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The people of Konongo, like many Ghanaians
have seen the influence of both Christianity and Islam in their
religious lives. Foreign religious influences began with the establishment of the Saint Gabriel Catholic Church with their mission schools which trained almost all the educated elites in the town. Presently, there are almost every church denomination practicing their faith in Konongo. Among the notable ones are the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and a host of Pentecostal churches, both local and international. The Church of Jesus Christ of the latter-day Saints is the latest denomination to be added to the number. Muslims also make up a sizeable number, especially among the migrant communities.
Despite the foreign religious influence, majority
of the people believe in the values of traditional religion. The
beliefs are manifested in a lot of ways among which are funeral
ceremonies, child naming, marriages etc. Even though one cannot
pin-point a congregation of traditional religion, it is manifested
in the values of the people and their everyday lives. The traditional religion of the people of Konongo referred to above, as part of the Akan traditional religion, is mainly ancestral worship, and the position of chiefs and family heads gains significance within the organized ceremonies by which the people express their sense of dependence on their ancestors, who are considered to be the owners of the land and the wealth of the area.
Konongo people traditionally, believe in a
world of "asaman" (spirits) where all their ancestors
live in very much the same way as they lived on earth, even imbued
with more powers by the Supreme Being, Onyankopon Kwame (Kwame
is a day name for a male born on a Saturday. Thus, God is believed
to be a male, born on a Saturday. More interestingly, the devil
is believed to have been born on a Wednesday, hence the name (Kwaku
Bonsam). This conception of life after death, similar to life
on earth, is implicit in their funeral ceremonies. Death does
not sever the ties of kinship. Between the dead and their living
relations, the bond of kinship is believed to persist. The ancestors
are believed to be always watching the behaviour of those they
have left behind on earth, sending them help and protection, or
punishing them with misfortune, if they do act irresponsibly. The general traditional religion which Konongo's is but a part believe in a Supreme Being or God, lesser gods (similar to angels), ancestors (similar to Christian belief in people like Abraham, Moses etc) and charms, amulets etc. (similar to the crucifix, rosaries etc).
Kinship, reverence for the ancestors, and belief
in the spiritual power of the earth have combined to give a stable
political and land tenure system in the town. Basically, the people
believe that the earth has power or spirit of her own which could
be helpful if propitiated or harmful if neglected. Despite the
power possessed by the Earth Goddess, Asaase Yaa (the earth "assase"
is considered a female born on a Thursday hence the day name "Yaa"),
she is not considered a "lesser god" but as a powerful
companion of the Supreme Being. Their relationship is likened
to that of a Chief (Ohene) and the Queenmother (Ohemaa). Thus,
the saying, "assase nye bosom; onkyere mmusuo" (theearth is not a lesser goddess, she does not divine).
The importance of traditional religion is seen
in the area of traditional politics and land ownership (which
is the base of all property rights in Konongo). Even though the
earth is regarded as possessing spirits or powers of her own,
land is considered as belonging to the ancestors. It is from them
that the living have inherited the right to use it. The farmer's
prayer (in Ashanti) when he offers his sacrifice of farm produce
began: Grandfather you once came and lived here and then you left
it to me. It was because his ancestors had lived there that he
had inherited the right to live and farm there. |