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CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CUSTOMS

Traditional Authourity


This  comprises  five  divisional  chiefs  and  one  (1)  sub-chief.   They  help   in  Revenue Mobilization, communal labour, awareness creation, environmental protection, security and the Administration of Justice. The area is endowed with a rich culture.

Ethnicity The predominant tribes in the District are Kusasis, Busangas, Mosis, Bimobas and Mamprusis. All these tribes co-exist harmoniously and inter marry which is a great potential for peace and development. There are quite a number of migrants from other parts of the country, especially the south, and neighbouring countries of Togo and Burkina Faso.

Marriage


The traditional marriage entails the distinctive practice of payment of a bride-price; the system where the family of the bridegroom meets some marriage expenses including the payment of 2 or 3 cows to the family of the bride. This practice of dowry system has led to so many hardships in many families and has even contributed to broken homes where indebtedness or debt servicing situation lasts for long periods. The temptation to withdraw female children from school to give up for marriage has had a serious toll in contributing to high school dropout among girls.

 Religious Composition


The Religious composition of the People is as follows;
Catholics                                - 9.2%.
Protestants                             - 4.3%.
Pentecostals                           - 4.5%.
Other Christians                      - 2.3%.
Islam                                     - 51.1%.
Traditional believers                 - 26.8%.
Non believers                          -1.2%.
Others                                    - 0.8%
Though people of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds inhabit the district communal spirit is high.


Religion

Islam is the dominant religion in the District. From the 2010 Population and Housing Census, 41 percent of the population in the census year were Muslims. Adherents to Christian faith constituted 39.7 percent, however, 2.4 percent of the population did not belong to any religious faith.

Considering religion affiliation by gender, 42.1 percent of the total female population were in the Christian fraternity compared to 37.1 percent of males who were Christians.

Culture.

The area is endowed with a rich culture and that promotes peaceful co-existence among the people in the District. This is in the area of traditional set up, ethnic diversity, good communal spirit, traditional dancing and singing, religious composition, rich cultural practices such as festivals which promote development. There are also negative cultural practices which are to be discouraged such high funeral celebrations, high bride prices and early marriage.  

Ethnicity

The predominant tribes in the District are Kusasis, Busangas, Mosis, Bimobas and Mamprusis. All these tribes co-exist harmoniously and inter marry which is a great potential for peace and development. There are quite a number of migrants from other parts of the country, especially the south, and neighbouring countries of Togo and Burkina Faso.

Sustaining this peaceful co-existence would require putting in place institutional arrangements so that the peace is not taken for granted. For instance, there would be the need to put in place mechanisms to prevent the spill over effects of the Bawku ethnic conflict. District Security Committee meet regularly to monitor the security situation always.

Festivals

Annual festivals are observed in the District. The festivals are celebrated by the different tribes at the beginning of the harvest or after the harvest season. On these occasions, apart from merry making, traditional sacrifices are made to the gods of the land. This is done in acknowledgement of their blessings in the past and to implore their help and protection for the future.

The Festivals are also seen as rallying points for mobilising resources for community development such as provision of health, education, water and sanitation facilities and promoting girl child education. 

The most wide spread festivals of the District are the Samanpid of the Kusasis, Ziisar of the Kusasis and Bimobas and the Danjuar festival of the Bimobas.


Date Created : 11/20/2017 6:08:59 AM