Akan calendar

Many of the peoples in what is now Ghana have their own traditional calendar systems that are distributed more or less depending on the region and still apply, except with respect to agriculture, fishing or activities within the framework of a traditional religious practice.

Calendar of Akan and Guang

Moon Calendar

Wilhelm Johann Müller, which as a Protestant preacher of the Danish African - Guinean Company to Frederiksborg worked in the years 1662 to 1670, mentioned in his book, which divide the fetus the year in 8 months and count the months by at the sight every time of a new moon, make a knot in a Zählschnur. Since a lunar month, that is, a phase of the moon, however, is exactly 29.5306 days long, can arise from eight months neither a lunar year or a solar year. However, Müller also mentions that said nodes are used to calculate the timing of the general main ceremony, which takes place every year in September.

Adaduanan calendar

This is a sacred calendar, which in Asante was particularly common and is even today. In historical times, he seems to have been widespread but also in the other Akan peoples. The aschantische variant of Adaduanan divides the year into nine periods of 40 days ( Adae ). Each of these 40 - day periods is divided in six weeks of 6 days. All those six days are sacred and moving name. Two special days are held to be particularly favorable - these are based on the European calendar, the Wednesday and Sunday. Only on these two days listening to one week, or start a new one. If the end of a 40-day period in between, the week will be extended until the next Wednesday or Sunday, so that usually results in a 42- day period as Adae.

Located in the historic Kingdom Fetu the 1660s was such a period of 44 days, which divided to the rhythm of 19-6-13-6- day periods. Only the 19 - and the 13 - day period were called " happy days " or Adae. The first three days of the 19 -day period were named according to Müller and A dà per pram pram, which had " very happy days " means. The respective 6-day periods were A dà mu, ie Unlucky days.

The Adaduanan had been built earlier on a 6 -day week, as it exists in some regions, the North -Guang today. For example, know the Nchumburu such a 6 -day week ( Nanson ), which consists of the following days and which have the following weighting:

This 6 -day week in Adaduanan was later replaced with the Nchumburu by a 7 -day week ( Nawotwe ). This was composed of the following days:

The combination of these two week cycles, ie 6 times 7 days produced during the Nchumburu a Adae, ie a 42- day period. The names of the days are simply composed of the name in the 6 -day week and the name in the 7 -day week, for example, means the 30th day of a Adae period: mono- Bena.

Star Calendar

The common especially in the Etsi calendar takes into account the sky positions of very striking stars, such as the Southern Cross, the North Star, Sirius and Cassiopeia. It is used mainly by fishermen.

Aborabora calendar

The Aborabora calendar was in use mainly on the western Gold Coast, and especially in the Asebu ( Sabou ). This is a 10 -day calendar, which seems to be a simplified version of the 40-day calendar ( Adaduanan ). But he has his own special peculiarities compared to demAdaduanan.

Calendar of Sisala

In the Sisala in the northwest of present-day Ghana, a new year begins with the appearance of a certain star in the night sky, they call Nyamkpanse. Such a year is divided into 12 or 13 lunar periods that determine the time for all the important public activities, celebrations, etc. in their cycle.

Calendar of Tallensi

The Tallensi in the northern territories of modern Ghana have a lunar calendar, according to which particular aligns the timing of their ritual celebrations. The months of the year are identical to the phases of the moon. However, year-end or early depends on the rainy season, which lasts roughly seen in the traditional settlement areas of Tallensi April to September. Social and religious activities that are associated with annual changes are almost exclusively oriented to agricultural conditions, which are in turn linked to the rainy season and the lunar months. Thus, the early millet is harvested in July-August, for example, during late millet and sorghum remain on. These are harvested in a specific month, instead of say within a moon phase. Both the Talli as well as the Namoo individual months are occupied with special taboos that might be added in addition to the existing taboos constantly.

