The glass beads considered sacred and used in the puberty (Manaa Ndiom) and marriage (Bijam) rites of Nafana women are stored within a calabash bowl, its lid lying next to it. Most of the beads are imported varieties typical of those that circulated in the Atlantic trade period. On top of two other lidded calabash bowls rests a pair of iron manacles or shackles which are included among ritual paraphernalia. Ahenkro, July 1995.
Young girls wear the sacred beads and necklaces associated with the girls' nubility rites, known in Nafaanra as Manaa Ndiom. They are dressed in Manaa Ndiom attire as part of a cultural celebration associated with the commissioning of the Banda Cultural Centre. Manaa Ndiom is a time when adolescent girls come together to learn from their female elders as they transition to womanhood. Here they walk alongside women carrying wooden stools to the Cultural Centre grounds. Adua Bedeaba leads the group as Almata follows. Ahenkro, 21 July, 1995.
Young girls wear the sacred beads and necklaces associated with the girls' nubility rites, known in Nafaanra as Manaa Ndiom. They are dressed in Manaa Ndiom attire as part of a cultural celebration associated with the commissioning of the Banda Cultural Centre. Manaa Ndiom is a time when adolescent girls come together to learn from their female elders as they transition to womanhood. Pictured, front row, L-R: Mariyama Puwee, Ama Kyerah (wearing white), Adua Bedeaba, Sarah Photo, Yaa Broni, __, Alamata, Adwoa Fordjour. Swordbearer, right: Kwabena Sekedua. Women in back row, L-R, Toryaa (center) and Afua Basabasa. Ahenkro, 21 July, 1995.
Oral history of Habaa Katoo (house), Ahenkro, describes how the family came to live in the Banda area and their movements in relation to wars between Banda and Asante. Also described are negotiations to settle a dispute with Kulango people and the history of how the family acquired the Kete dance from Kulango people. A list of former male and female heads of family is provided. To cite: Stahl, Ann, and James Anane. 2011. Habaa Katoo, Banda-Ahenkro. In, "Family Histories from the Banda Traditional Area, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana, 1986," pg. 16. Brochure circulated 1989, reissued with photos and additional histories in 2011. 4 pages.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
Kakala; Kete; Latolo; Bui ; Family history; Migration; Habaa Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Banda (Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana); Music; Rites and ceremonies; Gold; Wars; Oral history; Ashanti; Gongs; Kulango (African people); Nafana (African people)
Creator:
Stahl, Ann B. ; Anane, James
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl; Afua Kumah; Abraham Forjour; Adoa Tami; Enoch Mensah
Oral history of Kofi Krԑma [Krema] Katoo (house)--a subhouse of Gbaha Katoo from Makala--describes how they came to live in Ahenkro and the shrines for which the family had responsibility. The animal sacrifices offered to each shrine are described, as are powers of the Nyi and Tie "festishes." Former male and female heads of family are listed. To cite: Stahl, Ann, and James Anane. 2011. Kofi Krɛma Katoo, Banda-Ahenkro. In, "Family Histories from the Banda Traditional Area, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana, 1986," pp. 25-26. Brochure circulated 1989, reissued with photos and additional histories in 2011. 2 pages.
Oral history of Pejomako Katoo (house), Ahenkro, describes the family's role as a subfamily of the royal house (Sie Lͻngͻ Katoo) in charge of the conduct of females in the royal family. The story of how the family came to hold this role is recounted and a list of former male and female heads of family is provided. To cite: Stahl, Ann, and James Anane. 2011. Pejomako Katoo, Banda-Ahenkro. In, "Family Histories from the Banda Traditional Area, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana, 1986," pg. 33. Brochure circulated 1989, reissued with photos and additional histories in 2011. 1 page.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Ahenkro
Subjects:
Manaa Ndiom; Animal sacrifices; Family history; Bijam; Pejomako Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Banda (Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana); Rites and ceremonies; Nafana (African people); Oral history; Puberty rites; Marriage customs and rites
Men associated with the Kralɔngɔ Royal Palace perform a Nafana version of Kete during a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Several men play flutes and brass rattles that oral histories say were captured from Kulango people. They are accompanied by men playing drums and (left) an iron gong. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
Nafana women play calabash rattles as they sing songs associated with customary puberty and marriage celebrations at a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Two women from Ahenkro are joined (left) by District Chief Executive Mary Komeh (white blouse). Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
A Nafana hunter from Fawoman performs a hunter's dance at a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Crouched in front of a pot that was smashed in an earlier dance, he clenches a bundle of leaves in his teeth as he assumes an animal's posture. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
Nafana men from Fawoman perform a hunter's dance at a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Crouched on the ground, the men enact the process of tracking an animal as women sing and men drum in the background. The man in the front holds a gun. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
During a performance of songs and dances associated with puberty (Manaa Ndiom) and marriage (Bijam) celebrations as practiced in Boase, elder Afua Gyakari holds a microphone as she sings surrounded by other elders, including Boase chief Tolԑԑ Ligbi Wulotei (wearing a black-and-gold cap). Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
Women from Boase sit together under a canopy at a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Young women dressed in attire associated with marriage (Bijam) and puberty (Manaa Ndiom) celebrations are seated in the center. To the left are three large calabashes filled with water on which the women will float smaller calabash bowls. These are used as drums to accompany songs sung during marriage and puberty celebrations. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
Heritage; Community event; Drums (musical instrument); Rites and ceremonies; Nafana (African people); Gourd, Calabash; Puberty rites; Marriage customs and rites