Fascinating tribal traditions that will remind you why Ghana is so special

No matter where you are living in the world, having Ghanaian heritage is something to be very proud of.

From its fascinating history to diverse culture, if you have moved away from Ghana you have probably had people mesmerized by stories of the wonderful customs of your home country.

Ties to family in this relatively new nation are strong, so odds are you will want to keep in regular contact with those you love as well as keep up-to-date with what’s happening at home.

Thanks to Ding, it has never been easier to feel closer to the wonderful ways of home. 

There are over one hundred ethnic groups living in Ghana alone, each with their own set of traditions and ways of life so it’s not surprising that some of these groups have developed pretty amazing traditions:

7-day Funerals

For people of the Ashanti tribe, a sub-set of the Akan group (the largest ethnic group currently in Ghana), funerals in certain communities would traditionally be expected to last several days.

Not only would attendance be considered compulsory but would also take up a large proportion of a family’s annual household budget.

While funeral traditions vary from village to village and as time goes on, we do like the idea of a seven-day party for our loved ones when we pass away.

Tribal Marks

Tribal markings are considered taboo for many people in Ghana.

The reason for this unique tradition varies from tribe to tribe. Some believe that babies marked by facial scars would be safer from evil spirits and others simply use it as a form of tribal decoration or identification.

In other groups, such as the Surma tribe, tribal markings are also a sign of sign of beauty and family wealth with young girls encouraged to engage in bodily markings and lip stretching.

Superstition

The belief systems of many tribes are often influenced by religion and superstition.

For example, in the Akan tribe, pregnant women are traditionally warned to stay away from 'ugly' animals such as pigs or monkeys as well as scary looking carvings or paintings.

Many believed that by viewing unpleasant things such as these, it will increase the chances of a baby taking on similar characteristics! 

Family

One tradition that unites everyone in Ghana is the importance of family.

In one of the more traditional customs, Ghanaian people understand how vital it is to stay connected to those they love.

Use Ding to send international top up to local operators such as MTN Ghana, AirtelTigo, Vodafone and Glo, and stay in touch people that mean the most to you, no matter where you are in the world.