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Posted by Chester Morton / Friday, 7 April 2023 / No comments

The causes of disputes in salt producing communities that may lead to conflicts and violence

<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW3Xo7ZjujcylsfZvnmfF1F4Pwa8JUjveeBiIPGYVx6-6_9ZXWnerWPLEoB4LTMWPwthpZp-FC4Zwap6N8H9lC1CP38zYqpogorZ5WBUDy20Ukgu30Vzw7hRG3qAFcoBD8ykqa0j28yH0mJXPv9f306VgMJXHsI1EDwBMRuBhSsjykAJcrjL1oLDqJQ/s480/Disputes_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="480" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizW3Xo7ZjujcylsfZvnmfF1F4Pwa8JUjveeBiIPGYVx6-6_9ZXWnerWPLEoB4LTMWPwthpZp-FC4Zwap6N8H9lC1CP38zYqpogorZ5WBUDy20Ukgu30Vzw7hRG3qAFcoBD8ykqa0j28yH0mJXPv9f306VgMJXHsI1EDwBMRuBhSsjykAJcrjL1oLDqJQ/w400-h284/Disputes_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;">THE CAUSES OF DISPUTES IN SALT PRODUCING COMMUNITIES THAT MAY LEAD TO CONFLICTS AND VIOLENCE </b></div><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Introduction </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Resources, over the years, have been sources of conflict.
There have been conflicts over gold, diamonds, oil reserves, farm lands, access
to trade routes, the Sea and salt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Salt was important as the giver of taste in foods, means of
exchange, store of value, symbol of peace, and an export and import commodity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Salt production has been a source of conflict between and
among individuals and people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Why would people have disputes over salt?</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">There may be several reasons why people would have disputes
over salt. Salt disputes have ranged between personal differences over
ownership of a heap of salt in a small community to full blown fights resulting
in the use of clubs and firearms and the loss of lives. </span><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Reasons for violence in salt mining areas</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Stealing </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Among the coastal salt mining areas near the Keta Lagoon,
ownership of salt pits was not well defined. When the salt crystals form, those
who go to gather and heap, lay claim to what they heaped by demarcating with
landmarks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">It so happens that some community members steal heaped salt belonging
to others. If the thief is found out, he or she incurred the displeasure of the
owner. Such situations led to individual or even family disputes. However, this
scenario is not as great an issue as other reasons for conflicts in salt mining
areas. <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Desire to control coastal territories and trade with Europeans at
the coast. </b></i><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the colonial era, trade routes had
long been established to the north and to the north of Ashanti territories. To
the north, Ashanti merchants had been exchanging kola nuts and other items for salt.
In the southern trade routes, they exchanged gold, ivory, rubber, slaves etc.,
for firearms, gun powder, drinks and salt.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white; font-size: medium;">To gain greater control of the trade at the
coast, the Ashantis laid a claim to the coast line controlled by the Fantes.
The then British Commander, Sir Charles MacCarthy, would tolerate no such
nonsense. He marche<span class="ignored">d into K</span>umasi, in 1823, and
attacked the Ashantis. In the battle, his troops were defeated. He himself
beheaded and his head publicly displayed.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white; font-size: medium;">Having demystified the strength of the British
army, the Ashantis marched to the coast, engaged the British army and defeated
them.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white; font-size: medium;">It is not clear if the desire to control the
trade at the coast was motivated by the need for salt or the control of the same.
However, it can infer from the events leading to the battle that control of
trade, at the coast, in various commodities, including salt, may have led to
