Ziemia w rytuałach dożynkowych u ludu Konkomba z północnej Ghany

Abstract

Beliefs and rituals of the primitive people in Africa and other continents testify to the sacred character of the Earth, its fertility and vital power. The Earth cult of the agrarian people of Konkomba from northern Ghana ist mostly connected with the agricultural economy. The guinea corn harvest feasts belong to the important agrarian rituals of the Konkomba. The present article analyses and interprets the rites performed in Earth shrines in the villages of Kukuln and Nakpando. Those rites constitute the initial part of harvest rituals associated with the harvest of guinea corn and which are principally performed in homesteads. The source basis was provided by the author’s fieldwork conducted among the Konkomba people in the area of Saboba from September 1990 till August 1991. The feasts of guinea corn harvest in the villages of Kukuln and Nakpando took place on 25th and 26th December, 1990. The concurrence of the date of the ritual in the Kukuln village with Christmas is not accidental but it is explained by the influence of Christianity and the economical reasons. On the other hand, the guinea corn harvest feast in the village of Nakpando was performed according to tradition, that is on the day called lafe. The rites in Earth shrines were performed by an old man chosen by the oldest member of the major lineage (Kukuln) or by the oldest member of the major lineage who held the function of an Earth priest (Nakpando). Representatives of both segments of the major lineage participated in the celebrations. On the other hand, there were no representatives of the major lineage Kaasiini from the Kukultiib clan and of the major lineage Botatiib from the Nakpantiib clan. The feasts of guinea corn harvest and the analysed rites had a lineage range. Besides the social character, the rites presented here had also a religious dimension. This is manifested in the addressess of the prayers and sacrifices (Earth spirits, god Uwumbor, protective spirits of the clan, ancestors), the content of propitiatory prayers as well as the sacrificed beer, blood, meat pieces and poultry intestines.