Rites in Connection with Passage of Life in African Traditions

 There are many stages that a man has to pass in life.
These are periods when people are metaphysically and sociologically made new
beings with new social roles: children become adults, men and women are made
husbands and wives and the deceased are made ancestors. The rituals associated
with each one of them are called rites of passage. Each of these stages is distinctive
and is observed in African communities with religious ceremonies. They include
birth rites, puberty rites, marriage rites and funeral rites. 

Since these rites differ from one ethnic group to another, we would examine the rites among the Ashanti people in Ghana.

The Ashanti

The pregnant Ashanti woman (in Ghana) has many
restrictions. She is not allowed to leave the compound and she is to cover her
head and breasts when going out become unavoidable. She must not be told that
she is pregnant. She must not abuse a divinity. She must not sight blood or any
ugly thing. Failure to observe these can lead to a miscarriage or an abnormal
child. She is kept indoors for the first three months. She leaves for her
parent’s house when the pregnancy becomes eighth months. She stays there till
delivery. Female attendants are called in on the delivery day. No special attention
is given the new child for the first eight days because no one knows if the child
decides to stay on earth. Clothes are provided for the baby and a name is given
after eight days. The child is named in line with the day of birth. A baby boy
born on Friday is called Kofi and the one on Saturday is called Kwame.

Puberty

An Ashanti girl marks her puberty rite at the first
sign of her menstruation. She informs her mother as soon as she sees her menses
for the first time. The mother informs the community. She returns home to pour
libation to Nyame (god) and the ancestors. The girls pubic and armpit hair are
shaved. This symbolizes a new baby in adulthood. A ceremony is performed.
Everybody is given enough to eat and to drink. Then the girl is ripe for
marriage.

Marriage

When an Ashanti man decides to take a girl as wife, he
presents gift to his parent-in-law. It could be clearing the coca farm. This is
done to curry the favour of the girl’s parents. After the parents’ agreement,
the ancestors seal the marriage. The girl is then allowed to follow her husband
home.