98.

RESEARCH REPORT ON DANGME  STUDIES  PROJECT

by  E.O. Apronti

Background

At  a general  staff meeting  early  this year  (1972), the
Institute  decided  to embark  on a number  of  inter-disciplinary
area  study  projects, on  the model  of the Ashantl  Research
Project.  One such  project  is the Dangme Studies  Project  in
which  scholars  specializing  In Social  Anthropology,  Linguis-
tics, Literature, Music, Food and Nutrition, and History have
come  together  to do an  intensive problem-oriented  study of
the Dangme area.

The  project  is expected  to  involve the collection,
analysis, archiving  and  publishing of data on the Dangme
area.  This  area, comprising  seven  traditional  authority
areas, was chosen because of  Its relative accessibility  to
Legon and  the availability  of staff  to embark on  It.  The
seven areas are Manya Krobo, Yllo Krobo, Shal, Osudoku,
Prampram,  Ningo and Ada.  Kpone  Is also on  the periphery
of  the area, whose  proper designation  is Dangme, since other
names such as Krobo and  Shai  are clearly sub-divisions of
the  larger  area.

Scope

The project  lends  Itself  to both  long and  short*

term approaches.  The  long  term alms are  to collect,
analyse and  publish materials on  the  following:

(a)  The Land  and  the People:  geography,

topography, ecology  and occupations  of
the  people.

(b)  Social  organization  of the Dangme  people.

*

Dr. E.O. Aprontl  Is a Research  Fellow  In Linguistics.

**.;

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99.

(c-  Religion  in the Dangme area:  the organi-
zation  and  roles of churches and shrines.

(d)  Linguistic  and  socio-iinguistic  character-

istics of  the area.

(e)  History  and Traditions:  world  view, oral

traditions  and oral  literature.

(f)  Music  of  the area:  musical  forms,  instru-

ments and  their  organization.

(g)  Land  tenure and agriculture,  food  and

nutritional  matters.

(h)  Drama  in  its relation  to oral  literature,
ritual, religion  and  the performing  arts.

(f)  The economy,  food  supply, migration  of  labour,

market  systems.

(j)  Art and  artefacts  in their  anthropological

perspective.

As  the expertise  that  has been assembled  in the group would
seem to favour  an  inter-dlsciplinary  approach, the  following
short-term  subjects  have been  selected  for  joint  research:

(a)  The Priesthood  in Dangmeland

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*•

(b)  The Concept  of Fertility  (rites of  passage)

(c)  Mortuary  Usages  (texts, kinship  structure)

(d)  Social  control

(e)  Dangme  festivals.

(f)  Klama as a mechanism  of social  contrpl

and  as an art  form.

(g)  Market  surveys  (in association with  the

Institute of Statistical, Social  and
Economic  Research).

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100.

(h)  Dialect and socio-1inguistIc survey.

In the Ada Traditional Area, Nene Picco Pedfator  III,
Chief of the Kujragbe clan has provided  the group with use-
ful contacts  In all  the coastal  fishing towns and villages
as well as some towns and villages  In the  Immediate hinter-
land.

The Ada Traditional Area has been selected as a

pilot area for the project.

Personnel

The group consists of the following:

Mrs. A. Aklta
Dr. E.O. Aprontf
Mr. D, Copeland
Mr. L. Chrtstophersen  -
Dr. M.E. Kropp Dakubu  -
Mr. K.O. Odoom
Dr. A.K. Quarcoo 

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Food, NutrItion and Health
Language and Literature
Mus Ic
Music
Language and  Literature
Islamic Studies
Social and Visual Anthropology.

Some local scholars such as Messrs E.A, Addy and T. Puplampu,
Headmasters of Secondary Schools at Dodowa and Ada Foah
respectively, have expressed  Interest  in contributing to the
historical  study of the area.  Local support  In the form of
reporters on festivals and allied activities are also to be
used.

It is expected  that, with the help of field assistants,

much work on the project will  be undertaken  In the long
vacation of 1972.