CONTINUITIES AND CHANGES IN TRADITIONAL AKAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION PRACTICES
Loading...
Authors
Asante, Daniel
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Environment , Religio-cultural beliefs/practices, , Human-environment relation theory , Indigenous Religion , Culture , Kwahu Traditional People
Alternative Title
Abstract
This dissertation examines traditional religio-cultural beliefs/practices and environmental
problems in Ghana using the Kwahu Traditional Area as a case study. Its primary objective is to
examine the continuities and changes in the traditional Akan environmental preservation practices.
It explores how these practices have evolved in pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial periods.
It also delves into whether the original intention for instituting the Kwahu peoples' religio-cultural
beliefs and practices was to tackle environmental problems or whether its establishment was for
other purposes but is unconsciously serving the former. Moreover, the study investigates whether
the traditional Kwahu environmental beliefs and practices are old practices with old environmental
awareness, which has been retooled to tackle contemporary environmental issues. The study
employs qualitative data from 89 (23 females and 66 males) in-depth interviews conducted in 16
communities across the Kwahu Traditional Area of Ghana between June–November 2017 and
June–July 2018. I supplemented the interviews with observations. The research has been carried
out within the framework of the human-environment relationship theory. Overall, this study
reveals that both external and internal factors—the impacts of colonialism, the rising interference
of central government in local affairs without regard for local initiatives and sovereignty, and the
inroads made by Christianity—have influenced that changes in the traditional environmental
preservation practices of the Kwahu people. The findings also suggest that changes in traditional
environmental practices have both favourable and adverse impacts on the natural environment.
Further, the findings disclose that traditional environmental practices that solely rely on
supernatural justification to achieve compliance have been undermined because of the erosion of
the reverence attached to traditional representative. However, resource management practices that
have utilitarian relevance, in addition to their metaphysical values, are still observed in
contemporary Kwahu societies. The findings imply that despite the changes in traditional
environmental practices, they are still relevant in addressing environmental issues in the study
area. This dissertation suggests that a collaboration between the Kwahu people's traditional
approaches to environmental conservation and alternative approaches to environmental
conservation, namely modern (scientific) methods becomes all the more important.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.