Marriage system of Cross-Cousin Marriage"Knocking on wood" ceremonyhttp://youtu.be/eYUc6TzJv2Y
Sources of Income and Occupations
The Akan people get most of their money by selling basic crops from forest plants such as yams, coco yams, sweet potatoes. But, most importantly, they make things out of gold minerals and sell them for a profit ("Countries and their cultures" 2015). The Akan also sell the crops they harvest from farming, such as corn, plantain, rice, millet, and cassava. Fishing is also another way they get money ("Economy of Ghana" 2014). As for jobs, the Akan people often work as farmers producing crops, wood carving, work on farm oils, weave, manufacture wine, and do marketing. (Bartle 2013). |
Family structure
The Akan has two main structures. The first structure is the "Matrilineal Structures" that is a lineage formed from the mother's side of the family. Secondly, the Akan have a structure called "Patrilineal Structure" in which was formed from a lineage of the father's side (Schwimmer, 2003). But, the most common traditional family group is the matrilineal, where a person is related to everyone on the mother's side of the family (Levy/Wong pg.73). Those who are formed by the mother's side of the family live together in one neighborhood and share the land and property equally. The patrilineal clans are members of the father's side. The head of the clan is the chief who sits with village elders and achieves duties. When a chief dies or can no longer be one, sons of the women in his family in a different generation are able to be candidates of being a chief.Each Family member of each clan also have equal rights to the resources, like wealth (Levy/Wong pg.74) The number of people in a clan is important to them. For a clan to become a large one, new generations had to be also. It was a woman's job to have as many children as possible (13 commonly). The children of these clans were to fetch water, clean, wash clothing, and help with farming and tending crops. The role for the girls in the family mainly farmed, do housework, and cook for the family. As for boys, they were treated more casually if they were not poor and had time to play most of the time. Boys who were poor had a huge role to own a small business at a market and make their own profit. Most boys start to find jobs as young as six working in the evening (Levy/Wong pg.77) Marriage Marriage for the Akan is a huge decision for each individual family that extends the lineages for the future. The most common system of marriage is the cross-cousin marriage of when a man is required to marry his mother's brother's daughter(Matrilateral), his father's sister's daughter (Patrilateral), or a relative who is his mother's brother's and father's sister's daughter (Bilateral). (Schwimmer, 2003). When someone gets married in the Akan group, it is mainly arranged by the fathers. The mother would check the suitability or background of the bride or groom from their neighbors and friends. If the bride or groom are suitable, they begin the ceremony plans and gifts to pay back the acceptance of a marriage between two families. Money is gifted after negotiations of the families (Levy/Wong pg.75). Most importantly, the groom must provide "bride-to-be" gifts such as house furniture, clothing, perfume, and money. Of course, the bride also must provide gifts in return, such as the possession she was given at puberty. The bride also provides household utensils useful for their daily lives. If either of the partners fail to present gifts of their portion, the marriage may be cancelled. But, a marriage ceremony is important because they are mainly held for the parents of both families to get to know one another (Levy/Wong pg.76). Marriage ceremonies are also meant to show the family that the bride is the right one without the groom present called "knocking on the door" showing the bride to the family and presenting gifts (Marriage ceremonies in Ghana 2010). If a couple were to be divorced, all the money the bride received would have to be returned, but the gifts she received were to be kept (Levy/Wong pg.77). After a child was born, divorce rates became higher. Children are a sign of status and wealth in marriages. Marriages that were formed by the family were more focused on family reputation rather than personal ones. But, an older man in a marriage would also make the family's reputation even greater. (Salm/Falola pg.130). In an Akan clan, there are forms of marriages that are commonly practiced. Three of the most common are "Marriage Ordinance" that allows monogamous marriages, "Marriage of Mohammedans Ordinance" with polygyny and "Marriage under Ordinance and customary" that exists throughout (Salm/Falola pg.130). Although polygyny was allowed, it was very rare for a man to be married to more than one woman due to the fact that it cost great wealth to afford that many marriages. But it was not surprising for male chiefs to have over 30 structural wives to choose the right one (Bartle 2013). Customary marriages were also very common. Customary marriages had long traditions that a drink had to be shared to notify one's intentions as a gift (Salm/Falola pg.131). |
Marriage
The Akan groups have at least 100-200 in a "Abusua" (family) (Bartle, 2010). The most common structure of the Akan is a "Matrilineal" structure that allows families to live in traditional extended family households. Because they are part of a Matrilineal lineage, the Akan must follow the customs of Matrilineality. Their structure is formed by their ancestors. The Matrilineal clans are to be responsible for their farms, marriages, and members of the lineage ("Akan people", 2014). Family structures are extended when marriages are organized.