show answer
Answer: Shifting cultivation, mixed cropping and using compost.Any three.6. How can traditional and modern methods work together?
Show answer
Answer: Communities and scientists manage resources jointly, using both knowledge and respect.Combination.
Homework
- Write down one proverb or story about nature from your community.