the battle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOepaK3Q4bAtiAvxHRC42zZa5L9O7VafByMZV_adgZfgaY4f-3pg00eUqY7OIXutTgobSb5qCAguiSvwc4iaSGsbLsAdKagaVNoikNlXNpQPf3QxjLZkmz8Zr4IkC7fPAT45UmpNrDzLj8drl-9tDROqPy4cWcjC3wASBGJIIlhgAY5xCJ2s1Zi_OPhw/s453/conflict%20salt_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="453" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOepaK3Q4bAtiAvxHRC42zZa5L9O7VafByMZV_adgZfgaY4f-3pg00eUqY7OIXutTgobSb5qCAguiSvwc4iaSGsbLsAdKagaVNoikNlXNpQPf3QxjLZkmz8Zr4IkC7fPAT45UmpNrDzLj8drl-9tDROqPy4cWcjC3wASBGJIIlhgAY5xCJ2s1Zi_OPhw/w400-h300/conflict%20salt_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Government preference for commercial salt mining</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Successive governments have over the years opted for industrial
salt mining over small-scale ones and that has also been a source of conflict. Governments
have licensed or leased concessions to limited liability companies to mine for salt
in hitherto, traditionally owned stool lands. For example, in 1971, the then
military junta, granted a long-term lease to Vacuum Salt Limited to mine a
portion of the Songhor Lagoon covering some 12428 acres. Again, in 2015, Kensington
Salt Industries Limited, now Seven Seas Salt Limited, was given a 7000 acre
concession, about 97% of the area, to mine in the Keta Lagoon. Also, in 2020,
Electrochem Ghana Limited received a 15year mining lease, ratified by the
parliament of Ghana to mine salt in the Songhor Lagoon. The concession covered
39,141.5 acres. <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">This penchant for giving concessions for commercial salt
mining has also been a major contribution to conflicts in salt mining areas.
The interests of these companies are sometimes in contrast to the local people
among whom the concessions are.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Indigenes feel deprived of their God-given resource</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The local people consider natural resources in their area
God-given. Any attempt to take it away from them and given out to commercial
entities is resisted fiercely. In the Ada Songhor lagoon, for example, salt is
seen as given to the town by God and therefore, a priest was ordained to
oversee the resource. The Libi Wornor (Salt Priest) is the spiritual head of
the Songhor Lagoon. The locals consider the lagoon as a deity. In a strict
traditional sense, the Salt Priest is the owner of the salt in the Songhor
Lagoon. He holds it in trust for the people. When Seven Seas Salt Limited, received
97% of the Keta Lagoon in a concession given to it by the government of the
day, only a paltry 3% was left for them, according to <a href="https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/Take-Over-Of-Keta-Lagoon-For-30-000-402758">ghanaweb.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nobody would allow another to take away something that
belongs to him. The taking over of salt resources in salt producing areas
through concessions given by governments has led to resistance leading to persistent
conflicts. In May, 1985, for example, leaders of the Ada Traditional Area
clashed with Vacuum Salt Limited and this resulted in the death of one Margret
Kuwornu. She was pregnant at the time of her death. A statue stands in her
honour today in their community. The <a href="http://www.businessworldghana.com/g-others-sued-salt-mining-keta-laggon-complex/">businessworldghana.com</a>,
in August, 2017, reported that demonstrations in March, 2017 over the
activities of Seven Seas Salt Mining Limited in Adina in the Ketu South
district of the Volta Region, resulted in one death. <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In August, 2017, the businessworldghana.com reported
demonstrations over the activities of Seven Seas Salt Mining Limited in Adina
in the Ketu South district of the Volta Region, which resulted in one death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Loss of traditional a source of income <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">For the local people in salt mining communities, salt is
considered a traditional source of income. About fifty communities have been
mining salt in the Songhor Lagoon, for instance, for centuries. Income from
salt mining and selling has helped the locals to put food on the table for
their families, to train their children in school and in other trades, and to
