Ghana is located in West Africa and shares borders with Cote d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to the east. The country has a population of approximately 30 million people, and the majority of the population is concentrated in the southern region.
Ghana is a culturally diverse country with over 12 million people belonging to different ethnic groups. There are more than 100 different ethnic groups in Ghana, each with its own language and culture.
The largest ethnic group in Ghana is the Akan, who make up more than 40% of the population. Other significant ethnic groups include the Ewe, Ga, Dagomba, and Fante. In this article, we will be looking at the list of tribes in Ghana.
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List Of Tribes In Ghana
Below are the list of all the Tribes in Ghana;
The Ewe Tribe
The Ewe tribe, which accounts for 11% of Ghana’s overall population, is well-known throughout the country for its long-standing customs and musical legacy. The Ewe people are primarily farmers and fishermen from Togo and the Volta region. However, in recent years, when rainfall has been scarce, they have moved into weaving and other trades.
Many Ewe tribe members’ primary social group is their extended family, with whom they spend a lot of time. Dancing and drumming are other prominent features of this tribe, and on important occasions, hunting dances, peace dances, and war dances are commonly performed to the rhythm of drums.
The Ashanti Tribes
The Ashanti tribe of the Akan is Ghana’s largest, accounting for over half of the country’s population. The Ashantis established an empire in 1670, named Kumasi their capital ten years later, and the surrounding territories joined this prosperous and powerful monarchy. Twi is the first or second language of the majority of Ashanti tribal members.
The tribe is led by a king or queen who retains governmental control over the Ashanti country and its people. The Ashantis have persisted for generations thanks to their wealth-preserving economic contributions, which include agricultural exports such as coffee and cocoa, diamonds, lumber, and industrial minerals.
The Fantes Tribe
The Fanti tribe is one of Ghana’s best tribes. The Fante are a community of Ghanaians who dwell around and around Cape Coast, as well as along the coast between Accra and Sekondi-Takoradi. In the 17th century, the tribespeople departed the Techiman region and settled in numerous minor republics, each of which has a Fante chief who is a descendant of the monarchy. This principal chief is supported by several more junior subchiefs.
There are around 2.5 million Fante people in Ghana today, all of whom are descended from twelve patrilineal clans, according to estimations. Each clan has its own set of family names, and the majority of tribal members speak an Akan dialect of Kwa. Each lineage also has a sacred stool that is an integral part of customary rituals and is thought to house the ancestors’ souls.
The Ga Tribe
Ga-Adangbe make up about 2 million people, or 8% of Ghana’s population. They predominantly live in Accra, Tema, La, Ningo, Kpone, Prampram, and Ada on the southeast coast of the Greater Accra region. The majority of Ga people are a blend of traditionalists, Christians, and Muslims.
The massive Homowo festival, which roughly translates as “mocking hunger,” is observed by the Ga people. This holiday commemorates the end of a devastating famine hundreds of years ago. Another well-known Ga holiday is Asafotu, a yearly festival honoring warriors observed by the Ada people. The Ga people are known for their elaborate funeral ceremonies, which include the construction of distinctive coffins that signify a person’s occupation or standing in the community. One of the well-known tribes is the Ga.
The Dagomba Tribe
The Dagomba are a large group of people that live in northern Ghana and Burkina Faso. The most widely spoken native languages among these Muslims and traditionalists are Dagbani and Hausa. At Dagomba villages, the chief’s dwelling is often a dome-shaped structure in the center of the community or elevated above the others. Drummers are important as court historians as well as musicians.
The traditional monarch of the Dagbon people is known as the Ya Naa, or King of Absolute Power. His cow skin throne can be seen in Ya Naa’s court, known as Yendi. His court is usually in session on Monday and Friday mornings in Yendi. In memory, Dagomba villages hold a festival known as Bugun, which translates as “fire” or “hell.”
The Guang Tribe
The Guan tribespeople are said to have spread across Ghana over a thousand years ago. It is known that a number of Guan subtribes are descended from them, most notably the Gonja, who are predominantly situated in northern Ghana and account for around a quarter of the total Guan population.
The Guang tribe, which now consists of approximately 26 ethnic groups, is said to have been Ghana’s original occupants. Many indigenous groups communicate in Fante and Guan dialects. The Anum tribe is well-known for their artisans, but some subgroups, such as the Gonja, are noted for their historical prowess as warriors.
The Kusasi Tribe
Currently, about 400,000 Kusasis are living in the Nawku regions in the northern part of the nation. The supremacy of Bawku and paramountcy has been the main source of present tension in Kusasi-other ethnic group ties. These strained links have also generated racial suspicion and strained relations with their neighbors.
The Mole-Dagbon Tribe
Despite having the potential to be Ghana’s second most populous tribe, only one in every seven Ghanaians belongs to the Mole-Dagbon tribe. The majority of them live in the country’s northern regions, such as Bolgatanga, and are further subdivided into smaller sub-tribes. Because of their expert art in basket weaving and African crafts, this tribe’s market has begun to gain global attention and recognition.
The Hause Tribe
Most Hausa people are found in various regions of Togo, Chad, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Nigeria, among other countries. They are by far the most populous tribe in West Africa. Hausa is an Afro-Asianic language spoken by the Hausa.
The Rasta Tribe
In the 1930s, the Rastafari movement emerged in Jamaica. Followers of this sect revere Haile Selassie I, who was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974, as the manifestation of God, the Second Advent, or the reincarnation of Jesus. Legend has it that Haile Selassie was the 225th ruler of the Solomonic Dynasty, which was established by Menelik I, the son of King Solomon and Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, in the 10th century BC. The Rastafari movement addresses spiritual cannabis use, rejects Western culture referred to as “Babylon,” and asserts that Africa, known as “Zion,” is the birthplace of humanity. Rastafarians often identify as African royalty and adopt titles like “Prince” or “King.” Rastafarian communities exist worldwide, with Ghana being home to numerous Rastafari temples, especially along the shore near Kokrobite, where Rasta items are sold, and Rasta music festivals are held.