The last month, that is, the last phase of the moon the rainy season is the KUOM ngmarig, literally the " water moon ". This is where a ceremonial cycle, which starts near the Baari and then recorded from here the entire Tallensi country. The Baari on the first day of a new moon phase in which the rainy season will end the "Throw - away - the - water " performed by the " Baari Tendana " literally ceremony, ie symbolically, the rains of the first day of the new month will be discarded. On the fifth day of the moon and the following days will be celebrated Gingaung Festival at the Namoo in Tongo, in the course of which they thanked the ancestors for a good harvest in early millet and for the gutstehende, other cereals ( sorghum and late - millet. spite of all the solemnity of the "moon water " for the Baari - Talli and Namoos is a dangerous month because according to traditional beliefs in this month grown human suffering that are caused by the fact that the ore - sin has been committed and blood being spilled on the ground.

The subsequent lunar month is the " moon of Daa ". This month, the Gingaung menga phase of Ginggaung Festival takes place at the Namoo, the highlight of which falls in the second week of the moon. In general, harvested this month of sorghum and millet late. Here the Daa Festival will be celebrated in both the Talli - clans as well as the Namoos. If the " moon of Daa " is over, is also the year to end and a new one begins. Then New Year is celebrated everywhere.

The subsequent phase of the moon is the " Boyaraam ngmarig ". Here at the hill - Tallis Boyaraam the festival is celebrated, which follows the same ritual ceremony that takes place on the first day of the appearance of the new moon. But the festival has a much more religious background as the Gingaung and Daa - Daa festival of Namoos and the Baari and Gbezug.

The last lunar month before the onset of the rainy season ( late April or early May) is the " moon of Golib ". Here at the hill - Tallis finds the Golib Festival held whose ritual ceremonies have the purpose to ensure a successful sowing and harvesting of early millet and to ask for the blessing of fertility in general. The month is linked for the Hill Tallis with numerous special taboos.

Calendar of Togo radical peoples

The Santrokofi as well as the Akpafu, two of the so-called Togo radical peoples in the east of present-day Ghana, a calendar is in use, in which the year is composed of 13 lunar months, which are each composed of 28 to 30 days. Such a lunar month begins with the appearance of the new moon. The individual months consist of weeks of 2 x 3 days, ie 4 - 5 weeks make a month, with the last week in the rule is not complete.

The emphasis within such week cycle is 2 x 3, for each of the 1st and 4th days are sacred days that certain deities are dedicated.

Here, the " ICPO " day is dedicated to the " Tukpa " at the Akpafu, ie National and peace God, who is also responsible for the fertility in the agricultural field crops. In its day, especially the shooting is prohibited. Three months after the harvest takes these areas instead of a special festival in honor of the deity, which takes place every year around March and lasts a full day. This day is called by the Akpafu " Tukpaikpo ", as a composition of " Tukpa " and " ICPO ".

The Santrokofi the " LEPO " day is dedicated to the deities " Jángba ", " Togoté " and " Toróco ", all three are the main deities of certain clans. The former is a powerful God especially in the neighboring Likpe.

On " ikúlu " tag four other deities are worshiped at the Akpafu that seem but otherwise not to be too important, as long as it applies to encounter no catastrophic conditions. These are " Kánedu " the Wassegott; " Jakpaná ", the fire god; " Auwe ", the air deity and " Tricocó ", the earth deity. The annual Hauptfestivität for these four gods coincides with the " Tukpaikpo " tag (see above) together.

European influence

Over time, and not materially affected by the constant contact with Europeans a calendar form has emerged especially in the communities on the coast and in the hinterland that divides according to the tropical Somnnenjahr used in Europe the year into 12 months. The distinctive vertices of such year, however, are geared to agricultural conditions. According to this calendar the date of commencement of sowing and reaping is determined in arable farming in the Akan.

According to Cruickshank, which describes the Gold Coast of the 1830s, the share Fantis the Gold Coast, probably due to years of European influence, analogous to those in their agricultural calendar, the year in 12 months, and weeks, each consisting of seven days. One of those seven days, is analogous to the Sabbath of the Jewish Old Testament day of rest.

However, in contrast to the European practice of this rest day is Tuesday with the fishermen on the coast and Friday at the farmers field in the interior. On such a day is generally not worked and dressed with more than usual care, and also all kinds of attention devoted to the fetish service. In addition, an individual also the one day of the week on which he was born (which is usually on one of the name is recognizable ) give special attention.