The Use and Cultural Significance of ‘Low}Gya’ Cloth Among Dagara in the Nandom Traditional Area

Abstract

„Lowԑgya‟ as a traditional cloth in the Nandom district of Ghana has been introduced decades ago and passed from generation to generation. Through its use on ceremonial occasions, information about the cloth is communicated to observers. Using the qualitative method of study, an interview guide was used to investigate the cultural significance of Dagara traditional cloth „Lowԑgya‟ in the Nandom district of Ghana, and the factors inhibiting its recent use during ceremonial occasions in the district. The study made involved Dagara people in the Nandom district using multi-stage methods of sampling techniques; lottery random sampling was used to select the communities for data collection, purposive and convenience sampling were used to select the participants. The study showed that „Lowԑgya‟ as a traditional cloth is an ancestral cloth produced by their ancestors and due to its history and numerous significance, the people of Nandom district of Ghana deem it necessary to use this cloth during their occasions. It was also revealed that due to technology, migration and taste in modern fashion, the traditional cloth is losing its cultural value. Modern techniques of weaving were also noticed to have affected the strips, colours used in weaving, and loss of some of the „Lowԑgya‟ cloths; Kpognali, kaakublu among others as they seem to be archaic. With regard to the above, it was recommended that 'Lowԑgya‟ as a traditional cloth should be used at all ceremonial occasions in the district. It was also recommended that as part of the educational curriculum, traditional cloth as in culture should be taught in schools so that the younger ones will get to know of their traditional cloths.