The Making of an African King: Patrilineal & Matrilineal Struggle Among the Effutu of Ghana

By Anthony Ephirim-Donkor

Book Overview

In the West, the primacy of patrilineal succession is deeply entrenched that the thought of supplanting that with matrilineal succession would be unthinkable. But that is exactly situation among the Guan community of Winneba, Ghana called the Effutu. Their ancient patrilineal system of succession is in contention with the matrilineal succession practiced by their populous Akan neighbors. In a large context chieftaincy disputes, or better yet, kingship rivalry is endemic in Ghana, particularly among the Akan. Each year the government commits considerable resources to combat these rivalries that sometimes result in conflicts and inter-ethnic warfare. These conflicts may be caused by rivalry among the members of the same family vying for the kingship. Affluent non-royals or those with remote ties to royalty may buy their way to power. A tributary king, or the descendants of a family that was given a sanctuary by the king whose land their ancestors occupies may then contest the kingship.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0865437173
• ISBN13: 9780865437173
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Africa World Pr
• Length: 226 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 1.0" x 5.3"