Annotations

Prophet Abednego

Most of the Ghanaians are Christians. The variety of churches is enormous and some people even found there own church. So a common man can be a self-proclaimed priest, bishop or a prophet. These new churches often promise wonders and healing, their preachers try to attract the audience with their infectious rhetoric.

In the novel, Kofi Poku chooses the name of “Abednego” as an alias. This name is mentioned in the Old Testament, Daniel 3, 19, for example. Many Ghanaians know the bible very well and Abednego’s audience will at least realize that the name is biblical.

Polygamy

Polygamy is an old Akan tradition. Men can have as many wives as they want, if only they can nourish them and their offspring. The wives are not always living in one place. If a farmer has more than one wife, it may be practical that one of them works on the farm and the other one sells the fruit in her shop far away from the farm.

 The man has to obey certain rules and regularities in order not to offend his wives.

Children 

For many people in Ghana, the social importance of a human being depends on having children. If a childless person dies, he or she will not be a strong ancestor who can establish the connection to God.  So even after death, childlessness is a disgrace.

Children are expected to help their parents a lot. A fisherman needs many strong sons who row his boat.

History (Chapter 11) 

The Portuguese, who were the first Europeans on the West African coast in the late 15^th century, tried to establish Christiany. Some monks erected a cross, built a monastery and a school, but the effect faded away with the years. Christianity did not spread as expected. A new effort was made in 1752, almost 300 years later. The “Society of the Propagation of the Gospel” had not much success either. It was only in 1827 when the Basel Mission built up a mission network. 

Still in 1970, only 20% of the Ghanaian population were Christians, today about 70%. Traditional religion is still strong and many Christians keep their old beliefs. “Nyame” is the word for the pagan God as well as for the Christian God.

Literature:

W.E.F. Ward, A History of Ghana, Kent 1967

F.K. Buah, A History of Ghana. Revised and Updated, Oxford 1998

(Dr. Regina Bouillon)