Changes in the Traditional Marriage Among the Fantes: A Study in Mankesim, Ghana

Abstract

The Fantes are a group of people located in the Central Region of Ghana. It is one of the largest Akan groups in Ghana with their traditional Headquarters at Mankesim. Early encounters between the Fantes and Europeans brought new religious and educational ideas to the group, which in turn altered Fante customs and traditions, including marriage. To ensure that these native yet significant traditions survived in this age of technology and modernity, it is essential that their histories be preserved in the light of the changes that have taken place. Using Ethnographic research design, data was obtained from queen mothers, chiefs, family heads and opinion leaders/ elderly people of Mankesim; employing interview and focused group discussion as the main data collection procedure. The study revealed that in the indigenous traditional marriage, the groom and his family were allowed to bring anything they deemed befitting for a marriage ceremony unlike now that a list of items is handed over to the groom's family to present at the ceremony. Due to migration, there is little or no background enquires of the prospective spouse family; it is no longer mandatory to have the ceremony at the brides’ family house as practiced. Some items presented for the ceremony included velvet/silk cloths, amonsei, tsri ahoma, tsri nsa, palm wine among others, have been replaced with modern items like lingeries, weave-on/hair extensions, suitcases printed fabrics like GTP, foreign drinks like whiskey, wine, just to mention a few. In line with the findings, in line with the findings, it was concluded that high levels of education, urbanization, innovation as well as religion has affected traditional norms and practices.