아프리카ㆍ중동

The current paper aims to examine the structure and micro-political process of chieftaincy in Gbadzeme, Volta Region, Ghana. This kind of study will be very helpful for understanding both traditionality and dynamics of rural communities in Ghana as well. The eight clans in Gbadzeme have their respective chieftaincies which form the base of town chieftaincy. Over the last several centuries, chieftaincy in Gbadzeme has existed without any great transformations, despite changing internal and external circumstances. This implies that chieftaincy has considerably been helpful for solving their diverse needs as well as its justification has been granted by local people. On the other hand, town chief is the head of the chiefs’ council which is composed of the representatives of the eight clans. He is the final decision-maker within the council where all-sort of matters of the town are discussed. His decisions are almost absolute. The representatives of the dominant clan, which produces town chief, also exert great power within the council. The dynamic relations among the clans are often found in the decision-making process of the council. In addition, this council is used as a device necessary for taming some clans challenging to town chief and the dominant clan. Such a series of aspects can be also regarded as a facet of the micro-political process which is expressed by chieftaincy. It is said that, just like many other African countries, chieftaincy in Ghana has confronted with diverse challenges since its independence. Nonetheless, it is still powerful as well as standing. In my view, as long as the central government does not properly dominate local areas, chieftaincy functions as an effective means to solve diverse needs of local people, and Ghanaian people regard it as their cultural property or heritage, it will tenaciously survive. Moreover, there is no doubt that chieftaincy is one of the most essential elements both in understanding traditionality and dynamics of rural communities in Ghana and in grasping cultural forces or cultural inertia of Ghanaian people.