Location: |
Northeastern Ghana |
Population: |
30,000 |
Language: |
Frafra (Voltaic) |
Neighboring Peoples: |
Kassena, Mossi,
Winiama, Nuna,
Bwa, Lobi |
Types of Art: |
The most recognized of the Frafra art forms are cast brass jewelry and
beautifully decorated architecture. In addition anthropomorphic figures
sculpted from clay and wood and various personal objects, ranging from
jewelry to wooden stools, are created to honor the spirits. |
History: |
Frafra peoples belong to a larger subset of peoples in the area of
southern Burkina Faso and northern Ghana collectively known as Gurunsi
peoples. This term is applied to these peoples, who share common
histories, languages, and political structures, but it may also carry
pejorative overtones in local usage. Most of Gurunsi live in modern day
Burkina Faso, and the degree to which Frafra history differs from their
northerly neighbors, such as the Nuna, Bwa, and Winiama, is linked to
their living in modern day Ghana. These differences arose during colonial
times, which began in the early part of the 20th century, as French and
British colonial systems differed in their administrative practices.
|
Economy: |
Frafra are primarily sedentary farmers, growing millet, sorghum, and
yams. Maize, rice, peanuts, and beans are grown in addition to these
staples. Farmers throughout the region practice slash and burn farming,
using fields for approximately seven or eight years before they are
allowed to lie fallow for at least a decade. In the family fields close to
the villages, women grow cash crops, including sesame and tobacco, which
are sold in local markets. Men participate in hunting during the long dry
season. This is important for ritual reasons, since it is during this time
that men may interact with the spirits that inhabit the bush. During the
dry season, when food supplies are running low, some fishing is practiced
in local swamps. |
Political Systems: |
Frafra societies are comprised mainly of farmers, without social or
political stratification. They are not divided among occupational castes
or groups since most of them simply till the land and engage in occasional
hunting. They had no internal system of chiefs, and all important
decisions were made by a council of elders consisting of the oldest
members of each of the village lineages. Religious leaders do maintain
some political authority, determining the agricultural cycle and parceling
out land for cultivation. |
Religion: |
Belief in a supreme creator being is central to Frafra beliefs. A
shrine to this god occupies the center of every village. Each extended
family maintains its own hut, in which the lineage magical objects are
kept. The objects allow the family to maintain contact with the vital
forces of nature. These objects are inherited by the ancestors and are the
communal property of the lineage, providing protection and social cohesion
among all members of the family. |