acquire personal properties. The leasing of large acres of traditional salt
mining areas to commercial entities has led to the loss of these traditional
sources of income. According to an August, 2022 Newsletter by the Ada Songhor
Lagoon Association, 35,000 Sea salt producers have been deprived of their
source of livelihood by the lease given to Electrochem Ghana Limited. If people
are pushed to the wall in this manner, there is bound to be resistance and this
is another reason for conflict over salt. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Companies not operating within the lease agreements signed with the
government </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The commercial companies licensed to produce salt sometimes
go outside the mandate given to them by government Seven Seas Company, for
example, was licensed to mine salt using an agreed method, but they have now
been accused of mining brine, something they were not licensed to engage in.
The local people have also accused the company of pumping water from under the
ground, thus depriving them of the needed water to aid crop cultivation. </span><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarrVCx2r1rpKbCfOF-dslf5m4i4c8_KDkOo8xgyuj9rGBikIHbgEExM1IeU-rb2oMHh3IgM5g_uP3Cg89gr2BMYszv8Tp9TfJnRjCkdsYZ-pMxv9AQOAr9DptohAvcok6z85ySBCs3kRcn6sqL4yXV1uM3IGik3ql2wj2SZ-J-NN_XU4xM5WYFX3PfQ/s675/conflict%20sat_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="675" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarrVCx2r1rpKbCfOF-dslf5m4i4c8_KDkOo8xgyuj9rGBikIHbgEExM1IeU-rb2oMHh3IgM5g_uP3Cg89gr2BMYszv8Tp9TfJnRjCkdsYZ-pMxv9AQOAr9DptohAvcok6z85ySBCs3kRcn6sqL4yXV1uM3IGik3ql2wj2SZ-J-NN_XU4xM5WYFX3PfQ/w400-h201/conflict%20sat_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Mistrust of community leaders</span></b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the 7<sup>th</sup> Annual General Meeting of the Elmina
Salt Industry in the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem municipality of the Central
Region in September, 2011, a modernghana.com report captured the Vice Board
Chairman, Nana Kodwo Eduakwa V appealing to the residents of Elmina not to
accuse the Paramount Chief of misappropriating the profits of the Elmina Salt
Industry. In the report, there was no direct reference to anyone accusing the
Paramount Chief of misappropriation, but that admonition from the Vice Board
Chair signaled the fact that some of the local people did not trust the
traditional leadership and suspected him of tampering with proceeds from
royalties from salt. Mistrust is generated when the locals feel that their
leaders are in cahoots with people to exploit their resources.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Concessionaires not adhering to the terms of their
concession<o:p></o:p></span></b></i></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In December, 2015, <a href="https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/Take-Over-Of-Keta-Lagoon-For-30-000-402758">modernghana.com</a>
reported that Seven Seas Salt Limited, was granted a concession (7000 acres of
the Keta Lagoon) to mine salt. The agreement with the Minerals Commission of
Ghana was for the company to use Sea brine to produce salt. However, the company
was now using surface water and underground pools instead. The company is also
accused of operating in areas not originally part of their original concession,
encroaching on lands belonging to other communities. There is much mistrust
between the two parties as a result. These are recipes for conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Conclusion</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The reasons for conflicts in salt mining communities are many.
These may not be all but it clearly points to the fact that resource wars are
lurking in the dark if these differences are not amicably resolved by the
parties involved. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Also read <a href="https://www.virtualkollage.com/2017/05/the-importance-of-salt-to-economy-of-pre-colonial-ghana.html#:~:text=Salt%20was%20important%20because%20it,ensured%20that%20no%20blisters%20developed." target="_blank">The importance salt to the economy of pre-colonial Ghana</a></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> <a href="https://www.virtualkollage.com/p/history_14.html" target="_blank">Go to other topics in History</a></o:p></span></p>

