Daryn Carlin
Cultural Analysis
Ancient Ghana
By: Daryn Carlin
U.S., Africa & the World (WISE)
Professor Oluwajuyemi
11/15/12
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Daryn Carlin
Ancient Ghana was located in West Africa near the Niger and Senegal rivers. The name
‘Ghana’ means warrior king and is meant to symbolize power and wealth. There is great history
within the Ghana empire and marvelous stories passed down through generations. Ancient
Ghana was built into a wealthy empire based off its politics, unique gender roles amongst the
Akan people and spiritual beliefs and rituals. Ghana has a long history dating back to the BCE
ages and has become an influence to today’s African culture.
The Ghanaian empire’s location was an important asset to the civilization’s economy.
Their location was set in what is now present day southeastern Mauretania and western Mali.1
This location was essential because this area allowed them to control the Trans-Saharan trade
through their territory. The empire was positioned at the northern edge of the West African gold
fields and gold was a main trading commodity. Gold was their main means of economical power
in ancient Ghana. Neighboring states and countries would travel to trade with Ghana for gold
and Ghana would often acquire helpful and useful assets. Some items Ghanaians would receive
in exchange for gold were jewelry, ivory, dried fruits, grains, and slaves.2 Ghana’s trade system
was run by the king who was considered to be the, “wealthiest king on the face of the earth.”3
The king then announced that a tax would be placed on all items going in and out of the territory4
enabling Ghanaian people to become wealthy and the civilization as a whole to become
wealthier. Another aid in the Trans-Saharan trade that brought in more revenue was the
introduction of camels in North Africa. Ghana’s ability to trade with states across the Sahara
desert was because of camels. Camels were able to survive the desert’s harsh climates thanks to
1
P atrick J. Munson, "Archaeology and the Prehistoric Origins of the Ghana Empire," The
Journal of African History, 24, no. 3 (1980): 457,
2 In Early Civilizations, (Toucan Vally Publications, Inc., 1999), 24.
3 David Conrad, Empires of Medieval West Africa , (New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2005),
chap. 1.
4 In Early Civilizations, (Toucan Vally Publications, Inc., 1999), 24.
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their unique characteristics. Their flat feet were beneficial in maneuvering across the sandy
desert and they were able to survive days without water because they stored the water in their
hump. The Ghanaians having access to camels permitted them to, “dominate the international
caravan trade across Western Sahara and on to the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea.”5
Ghana’s controlling of the trade lifted them to elite status and brought the civilization
tremendous wealth.
The Ghana civilization was home to the Akan society. The Akan people were known as
the principal people of the gold coast6, the area where ancient Ghana was located. The Akan
were run by a ruler, king or chief who was always a man. Each state was run by a king and
queen mother. Girls were greatly appreciated in the Akan society because that meant that she,
“is a potential mother, one who may provide success for her linage.”7 Although the Akan valued
all children, they believed that, “having baby girls is even a greater gift from God than having
baby boys.”8 Boys and girls were appreciated and looked at under two different lights in the
Akan society. The senior women of the Akan society, known as obaapanyin, is responsible for
the women in a clan, or ethnic group, and also councils other women for their marriage or
divorce. Other women would go to the queen mother to seek advisement on marriage or divorce.
All women looked up to the queen mother and she was in charge of nominating the next king by
choosing from her nephews. Women were expected and encouraged to have many children.
The Akan believed that when one of the child’s parents dies, then they will have someone to
keep their memories alive. If there are more children then that will further enhance the parent’s
5
David Conrad, Empires of Medieval West Africa , (New York: Facts on File, Inc., 2005),
chap. 1.
6 Rev. W. T. Balmer, A History of the Akan Peoples of the Gold Coast , (London: The
Atlantis Press, ), 13.
7 Robert B. Fisher, West African Religous Traditions: Focus on the Akan of Ghana , (New
York: Orbis Books, 1998), 77.
8 ibid
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legacy. Women held a high place in society and were wealthy as well. The men of the Akan
society are looked at for protection. The men went to war and held authority over women. Men
are given small authority at an early age, usually at first with the women of his relation. A man
can give women orders and she must comply with them. These orders were usually tasks such as
washing his clothes, feeding him, or other tasks needed to be done around the house. Men were
responsible for building a home for his family. They were masters at ironworking and used this
skill to create tools to help with labor and superior weapons to fend off enemies. Men were
generally viewed as the protectors and the women were the comfort almost like it is today. The
Akan people of Ghana had many beliefs that based how they viewed the gender’s roles of the
society.
Ancient Ghana had many beliefs and rituals that were practiced. They believed in one
god who was then assisted by other lesser gods.9 Stories were told about these gods and other
spirits by griots, or traditional bards, who were informants and assigned to each king.10 Rituals
played a huge part amongst ethnic groups in ancient Ghana. The Soninke believe in sacrificing
one beautiful woman every year. During one specific year a lady by the name of Sia was
selected to be the year’s sacrifice. Sia was engaged to a man who did not want her to be killed so
he instead killed the man who was going to kill Sia. This broke tradition and ritual and the
Soninke believed this to be the reason they lost their power in Ghana.11 The Akan people
