Gods and Morality in Nzema Polytheism

On the basis of personal field observation (1954, 1961, 1963) & of statements by natives, some of which are textually quoted, certain aspects of the religion of the Nzema (an Akan tribe of southwestern Ghana), dealing with the belief in a vast number of deities, which English-speaking Nzema refe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ethnology 1969-10, Vol.8 (4), p.370-405
Main Author: Grottanelli, Vinigi L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Childbirth
Children
Clans
Deities
Ethnology
Ghana/Ghanaian/Ghanaians
God/Gods
Infants
Morality/Moralist
Mothers
Polytheism
Priests
Religion/Religions/Religious
Society, The, of
Soul
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:On the basis of personal field observation (1954, 1961, 1963) & of statements by natives, some of which are textually quoted, certain aspects of the religion of the Nzema (an Akan tribe of southwestern Ghana), dealing with the belief in a vast number of deities, which English-speaking Nzema refer to as 'fetish gods' are described. Rubrics used are: fetish gods & their position, origin & nature of the gods, individual gods & their personal peculiarities, physical aspect of the gods, how the gods react to HB, retribution by the gods, the gods as protectors, fetishism & contemporary gods: problems of terminology, the gods & the moral order. Long-standing Christian influences have hardly affected this polytheistic religion, which also includes the traditional belief in a supreme Being: it stands to this day as a well integrated, actively functioning system, upholding soc solidarity, respect of hierarchy & property, & other values, & punishing misconduct esp in the sexual sphere. It is concluded that fetishism in its moral & soc aspects deserves a higher appreciation than it has hitherto received in western literature. AA.
ISSN:0014-1828
DOI:10.2307/3772908