The causes of disputes in salt producing communities that may lead to conflicts and violence

THE CAUSES OF DISPUTES IN SALT PRODUCING COMMUNITIES THAT MAY LEAD TO CONFLICTS AND VIOLENCE Introduction Resources, over the years, ha...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Friday, 31 March 2023 / No comments

The importance of salt mining communities to the economy of pre-colonial Ghana

<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyy2U4ENifLWlhE3QFQyJScaHlfrLguFlD258fogrkKtJFIb7j11ilwYG-1qslYgB4ZmCo0sl_aR5mLIbsz3rWM5njMsZZbJbekEs2uemWAap3QG7Lu0riIEwKbOg0OWnkSyGy9W_fNS98N-aIp1wXDfF8pNpQOx31tkoFEmDQ2r5XleHtgH4SemYKA/s510/salt%20mining.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="510" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyy2U4ENifLWlhE3QFQyJScaHlfrLguFlD258fogrkKtJFIb7j11ilwYG-1qslYgB4ZmCo0sl_aR5mLIbsz3rWM5njMsZZbJbekEs2uemWAap3QG7Lu0riIEwKbOg0OWnkSyGy9W_fNS98N-aIp1wXDfF8pNpQOx31tkoFEmDQ2r5XleHtgH4SemYKA/w640-h426/salt%20mining.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>THE IMPORTANCE OF SALT MINING
COMMUNITIES TO THE ECONOMY OF PRE-COLONIAL GHANA</b></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b><i>Introduction</i></b></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Salt has
been a very important commodity in the life of humankind. It was the same in
pre-colonial Ghana. It was a source of great wealth and a medium of exchange.
It was used as a preservative to preserve meat and fish.  Salt was
used to prolong the shelf life of food. This was to reduce post-harvest losses.
It was also used to add some taste to food. The discovery of salt added a lot
more taste to food. Without salt, food was hitherto tasteless.  It was a
source of employment to those who lived in the mining towns and were willing to
work. There were salt merchants who needed to carry their commodity to other
places to sell and since there were no vehicles in those days, the salt was carried
by head-porters across towns and villages to distant markets. Salt was also
important as medication in the treatment of burns. When applied immediately
after the burn occurred, it prevented blisters from developing. It was also used as a symbol of peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><i><b>Types of salt mining</b></i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Salt mining took different forms
depending on where it was mined but the most common system was the use of solar energy.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;">Along the coast,
Sea water was collected inside deliberately dug holes. The Sea water was allowed
evaporate and this leaves behind salts crystals. The salt crystals were processed for
domestic use or for sale.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Some people
collected Sea water into bowls. The water was allowed to evaporate leaving salt
crystals in the bowl.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Salt could be collected
from rocks. The salt rocks were soaked in water. The salt dissolved into the
water. The salty water was left to evaporate. The salt crystals were left in
the container.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Pre-colonial
salt mining towns/villages</b></span></i></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A major salt producing
company in the area, currently, is Electrochem Ghana Limited which was given a 15year
mining lease in 2020. A </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://3news.com/portions-of-the-ada-songor-lagoon-released-for-salt-mining/#:~:text=The%20Ada%20Songhor%20Salt%20Project%20initially%20produced%2060%2C000%20tonnes%20of,million%20dollars%20in%20the%20project."><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">3news report</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> published on
30</span></span><sup style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">th</sup><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> November, 2022, indicates that at the time of the report,
Electrochem was producing between 200,000 to 300,000 metric </span>tons<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> of salt
annually. The projection, however, is to produce 2million tons of salt
annually from 2023. The local people also have their concessions where they produce salt. To promote peace, commercial entities freely give out their