worshipped the afterlife more in their beliefs and rituals. They believed heavily in worshipping
their dead ancestors in a specific manner. The viewed the ancestors as spirits and their extended
family once they die. Akan people regard birth as a death in the spirit world. The Akan’s have a
9
In Early Civilizations, (Toucan Vally Publications, Inc., 1999), 24.
David S. Conrad, and Humphery J. Fisher, "The Conquest That Never Was: Ghana and the
Almoravids, 1076. II. The Local Oral Sources," History in Africa, 10 (1983): 53,
11 I n E a r l y C i v i l i z a t i o n s , ( T o u c a n V a l l y P u b l i c a t i o n s , I n c . , 1 9 9 9 ) , 2 4 .
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number of rituals for death. They believe that death is a, “trip across the river”12 so they give the
person about to die a drink of water and say a prayer as he or she passes on. After the body has
died it is washed by a woman from the patient’s mother and father’s side of the family.
Mourning the death is also a ritual as people do different acts to show their sorrow. Some people
will shave their heads bald, some adults fast from food and other relatives wear bands on their
arms. In the Akan society there is an understanding about what life after death means in regards
to their loved ones. They understand that human relationships cannot be broken and the dead are
expected to guard and protect the living. Akan sacrifices differ and range depending on the deity
and reason for the sacrifice taking place. Sacrifices for ancestors involve offering blood as a
symbol that represents life. Normal and more common sacrifices include just money or a food
offering but sacrifices done to remove unfortunate situations such as illness must be done with an
animal sacrifice. Spirits were a common theme in ancient Ghana and throughout West Africa as
different groups believed spirits roamed forbidden forest. Different encounters with this spirit
have come up throughout this region. It is believed to be the sasabonsam, which means the evil
spirit. This spirit was known to be the closest to the spirit of the devil of Christianity and Islam.
Ancient Ghana was a spiritual civilization that practiced many different rituals and had numerous
beliefs.
Ancient Ghana has made an impact on today’s world for a number of reasons. Modern
day Ghana named itself based on ancient Ghana despite not being in the same location or having
any true ties. The power and wealth of the Ghana empire was recognized and documented for
obvious reasons. The wealth that the empire was able to acquire says a lot about the intelligence
that it had. Ghana was superior then its neighboring states and that is why it flourished.
12
Robert B. Fisher, West African Religous Traditions: Focus on the Akan of Ghana , (New
York: Orbis Books, 1998), 77.
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Mastering the art of iron working allowed successor civilizations and other areas to learn the art
and pass it on as well making it a global impact. The tools and weapons that they made were far
advanced than the ones that its enemies produced. The advancement of technology that it
provided would have to be its most important contribution to the world. Along with the iron
technology was the agriculture and Ghana’s expertise in that field as well. Ancient Ghana
helped advance the world as we know it today and is one the early empires of the Africa.
Ancient Ghana’s effect has been placed throughout Africa. Being that the empire lived
so long ago and how much technology has changed it is not reality for today’s society to live
exactly like they did. Although this is true, pieces of their former lifestyle and culture have been
taken and adapted into new societies and civilizations. Some of the same rituals and religious
practices are still being applied today. The spiritual aspect is still there but in a more controlled
manner. Today sacrifices are still performed in some African countries such as Nigeria, Uganda,
Swaziland and others.13 Although not in the same form and it is incredulous that it is still around
but thus it is still there. The use of camels is still in effect and on an even wider scale in modern
day Africa. Other animals have also come into the picture as time as gone on and more have
evolved.
Ancient Ghana experienced a tremendous amount of power and wealth and is known as
being one of the strongest empires of early Africa. Their legacy is packed with stories of
kingship, war, gold, and wealth. Ghana is known for the large supplies of gold it had and traded
for other goods. The Ghana empire excelled and flourished because of its politics, gender roles
assigned by the Akan people and spiritual beliefs and rituals. Ghana was a religious society that
13L e o
Igwe, "Ritual Killing and Human Sacrifice in Africa," Institute for Ethics and
Emerging Technologies (blog), February 19, 2012,
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/5314.
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believed in the afterlife and worshipped it with grace. Ghana left its mark on the world when the
empire fell around 1250 CE and its contributions can still be felt today.
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Reference Page

Balmer, Rev. W. T. . A History of the Akan Peoples of the Gold Coast. London: The
Atlantis Press,

Conrad, David. Empires of Medieval West Africa. NewYork: Facts on File, Inc., 2005.

Conrad, David S., and Humphery J. Fisher. "The Conquest That Never Was: Ghana and
the Almoravids, 1076. II. The Local Oral Sources." History in Africa. 10. (1983): 53.

Early Civilizations. Toucan Valley Publications, Inc., 1999

Igwe, Leo. "Ritual Killing and Human Sacrifice in Africa." Institute for Ethics and
Emerging Technologies (blog), February 19, 2012.
http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/5314 (accessed November 18, 2012).

Fisher, Robert B. West African Religous Traditions: Focus on the Akan of Ghana. New
York: Orbis Books, 1998.

Munson, Patrick J. "Archaeology and the Prehistoric Origins of the Ghana Empire." The
Journal of African History. 24. no. 3 (1980): 457.
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