Old Welcome for New Visitors: A Study of Ntona Shrine of Elmina in the Context of Christianity in Africa

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the concept of African Christianity and tried to relate it to the Ntona shrine. The study also aimed at explaining the nature of the Ntona shrine and the historical circumstances that accounted for its development. In doing this, the qualitative research approach was employed. The historical and phenomenological methods were used, since the phenomenon studied was based more on historical narratives. Also, the phenomenological method was used in order to establish how the people of the Ntona shrine experience the phenomenon. The target population of the study constituted the custodians of the shrine and some indigenes of Elmina. The purposive and snowball sampling procedures were used to select respondents for the study. Research tools such as interviews and participant observation were used. The data collected was analysed using thematic analysis. The study found out that despite people’s view on the Ntona as a Traditional African shrine, the adherents claim otherwise. To them it is a Christian grotto. The study points out that scholars in the study of African culture and African Christianity pay close attention to this phenomenon of the fusing of Africanity and the Christian gospel, hence the need for the study.