Symbols on Akan Linguist Staff: Meaning and Moral Implications for the Asante

Abstract

Today, symbols are the embodiment of the Akan of Ghana and are used to express what they stand for and their view of the world, life and co-existence. African Traditional symbols are pictorials or artistic expressions that represent some traditional knowledge in other forms. These symbols, therefore, induce the mind to correlate the pictorial image to the relevant representation of traditional knowledge. As such, the mind situates itself in constant search for meaning and actively explores, processes, and analyzes symbolic content. This study investigates the moral implications on some selected Asante linguist staff. The study concentrates on Asante traditional linguist staff symbols, particularly the eight clans and their moral implications. The problem therefore is, how the Asante, especially the youth, will find meaning in the linguist staff symbols with regards to the moral values and how the values can impact on their lives in the face of the infiltration of foreign culture and religions. The study adopted the qualitative research design to seek relevant information from respondents by using purposively sampling method to sample respondents who were targets as the population for the study. Interview guide was used to solicit responses from the respondents. The study found out that Asante symbols and the staff or the various items the chiefs use to adorn themselves also play important roles when it comes to sharing of information. The study concluded that much recognition is not given to the linguist staff because many individuals do not participate in indigenous cultural and traditional activities in their various Asante communities. The study recommends that linguist staff symbols be inculcated in education and tourism priorities for sustainable tradition.