concessions to the local people to mine salt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Daboya</b></span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A visit to the salt mine by Beatrice
Senadju, in a </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhCk2pbIIcI"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">video documentary</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> shows that the reputed vast pre-colonial salt mine, much talked about is now a pale shadow of its past. In the documentary, one
could see her pick pieces of salt from the top of some rocks but no mining
activity is going on at the time of her visit. According to the District Chief
Executive of North Gonja, Adam Eliasu, who was interviewed by Beatrice in her
documentary, the salt is there in commercial quantities. However, they are not
able to mine it for now. Mining requires huge investments which is
unavailable at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5yHI0qXGJtKEJTVThu-KLflUkBmxdJ6oWI6Qu7j0ti5LLHr7zDfkhhmaDweX_uGDj_Ugtg0XUrMEqSV3rKnFHDPYe_cMfYMWNfO3H0tFyoK7H8DakiFjfY7aoj5WkDxvWVUJxUDALKD-2ID03n9npvTW8SVBjfIvMRYkMA-ALhm7_fqPeYzQkrYkEA/s510/Salt%20mine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="510" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5yHI0qXGJtKEJTVThu-KLflUkBmxdJ6oWI6Qu7j0ti5LLHr7zDfkhhmaDweX_uGDj_Ugtg0XUrMEqSV3rKnFHDPYe_cMfYMWNfO3H0tFyoK7H8DakiFjfY7aoj5WkDxvWVUJxUDALKD-2ID03n9npvTW8SVBjfIvMRYkMA-ALhm7_fqPeYzQkrYkEA/w400-h266/Salt%20mine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 11.75pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Keta lagoon</b></span></i></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Today, commercial salt
mining is replacing artisanal mining. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Seven Sea Salt Company, agreement
ends in 2026, subject to renewal. Kensington Salt Industries Ltd.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Elmina</b></span></i><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Elmina can be found in
the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem Municipality of the Central Region of Ghana. It
was also known for its salt mining activities in pre-colonial Ghana. Elmina was
into the salt trade several years before the arrival of the colonialists. There
was a booming trade in salt with the inland people like the Ashantis. This salt
trade was important to the people since it brought in a lot of money. The town
was also important because it served as a conduit for channelling salt through
the several trade routes it was connected to at the time.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Local salt mining served
a source of employment to the local people. Since it was and still is a fish
producing area, one may assume that salt was also important in preserving their
stock of fish to better prolong their shelf life.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Commercial salt mining
is still going on by a Ghanaian owned Elmina Salt Industry (ESI). However,
their activity has dwindled. It is a great source of foreign exchange since
their product is exported to neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso. In
the 1950s, Pambros Salt Industries Limited also mined salt in Elmina, but after
their lease expired, they relocated to Accra, at Weija. Mining by the local
people is still happening in Elmina. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Apam is also a
pre-colonial salt-mining town situated in the Gomoa West district. Lying along
the coasts of Ghana, it is about 45km from Cape Coast, the capital town of the
Central Region. The major activity of the people is fishing, but salt mining
also finds space, in addition to trading.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Solar energy was employed to evaporate the Sea water so salt crystals
could be left behind for harvest and sell. It was an alternative to fishing and
trading. Commercial salt mining started in the 1950, when Pambros Salt Industries
Limited got a lease to start salt production. By 1957-8, their lease expired.
It is not clear whether the company was refused extension. The company
relocated to Accra in 1958 to start the current Pambros Salt Industries in
Weija<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

