Psychological Perceptions and Values in Some Selected Beliefs and Taboos of the Denkyira Ethnic Group in Ghana

Abstract

The Denkyiras are one of the ethnic groups in the Central Region of Ghana. Their forefathers instituted various taboos which were used as stringent measures to control anticipated social problems indirectly without recourse to questioning. The Denkyira assigned superstitious meanings to their taboos to make them very sacred and more terrifying. They associated the taboos with God, their gods, and the ancestors and decreed that offenders will incur their wrath and the punishments often have repercussions on the individual offender and the society at large. Owing to this, the people of Denkyira have since time immemorial observed the taboos of their descents religiously without knowing their meaning because most of the people were illiterate and could not interpret them in scientific terms. This has necessitated this paper to give scientific, psychological and sociological meanings to explain some selected taboos. The researcher, himself, a native Denkyira, has lived among the people for a long time and having observed from experience, found out from the elderly, chiefs, queen mothers, traditional priests, has come out with the empirical meanings to some selected taboos and beliefs of his people.