Overlapping Values in Christianity and African (Ghanaian) Traditional Culture

Résumé

The study centres on the common moral values of Christianity and indigenous Ghanaian culture, with specific emphasis on the Fante culture. Ghana is considered a very religious country in West Africa; 71.3% of the total Ghanaian population is made up of Christians, according to the 2021 census. However, indigenous culture still influences the daily lives of Ghanaians. The study focuses on critical areas such as chastity, gender roles, fertility, procreation, and family honor to show similarities and differences between the values of the two cultures. The study uses the qualitative research method and comparative analysis to explore the similarities in the moral values of Christianity and indigenous Ghanaian culture. The research reveals similarities in the value of sexual purity. According to the study, the Bible teaches Christians to practice chastity before marriage and fidelity after marriage. Similarly, indigenous Ghanaian culture values sexual purity before marriage through rituals such as Dipo and Bragoro to maintain family honor. Both cultures value marriage as the right place for sex; however, they differ in how they enforce these values. Christianity encourages voluntary practice of these values through sermons from the Bible, while indigenous Ghanaian culture uses coercive traditions such as Trokosi, which is harmful to young girls. The authors of the study recommend that dialogue should be encouraged to bring these values together for the benefit of Ghanaian society today. This study bridges the gap between Christian and Ghanaian indigenous ethics by analyzing how overlapping values impact social cohesion, gender roles, and human rights.

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