African And Christian Perspective On Widowhood Rite
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Date
2005
Authors
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
One of the earliest Christian movements to arrive in Ghana was the Catholic
Church, which made its debut in around 1899. The missionary zeal couple with the
dedication of the local catechist and clergy enabled the church to make significant
inroads into extensive stretches of the country, such that as at now, "Ghanaian
Catholic population is 12.18% of the total population which is about 20 million. "1
Against the relative success, in the absence of any deliberate moves to integrate the
strong local traditions, the church's teachings remained a largely foreign concept to
many.
Early missionaries, it would appear, had failed to grasp the significance or
import of the local, albeit enriching cultural practices, which they dismissed outright
as devilish or as fetish. Rituals pertaining to widowhood are particularly poignant
here. A new convert would find it conflicting and difficult to reconcile what one
believes compelling in the traditional values and the new Christian teaching. The
situation becomes even worse for the hapless widow who faces severe challenges
related to the loss of a loved one, material and emotional deprivation and then the
conflicts between cultural and spiritual welfare. It therefore remains the onerous
duty of the pastors and theologians and religious scholars to revisit the issue, study
the matter, and come up with some solution to this burning problem.
This research study aims at taking a critical look into the subject, seeking out
the meaningful components of the traditional practices and reconciling them with
the church's teachings and liturgy. It is anticipated that the findings will contribute
in some way to the other efforts that are being made to formulate an acceptable procedure in the rites aimed at giving the widow some solace following the
traumatizing loss.
The research focuses on the Akan community, made up of several groups
that are widely spread throughout Ghana. The afflictions and the indignity that befall
the widows among these distinctive groups are similar in many aspects. Some
references will, however, be made to relevant issues on the subject emanating from
other ethnic groups, in order to elucidate certain points.
The study begins with the background of the Akans and their culture, in
particular as it pertains to rites for bereaved widows. It goes on to sift through the
cultural practices to find out possible applications and integration into the church's
liturgy. Finally, a look is made into what the support groups within the civil society,
government agencies and the church itself can contribute to ameliorate the plight of
the widow.
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Keywords
Widowhood Rite, African, Christian Perspective