To eat or not to eat: A study of the role of African traditional religious food ethics in the traditional food practices of Larteh, Ghana.

Abstract

Several works have explored the relationship between religion and food. Such works posit that the two are undeniably close (Meyer-Rochow, 2009; Norman, 2003). Inferring from Eastern Buddhist and Christian monastic traditions, one observes the significant roles these religious centres played in maintaining the traditional foods of a people. The preservation of such foods was possible because they were often associated with religious rituals and ceremonies. In much the same way, we can ascribe similar roles to indigenous African shrines. Thus, using an interpretive paradigm mainly through observation and interaction, this study set out to investigate the role indigenous Ghanaian shrines are playing in maintaining the traditional foods of a group, using the people of Larteh in Ghana and the Akonedi shrine as the basis. The study pointed out that there is a strong affinity between religion and food and that unknown to many, the Akonedi shrine has preserved the traditions associated with food habits in Larteh because of their close connections with religious ceremonies. The study, however, also found that religion, as dysfunctional as it could be sometimes, has also contributed to the loss of some traditional foods such as aprapransa, apiti and others because they are associated with witchcraft. In view of this, it is recommended that Ghana could consider following the example of India where the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) continues to push for indigenous foods. Besides, the study recommends that traditional religious leaders need to strengthen religious institutions particularly those associated with traditional foods.