AFS 157: Chieftaincy and Governance in Africa

The course explores chieftaincy as an institution that started several years ago before the advent of colonialism. Modern democracy developed through indirect and direct rule that existed and used by the local traditional rulers. Students will learn the origin of chieftaincy as the traditional institution during the period of hunting and gathering, horticulture and agrarian and society through to industrial and postindustrial society.

The course will discuss the basic ethnic groups in Ghana namely; the Akan, the mole Dagbani, the Guans, the Ga, Adangbe and the Ewes. Students will learn the basic similarities and differences that exist among the various groups in Ghana making them co-exist in Ghana. The first semester will discuss the Akan group especially the Ashanti.