Modernity, a hazard Fueling Indigenous Social Risk Expositions of the Talensis Kingdom in Ghana

Abstract

The current generation in their quest to explore other social settings in the name of modernity, overlooks social and/or cultural values. This has rendered most indigenous methods of protecting and preserving natural resources, and cultural and social values superannuated even in our rural settlements. This study assesses respondents' perceptions of the influence of modernity as a hazard in their everyday lives.  The study adopted the exploratory sequential method of the mixed research design. The sample was stratified into four groups. In each group, five communities were selected. In each selected community, 20 individuals were sampled. These gave a total of 400 respondents aged above 16 years and of sound mind. Interviews, observations, and questionnaires were the data instruments. The key findings of the study indicate that modernity adversely affects the Talensi Indigenous human-centered socio-cultural settings, lending and borrowing, their fight against promiscuity, their sacred declarations, and their taboos and belief systems. They acknowledged modernity as having a double-edged impact on their socio-cultural systems.  Admittedly they perceived the negative influences as having a grievous futuristic impact that is hazardous and has the potential to perpetuate the derailment of various indigenous social systems. Rigorous effort is needed to reposition the worldviews of the younger generations to the human-centered indigenous values over the materialistic values of the Western cultures.

Keywords: Talensi Indigenous Risks Management, Modernity Hazards, Social Risks, Socio-Cultural Systems

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/16-1-05

Publication date: January 30th 2025