Utility of Skins and Leather in Selected Chiefs’ Palaces in the Ahanta Traditional Area

Abstract

The Ghanaian chieftaincy system is embedded with rich cultural heritage that is sometimes expressed through art. Only few documentation have been focused on skin and leather related articles in chieftaincy; with notions of whether skins and leather feature in chieftaincy practices in the South of Ghana oblivious to many as these have not been voiced out. This paper presents and discusses findings with regard to the utility of skins and leather in selected chiefs’ palaces in the Ahanta Traditional Area. A purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample population of 16 respondents from whom data was collected using observation and interviews as tools. Findings from the study showed that skins and leather featured prominently in chieftaincy practices in the study zone as ceremonial, body and household items; but documentation of this information was limited. It is recommended that findings from this study be placed at the library of institutions such as the Ahanta Traditional Council, Ghana Tourist Authority and Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts as reference material for academics and students of Visual Arts, African Studies, Tourism and Arts and Culture to access.

Keywords: Skins, Leather, Ghanaian Chieftaincy, Art Forms.