Book

Double descent among the Fanti

Human Relations Area Files, Inc. • New Haven, Conn. • Published In 1954 • Pages: xiii, 145

By: Christensen, James Boyd.

Abstract

This doctoral thesis, presented to Northwestern University in 1952, is based on field work carried out during a period of eleven months in the Fanti states of Anomabu, Abura and Esiam. Christensen's intention was to show that the Fanti social system should be classed as one manifesting double descent on the basis of the membership of the individual in two distinct exogamous groups, one matrilineal and the other patrilineal. The matrilineal kin group is the abusua, and in this regard Fanti social organization is similar to that of the other Akan peoples. The significance of the paternal line, and its role in the religious and socio-political aspects of Fanti culture, is traced in the Fanti worship of the egyabosom (literally 'father's deity'), which Christensen equates with the Ashanti ntoro: in the Fanti concept of the inheritance of the blood from the father: and in the patrilineal military companies, the asofo, allegiance to which takes precedence over all other affiliations, even to the extent of bearing arms, if necessary, against ABUSUA kinsmen.|In addition to thourough analyses of Fanti scial organization, detailed data are provided on family relationships, care and training of children, inheritance, residence patterns, marriage, divorce, funerary rites, magic and slavery.

HRAF PubDate

2019

Region

Africa

Sub Region

Western Africa

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Mary L. Bartlett ; 1954

Field Date

1950-1951

Coverage Date

not specified

Coverage Place

Fanti; Ghana; Fanti states of Anomabu, Abura and Esiam.

Notes

James Boyd Christensen

Includes bibliographical references (p. 133)

Includes glossary

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Northwestern University, 1952

LCCN

55001514

LCSH

Twi (African peoples)