Abstract:
Witchcraft is considered as a feminine art in the Dagbamba society. The art is
generally attributed to older women, but young women or even girls can sometimes
be involved. This study sought to discuss the Dagbamba witchcraft and the concept of
exorcism. The primary aim was to find out how witchcraft is perceived and
understood by the Dagbamba and how this belief influences the lives of the people.
The Tindanʒee Yili in Kpatinga is the main study area however; the findings were
present in some other selected communities including Kpatinga, Gaa and Sampimo all
under the Gushegu District. The research approach employed for this study was
qualitative as it sought to understand and assess people‘s perception about witches in
the Dagbamba society. A purposive sampling technique was used to select
participants for the study. Two main research instruments (interview and observation)
were used. A total of forty two respondents, who qualified as key respondents for the
research, participated in the study. The study sample comprised fifteen (15) resident
respondents from Kpatinga, Gaa and Sampimo who perceived not to be witches were
interviewed to get their perception about witchcraft. Five (5) opinion leaders
including the Kpatinga chief, the assemblyman of the Sampimo electoral area, some
religious leaders and traditional title holders were interviewed. In addition, the acting
earth priest of the Tindanʒee camp and twenty one alleged witches from the camp
who were between the ages of forty to seventy years were also interviewed. The study
established that the belief in witchcraft and witchcraft activities is very common in the
Ghanaian rural communities where the extended family systems existed. The study
further established that people perceived to be witches are vulnerable in Dagbamba
society and those who are being labelled as witches are suffering serious
stigmatization as a consequence.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of Gur-Gonja, Faculty of Languages Education,
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba
in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Master of
Philosophy (M. Phil) Degree in Ghanaian Language Studies (Dagbani).
JULY, 2018