Abstract:
The funeral of Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II, Chief of Amanokrom-Akuapem
(Ghana), held in February 2006, showcased the convergence of Akuapem
traditional chieftaincy rites and Christian rituals. The development followed
the decision of the funeral planning committee to carry out the deathbed wish
of the late chief - that he should be buried as a Christian and a chief. Much as
the chief's dying wish might be seen as a special request, it was foreshadowed
by the historic agreement reached between Akuapem chiefs and Basel
th missionaries in the 19 century over the celebration of Akwasidae, an
important ritual of ancestor veneration associated with the Akan chieftaincy.
The agreement, novel as it was, provided Akuapem converts an avenue to
practise their Christian faith without abandoning the veneration of their
ancestors which was embedded in their traditional religions. This paper
provides a vehicle to assess some aspects of culture and development through
the use of ethnographic data, archival and secondary sources, and to
contribute to the study of the history of Akuapems and Akans in general