article

Place of 'oaths' in the constitutional set-up of Asante

Law and anthropology • 4 • Published In 1989 • Pages: 259-280

By: Mensa-Bonsu, Henrietta J..

Abstract

In this article, Mensa-Bonsu discusses the important role of oath swearing in Asante society. There are two kinds of oaths, religious (NSE) and secular (NTAM). In the religious oath supernatural sanction is invoked by calling a god to bear witness to the truth of one's act. In the secular oath a reference is made to a historical calamity, such as an untimely death of a leader, which impacted on a clan or the whole nation. Each ntam is associated with the stool of a chief or king. In order not to displease his ancestors, the king or chief must inquire into the reason for swearing the oath and to adjudicate the matter. Mensa-Bonsu discusses various kinds of ntam and the role they play in judicial, executive, and military processes.

HRAF PubDate

2000

Region

Africa

Sub Region

Western Africa

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Unknown

Analyst

Ian Skoggard ;1999

Field Date

Not Specified

Coverage Date

1700-1900

Coverage Place

Ashanti; Ghana

Notes

Henrietta J. Mensa-Bonsu

Includes bibliographical references

LCCN

88644908

LCSH

Akan (African people)