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Akan
The Akan are one of the best-known cultural groups in Africa. Currently 4 million strong, they are the largest cultural grouping of Ghana, representing approximately half of the country's population. The Akan Abusua (family), or clans, includes the Akuapem, Akyem (Abuakwa, Bosome, Kotoku), Asante, Brong-Ahafo, Fante, Kwahu, and Nzema. The Asante and Fante are the two largest of these subgroups. Although the political, social, religious, and customary practices of the Akan are similar, each clan shares a common cultural heritage and language, which, added to their historical tradition of group identity and political autonomy, contributed to the formation of individual nation-states during the precolonial period. This entry briefly describes their culture and then examines their ideas of spirituality in more detail.
Cultural Characteristics
Lingusitically, the collective ...
- Ancestral Figures
- Communalism and Family
- Concepts and Ideas
- Deities and Divinities
- Abasi
- Agwe
- Aida Wedo
- Aiwel
- Akamba
- Amen
- Anubis
- Anukis
- Apep
- Apis
- Asase Yaa
- Aten
- Atum
- Ausar
- Auset
- Azaka, the Loa
- Bes
- Bondye
- Chi
- Danbala Wedo
- Divinities
- Eleda
- Eniyan
- Ennead
- Esu, Elegba
- Ezili Dantò
- Ezili Freda
- Faro
- God
- Goddesses
- Hapi
- Hathor
- Heru, Horus
- Ibis, Symbol of Tehuti
- Jok (Acholi)
- Khnum
- Khonsu
- Mami Wata
- Mawu-Lisa
- Min
- Montu
- Nana Buluku
- Ngai
- Ngewo
- Nkulunkulu
- Nyame
- Nzambi
- Obatala
- Oduduwa
- Ogdoad
- Ogun
- Olodumare
- Olokun
- Olorun
- Orisha Nla
- Orunmila
- Oshun
- Oya
- Ptah
- Ra
- Ruhanga
- Sekhmet
- Serapis
- Seshat
- Set
- Shango
- Shu
- Songo
- Sopdu
- Tefnut
- Thoth
- Tibonanj
- Wepwawet
- Woyengi
- Yao
- Yemonja
- Zin
- Eternality
- Nature
- Personalities and Characters
- Possessors of Divine Energy
- Rituals and Ceremonies
- Adae
- Agricultural Rites
- Ceremonies
- Circumcision
- Clitorectomy
- Dance and Song
- Desounen
- Harvest
- Incense
- Initiation
- Invocations
- Lele
- Medicine
- Medicine Men and Women
- Mediums
- Mummification
- Music
- Naming
- Offering
- Ohum Festival
- Opening of the Mouth Ceremony
- Puberty
- Purification
- Rain Dance
- Rites of Passage
- Rites of Reclamation
- Rituals
- Seclusion
- Shawabti
- Shrines
- Societies of Secrets
- Yam
- Yanvalou
- Sacred Spaces and Objects
- Akhenaten
- Altars
- Amulet
- Asamando
- Bata Drums
- Boats
- Bois Caiman
- Cowrie Shells
- Crossroads
- Drum, The
- Flag and Flag Planting
- Govi
- Groves, Sacred
- Ikin
- Ilé-Ifè
- Incense
- Kisalian Graves
- Lakes
- Maroon Communities
- Mount Cameroon
- Mount Kenya
- Mountains and Hills
- Oumfò
- Potomitan
- Pyramids
- Rivers and Streams
- Rocks and Stones
- Sarcophagus
- Sphinx
- Totem
- Vilokan
- Waset
- Societies
- Symbols, Signs, and Sounds
- Taboo and Ethics
- Texts
- Traditions
- Akan
- Asante
- Azande
- Baga
- Baganda
- Bakongo
- Bakota
- Balanta
- Balengue
- Baluba
- Bamana
- Bamileke
- Bamun
- Banyankore
- Banyarwanda
- Bariba
- Barotse
- Bassa
- Basuto
- Batonga
- Bete
- Bobo
- Candomblé
- Chagga
- Chewa
- Chokwe
- Convince
- Dagu
- Dinka
- Diola
- Dioula
- Dogon
- Duala
- Efik
- Ekoi
- Ewe
- Fang
- Fon
- Fula (Fulbe)
- Ga
- Gamo Religion
- Gola
- Gurunsi
- Haya
- Hoodoo
- Hutu
- Ibibio
- Idoma
- Igbo
- Jola
- Kabre of Togo
- KalÛnga
- Kirdi
- Kumina
- Lobi
- Lomwe
- Lovedu
- Lugbara
- Luo
- Maasai
- Mende
- Mossi
- N'domo
- North America, African Religion in
- Nuer
- Obeah
- Okande
- Ovambo
- Palo
- Pedi
- Petwo
- Peul
- Rada
- Santeria
- Sara
- Saramacca
- Senufo
- Serer
- Shilluk
- Shona
- Songo
- Sotho
- Susu
- Swazi
- Tallensi
- Teke
- Tellem
- Temne
- Tiv
- Tsonga
- Tswana
- Tutsi
- Umbanda
- Vai
- Vodou and the Haitian Revolution
- Vodou in Benin
- Vodou in Haiti
- Vodunsi
- Wamala
- West African Religion
- Winti
- Wolof
- Xhosa
- Yao
- Yoruba
- Zarma
- Zulu
- Values
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