The importance of salt mining communities to the economy of pre-colonial Ghana

THE IMPORTANCE OF SALT MINING COMMUNITIES TO THE ECONOMY OF PRE-COLONIAL GHANA Introduction Salt has been a very important commodity i...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Thursday, 12 November 2020 / No comments

The benefits that member-states derive from their membership of the United Nations Organization

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/united-nations-un-vienna-un-city-3760656/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0a88d3; cursor: pointer; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img alt="United Nations, Un, Vienna, Un City" data-lazy="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/10/20/11/50/united-nations-3760656__340.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/10/20/11/50/united-nations-3760656__340.jpg 1x, https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/10/20/11/50/united-nations-3760656__480.jpg 2x" height="134" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/10/20/11/50/united-nations-3760656__340.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: currentcolor; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-left-color: currentColor; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: currentColor; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: none; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; width: 100%;" width="200" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>THE
BENEFITS COUNTRIES DERIVE FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNITED NATIONS
ORGANIZATION</b></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Introduction</i></b></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The
United Nations Organization (UNO) came into existence, officially, on the 24<sup>th</sup>
of October, 1945. The main reason for its establishment  is to ensure the maintenance of peace and security in the world. Initially, 50 countries signed a charter, now called, United Nations
Charter. Then, Poland, which was not at the meeting at the time, signed later
to become the 51<sup>st</sup> nation to sign marking the beginning
of the existence of the UNO.</span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Currently,
there are 193 members, together with two others who do not have
membership status but rather the status of observer nations. These are the
state of Palestine and the Holy See (a jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome).</span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Why
do states want to become or remain members of this august body? What is in it
for them? Listed below are some of the benefits nations derive from their
membership of the United Nations Organization and why it is on the wish list of the
nations of the world.</span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Note,
however, that the United Nations will not sit down unconcerned when conflict,
famine or any natural calamity erupts in any part of the world because that
nation does not belong to the body. They will find a way to help to bring the
situation under control. For example, Palestine does not have an official membership in
the UN but there will be an intervention from the body if any conflict erupts
in that region.</span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Prevention
of conflict</i></b></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">One of the major reasons
for the establishment of the UN is to ensure the prevention of
conflicts. The United Nations Charter, which was coming after the failure of
the League of Nations to prevent the Secord World War, has a central role of
conflict prevention. Though the role of the United Nations is conflict prevention
does not usually appear in the frontpages of global newspapers, the
organization has been effective in preventing many violent conflicts. Various
tools are deployed in engaging local, national and international political
actors to find peace before they escalate into conflicts. </span></span><span style="background: white;"></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The United Nations,
through the Security Council has intervened to prevent conflicts from
occurring. Where there is a threat to peace, and the Security Council gets wind
of it, it first recommends that parties settle cases by peaceful means.
Member-countries benefit from membership of the UN when mediation by the
Security Council helps to avert armed conflict in their countries. </span></span><span style="background: white;"></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Peace keeping</i></b></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In a situation where the
Security Council, after trying its best, is unable to prevent the conflict from
occurring, they are able to use UN Peace-keeping soldiers to restore peace and
keep it from further escalating. The UN has been in Lebanon, Bosnia, Darfur,
etc to restore and maintain peace. Member-states benefit from their membership
of the UN in times of violent conflicts where both sides of the conflict refuse
to see reason.  </span></span><span style="background: white;"></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Conflict resolution</i></b></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Member-states of the
United Nations benefit from their membership in the area of conflict
resolution. This is able to prevent unnecessary conflicts on the world stage. A
very recent case is the near conflict between Ghana and la Cote D’voire when
the latter accused the former of exploring for oil in her territorial waters.
This matter was taken to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
(ITLOS) for redress. Membership of the UN therefore helps member-countries to
resolve conflicts in peaceful ways and to avoid unnecessary wars.</span></span><span style="background: white;"></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Food aid to affected
countries</i></b></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The United Nations has
provided food aid to countries experiencing food shortages. Another benefit of
belonging to the world organization is that, during food shortages or severe
famine, countries can count on the Food and Agricultural Organization and the
World Food Programmes, all of the United Nations to distribute food aid to
affected areas. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) was established by
the United Nations with the sole mandate of defeating hunger. A membership of
the United Nations will ensure that the FAO intervein before countries slip
into famine due to conflict and other economic, political or natural factors.</span></span><span style="background: white;"></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Health benefits through
the World Health Organization (WHO)</i></b></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Another way in which
countries benefit from their membership of the UN is the global fight of the
international body against diseases, epidemics and pandemics. A very recent
fight is the fight against Coronavirus. The
World Health Organization, which is an agency within the United Nations. It took a leading role, giving policy advise and direction to the entire world. Many countries received monetary assistance from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Even before the advent of Covid19, the UN has been in a prolong fight against
malaria, which is devastating African countries mostly. It has also been
instrumental in the fight against ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC). In 2019, for example, the UN, in conjunction with other Non-governmental
Organizations, contained the spread of ebola in the North Kivu Province of DRC.</span></span><span style="background: white;"></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Promotion of human
rights</i></b></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Another benefit of the
membership of the United Nations is the promotion and respect for human rights
in member-countries. There are universal values such as the right to life, free
speech, the right to engage in legitimate business etc which every member of
the United Nations is enjoined to adhere to. Any violations of these values by
member countries is frowned upon and some members could be sanctioned for
breaches. So membership of the UN helps to promote the value for human rights
in member countries.</span></span><span style="background: white;"></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Recognition of statehood</i></b></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The
United Nations Organization, does not have the power to confer statehood on a
country. It does not also have the authority to recognize a state or a
government. However, one of the ways of receiving recognition from other
members of the comity of nations, is to become a member of the United Nations. One
of the benefits of a membership of the United Nations is, therefore, to be
recognized by other nations of the world.</span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Trial
of war criminals</i> </b></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Countries
which have experienced war, where citizens suffered atrocities in the
hands of their leaders or other political players, have the opportunity of
getting people involved in the atrocities tried as war criminals. This is also a
benefit of a country belonging to the UN.</span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Such
trials are able to bring closure to those who suffered during violent conflicts.
The victims of war are able to talk about the horrible things they saw and
experienced. Countries which belong to the United Nations ensure that those who
are responsible for atrocities during armed conflicts are made to pay for their
deeds. For example, the former Yugoslavia version of the International Criminal Tribunal brought people who were responsible for war crimes during the Balkans conflict to justice. Also, the former President of Liberia was tried by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) for his alleged support for the activities of two rebel groups in Sierra Leone. The SCSL was established by the government of Sierra Leone and the Unted Nations Organization. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Conclusion</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Above are some of the reasons why the nations of the world wish to become members of the United Nations Organization, a prestigious club where the comity of nations gather, annually, to deliberate on the issues of the world.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br /></p>

