College of Humanities & Social Sciences

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Browsing College of Humanities & Social Sciences by Author "Asiedu, Nana Kwaku"

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    Art and Chieftaincy in Ahwiaa Culture.
    (June, 2010.) Asiedu, Nana Kwaku
    The study, explored the role of Art and Chieftaincy in Ahwiaa Culture. The prime intention of the study stems from the fact that although a great deal of arts pervades the chieftaincy heritage of Ahwiaa, little recognition has been given to these arts in scholarly circles. Ahwiaa, a town that is predominantly a carving community, serves as a place where wooden artefacts are produced for the Asantehene (the King of Asante) and other prominent chiefs. In-depth observation and analysis of the chieftaincy heritage of Ahwiaa culture reveals that art, among the culture of the people, is the most significant phenomenon that makes the chieftaincy of the people outstanding.Data were collected through observation, structured and unstructured interviews and also the administering of questionnaire. The stratified random sampling was used to divide the population into heterogeneous units since the population had much dissimilarity and thus lowered the variance of the population. The main findings of the study indicated that the arts are highly functional and symbolic to Ahwiaa chieftaincy and the latter can neither exist nor operate without its arts. Thearts pervade the other aspects of the culture of the people and therefore play economic, religious, social, political and medical roles in the Ahwiaa community. Chieftaincy of Ahwiaa will cease if the chief stops his carvers from carving stools and other needed wood products for the king and other chiefs of Asante because the chieftaincy system of Ahwiaa was created to carve stools for the said king and chiefs. Finally, the Ahwiaa chieftaincy system itself is predominantly artistic, and that, when the Ahwiaahene, his sub-chiefs and the Queenmother appear formally at a public function, they are fully decorated with artefacts. The study therefore recommends that the Ahwiaahene and his sub-chiefs should establish an institute that would research and document its arts and cultural activities and theAsanteman Council should also give all the necessary assistance to these people to enable them expand this profession to earn more foreign exchange for the region and the country asa whole to enhance its socio-cultural heritage.