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)