article
Ritual festivals and social cohesion in the Hinterland of the Gold Coast
American anthropologist, n.s. • 38 • Published In 1936 • Pages: 590-604
By: Fortes, Meyer.
Abstract
This source contains a brief summary of the non-material culture of the Tallensi which serves as a background for the main part of the article, a description of the harvest festivals of the two main groups of the Tallensi. Also briefly noted is the Golib festival of the Talis whose purpose is to ensure a successful sowing and harvesting of early millet and to call down the blessing of fertility in general. Fortes envisages these festivals essentially as being integrative mechanisms which restore the forces of social cohesion between the two opposing groups in Tallensi society, the Talis and the Namoos. Fortes was William Wyse Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge.
- Subjects
- Community structure
- Community heads
- Localized kin groups
- Priesthood
- Avoidance and taboo
- Cultural participation
- Organized ceremonial
- Magic
- Sacred objects and places
- Dance
- Ingroup antagonisms
- Visiting and hospitality
- Prayers and sacrifices
- Puberty and initiation
- Functional and adaptational interpretations
- culture
- Tallensi
- HRAF PubDate
- 2010
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Western Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Timothy J. O'Leary ; 1957
- Field Date
- 1934-1935
- Coverage Date
- 1934-1936
- Coverage Place
- Tongo village, Ghana
- Notes
- Meyer Fortes
- Includes bibliographical references
- LCCN
- 17015424
- LCSH
- Tallensi (African people)