Traditional Beliefs and Practices in Masquerading: Effutu Context
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32734/ijcas.v6i1.7413Keywords:
Effutu, Functionalism, Masquerades, Traditional beliefs and practices, Visual cultureAbstract
The study elevates the masquerading culture of Effutu masquerade and examines its functionalism of the traditional beliefs and practices associated with the masquerading culture in Winneba, Central Region of Ghana. The study employed a descriptive research tool under the qualitative research approach through ethnographic inquiry, which aimed at collecting data to unearth these traditional beliefs and practices of the Effutu masquerade. The study used unstructured interviews, photographs, and direct observation as the form of instrumentations to elicit information from the federation, some members, and leaders of the various masquerade groups in Winneba. The data was analyzed using descriptive and interpretative phenomenological (IPA) analysis tools. It was revealed that the Effutu masquerade culture possessed traditional beliefs and practices that were shrouded in religious, socioeconomic and aesthetic contexts. Functionalism in Effutu masquerade culture was seen as a repository for a critical reflection of the visual culture that promotes Ghana’s tradition and cultural values. The study concludes that the Effutu masquerade, irrespective of its distrust, contains elements of cultural richness and important traditional values that demonstrate a degree of philosophical urgency.
Downloads
References
Akyeampong, O. A. & Yankholmes, A. (2016). “Profiling masquerade festival attendees in Ghana”. Event Management, 20, 285–296. http://dx.doi.org/10.3727/152599516X14643674421933
Acquah, F. (2011). The impact of African traditional religious beliefs and cultural values on Christian-Muslim relations in Ghana from 1920 through the present: A case study of Nkusukum-Ekumfi-Enyan area of the Central Region. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Exeter, UK. https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10036/3473/AcquahF.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
Aderibigbe, I. S. (2015). Religious traditions in Africa: An overview of origins, basic beliefs, and practices. In Contemporary perspectives on religions in Africa and the African Diaspora, edited by Aderibigbe, I. S. and Jones Medine, C. M. (Eds.), New York: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137498052_2
Akubor, E. O. (2016). Africans concept of masquerades and their role in societal control and stability: Some notes on the Esan people of southern Nigeria. Asian and African Studies, 25 (1): 32-50.
Brown, K. E. (2005). Social conflicts in contemporary Effutu festivals. Unpublished master’s thesis, Graduate College, Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_olink/r/1501/10?p10_etd_subid=48294&clear=10
Crossman, A. (2021). Understanding functionalist theory. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/functionalist-perspective-3026625 (accessed August 25, 2021).
Dallas Museum of Art. (2017). Cultures & traditions: Masquerades (African masks). Retrieved from https://collections.dma.org/essay/ag02A6Pv (accessed May 17, 2021).
Dellorfano, R. (2019, August 9). Religious masquerade: The persona of charismatic spiritual father. Retrieved from https://www.newoxfordreview.org/religious-masquerade/ (accessed August 25, 2021).
Dulock, H. L. (1993). Research design: Descriptive research. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 10 (4):154–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/104345429301000406.
Durkheim, E. (1893). The division of labour in society. Illinois: The Free Press of Glencoe. http://fs2.american.edu/dfagel/www/Class%20Readings/Durkheim/Division%20Of%20Labor%20Final%20Version.pdf
Effutustate. (2018). Masquerade festival. Retrieved from http://effutustate.net/masquerade-festival.html (accessed May 17, 2021).
Eyalitours. (2019, May 20). Winneba fancy dress festival 2020. Retrieved from https://eyalitours.com/product/winneba-fancy-dress-festival/ (accessed May 18, 2021).
Fade, S. (2004). Using interpretative phenomenological analysis for public health nutrition and dietetic research: A practical guide. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 63, 647-653. https://doi.org/10.1079/PNS2004398
Femi, T. (2015, January 15). The magnificent African masquerade. Retrieved from https://discover.hubpages.com/holidays/The-Magnificent-African-Masquerade (accessed August 25, 2021).
Gómez-Diago, G. (2020). Functionalist theory. In The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society, edited by Debra L. Merskin (Ed.), Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483375519.n260
De Jong, F. (2007). Secrecy, sacrilege and the state. In Masquerades of Modernity: Power and Secrecy in Casamance, Senegal (pp. 128–152). Edinburgh University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctt1r291z.12
Kanu, I. A. (2018). The paradox of secrecy in African traditional religion. International Journal of Religion and Human Relations, 10 (1): 35-55.
Kumadoh, J. & A Rocha Ghana. (2016). Community sacred forest in the Effutu traditional area, Central region, Ghana. Retrieved from https://satoyama-initiative.org/case_studies/community-sacred-forest-in-the-effutu-traditional-area-central-region-ghana/ (accessed May 18, 2021).
Leedy, P. & Ormrod, J. (2001). Practical research: Planning and design (7th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
Lumen learning. (2019). Chapter 3: Anthropological theory – Functionalism. Lumen learning. Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/culturalanthropology/chapter/anthropology-theory-functionalism/ (accessed May 18, 2021).
Mack, J. (2000). Africa arts and cultures. London: British Museum Press.
Micah, V. K. B. (2014). Beliefs and practices associated with masquerading culture in Winneba, Ghana. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Department of Music Education, School of Creative Arts, Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba-Ghana.
Micots, C. (2014). Carnival in Ghana: Fancy dress street parades and competition. African Arts, 47 (1): 31 – 41. http://www.famu.edu/fineartsprogram/Carnival%20in%20Ghana%20-%20Micots.pdf
Miller, I. L. (2015). Separated by the slave trade: Nigerians and Cubans reunite through a shared cultural practice. In African Indigenous Religious Traditions in Local and Global Contexts: Perspectives on Nigeria, edited by Ogungbile, David O. (Ed.) (2015). Lagos, Nigeria: Malthouse Press.
Miller, J. (2008). Tribal art. New York: DK Publishing Inc.
Namboothiri, P. G. & Puthumana, G. (2021). Cultural identity and aesthetics in Indian folk dance Thidambu Nritham: A performance outlook. International Journal of Culture and Art Studies (IJCAS), 5 (1), 38–44.
Pringle, J., Drummond, J., McLafferty, E. & Hendry, C. (2011). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: A discussion and critique. Nurse Researcher, 18 (3): 20-24.
Spencer, H. (1896). The principles of sociology, Vols. 3. New York: Appleton.
Ukaegbu, V. I. (1996). The composite scene: The aesthetics of Igbo mask theatre. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Exeter School of Arts and Design, Faculty of Arts and Education, University of Plymouth, UK. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/29818854.pdf
Underwood, L. (1964). Masks of West Africa. London: Alec Tiranti Ltd.
Walker, R. (2010). African masks: The art of disguise. Retrieved from https://dma.org/press-release/african-masks-art-disguise (accessed May 20, 2021).
Wikipedia contributors. (2021). Winneba. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winneba&oldid=1021300538 (accessed May 3, 2021).
Wikipedia. (2008). Secret society. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_society
World Festivals. (2021, May 3). Festivals and events in Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.world-festivals.net/ghana/ghana-festivals.htm (accessed May 3, 2021).
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2022 Victor Kweku Bondzie Micah, Evans Kwadwo Donkor, Owusu-Ansah Ankrah
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
