Reinvigorating Asante Cire-Perdue technique in casting gold weights for contemporary Asante proverbs

Abstract

An important part of oral communication that constitutes a noble component of language among Ghanaians is the proverb which is used in everyday correspondence, music, poetry, and oral drama. Many Akan proverbs are represented in Asante goldweights which were used as counter weights for gold dust and nuggets, the main currency of ethnic Ghana. The use of gold dust and nuggets as currency was forbidden in 1889 by the Gold Dust and Nuggets Ordinance, while keeping of goldweights became illegal in 1896 as a result of the Weights and Measures Ordinance; hence, a massive sell-out of Asante gold-weights to European merchants leading to the decline in the goldsmith’s art of metal casting. This study delved into the production of contemporary goldweights based on contemporary proverbs and activities from about 1920 using the Asante technique of the cire-perdue metal casting process. Both primary and secondary data were used in the study. The total population for the study comprised all proverb creators, traditional rulers, metal casters, educators in Art and Cultural studies, and tertiary level students in Art and Cultural studies in Asante. Primary data were purposively collected from 30 research participants in seven communities within Asante including; Appiadu, Ayeduase, Bantama, Deduako, Dwease, Krofofrom, and Kwamo, whereas secondary data were based on information gathered from Museums, galleries, books, newspapers, journals, periodicals, theses and project reports, and internet sources. The qualitative research approach was used as methodology, and the descriptive and explorative research designs were employed. A self-designed drawing interview guide was prepared and used for the data collection. Outcome of the data collection was the gathering of 216 contemporary Asante proverbs that were used for the casting of 186 miniature sculptures in brass using the Asante technique of the lostwax process. Out of the 216 contemporary proverbs, 124 were created by the proverb composers while 15 were composed by the researcher with the remaining 77 from secondary sources most of which were English proverbs. The study found out related works of contemporary items during the data collection. These items including cars, motorbikes, electrical appliances, and educational materials were, however, not attached to contemporary Asante proverbs but were only used as curios and decorative items. The study found out that while creation of classical or indigenous proverbs is attributed to our forefathers, Asante contemporary men and women are potentially creators of contemporary proverbs. This study delved into production and attachment of these contemporary items to contemporary proverbs and their relevance to the preservation of the Asante culture as contribution to knowledge. The study concludes that the cast contemporary goldweights would supplement the already existing goldweights in Ghana and the idea that was left to the researcher alone could now be accessible to the general public. It is finally recommended that, while the situation of the classical and modern Ghanaian periods is static; the contemporary Ghanaian period is potentially dynamic and would undergo additional changes with more of new contemporary items and events. Many more contemporary proverbs could, therefore, be created through oral communication to enhance the production of more contemporary goldweights for the development of the metal casting industry in Asante in particular and Ghana in general.