The Philosophical Epistemologies of Asante Proverbs in Ghana’s Biodiversity Conservation

Abstract

One of the vibrant ancient vehicles for instructing indigenous Asantes on their cultural values and the accepted behavioural patterns is proverbs. Asante proverbs are artistic expressions or products of the wisdom of the ancestors passed on from one generation to the other orally by the old indigenes in various local communities in the Ashanti region of Ghana. They were created from personal experiences, observations and information of the Asante forebears about natural phenomena (Awuah-Nyamekye, 2013).  These wise maxims are embedded with rich and proactive values that are indispensable in human efforts to salvage our problems such as biodiversity depletion. The study was therefore conducted in three localities in the Ashanti region of Ghana where most of the biosphere areas and resources have been conserved using the ecological wisdom in the proverbs propounded by the Asante forebears. These areas are Kumawu, Akropong and Asante Bekwai where there are high taxas of the bio-resources in the areas conserved in their pristine forms using the Asante proverbs. It was realized that the wise maxims by the Asante forebears greatly regulated and impacted positively on the moral behaviours of the indigenes towards the biodiversity resources in their environments. The researcher purposively sampled the traditional authorities, traditional priests and priestesses, spokespersons in the traditional courts and elders who are the direct custodians of the traditional epistemologies and are very instrumental in its delivery as well as its interpretations. Also, the old indigenes and some youths were also randomly selected and interviewed. Descriptive and narrative research methods under the qualitative research approach were adopted for the study to vividly portray the significant roles these wise sayings play in Ghana’s biodiversity. Direct observation and interviews (Focus Group Discussions and Personal) were the main instruments for soliciting for the data for the research. The interpretivist philosophical paradigm was implemented to help the researchers understand the philosophical underpinnings behind these proverbs to ascertain their conservational values to Ghana’s biodiversity. The paper unveils the philosophical epistemologies behind twenty six (26) Asante proverbs and their ecological importance to biodiversity conservation in Ghana. The findings of the study revealed the weight and quintessential role that proverbs play in biodiversity conservation and the need for their revival, preservation and more importantly, their incorporation into modern biodiversity conservation strategies and policies to be implemented in Ghana. This would aid in conserving the biodiversity resources that are wantonly destroyed today in Ghana as a result of negative behavioural patterns.

Keywords: Asante Proverbs, Biodiversity, Conservation, Philosophy, ecology, epistemologies, cultural values, policies, strategies