The benefits that member-states derive from their membership of the United Nations Organization

THE BENEFITS COUNTRIES DERIVE FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION Introduction The United Nations Organization (U...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Wednesday, 1 May 2019 / No comments

The peopling of Sierra Leone

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><img alt="Flag, Icons, Rodentia Icons" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/03/31/17/32/flag-1293731__340.png" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>THE PEOPLING OF SIERRA LEONE</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Introduction</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The term “peopling” refers to the mixture or intermingling of
various groups of people within the space of their culture and tribes in an exceedingly
explicit settlement. The “peopling” of Sierra Leone, therefore, merely refers to how the various people mixed, mingled, reticulated and interacted by methods such
as communication, migration, and intermarriages.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>History of the creation of Sierra Leone</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Information about those who settled in Sierra Leone in the 13<sup>th</sup>
and 14<sup>th</sup> century is hazy but archaeology has shed a little light on
the period and historians are able to deduce that the region may probably have
been populated around 2500 B.C. Fifteenth-century Portuguese records show that
a certain Pedro Da Sintra, a sailor, gave Sierra Leone its name judging from
the mountainous coastline. This was possible because Pedro Da Sintra was the
man who mapped the region in 1462.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are 17 or 18 ethnic groups in Sierra Leone, depending
on which historian one interacts with. However, they all agree that there were
indigenous ethnic groups in existence before the advent of the colonialists.
Each of the ethnic groups is believed to have come from somewhere except the
Limba, who have maintained that they were the original settlers of the region.
Indeed, the Limba do not have any history of migration according to their oral
tradition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Historical evidence shows that the Mane people, arriving from
the Liberian hinterlands in the middle of the 16<sup>th</sup> century, invaded
the coastal areas of Sierra Leone and may have subjugated almost the entire
indigenous ethnic groups. In the course of time, they mingled with the local
people. This is the present day Mende ethnic groups and constitutes the largest
in Sierra Leone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The second largest ethnic group is the Temne whose historical
tradition traced their origin to Futa Jalon. This claim has been challenged by
some historians like Dr. Ijagbani, on the grounds that they may have claimed
links to Futa Jalon for prestigious reasons. Other traditions claimed that they
entered Sierra Leone in the 15<sup>th</sup> century through the North-East. By
the 18<sup>th</sup> century, they had organized themselves into an important
political group.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Lumba ethnic group makes up the third largest group in
Sierra Leone. They do not have any oral tradition of migration to their present-day location. They maintain that they have been in Sierra Leone from the
beginning of time. They are believed to have first settled around the Wara-wara
hills in the north before later spreading northward and southward in the 16<sup>th</sup>
century. Today, they can be found in all the five districts in the north of
Sierra Leone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another ethnic group in Sierra Leone, albeit small, about 2%
of the entire population, is the Creole ethnic group. This is a collection of descendants
of freed African slaves, West Indian and liberated African slaves. They settled
in the area between 1787 and 1885. Their settlement was a result of a combination of reasons, including but not limited to abolition of the slave trade and the
establishment of a colony by the British, supported by slave abolitionists.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These are the various people who make up the nation of the Republic of Sierra Leone today. As a British colony, they fought and gained
independence in 1961.</span></div>
<br />
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The peopling of Sierra Leone

THE PEOPLING OF SIERRA LEONE Introduction The term “peopling” refers to the mixture or intermingling of various groups of people wit...

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The factors that influenced the rise and growth of the northern states of Ghana

The factors that influenced the rise and growth of the northern states of Ghana

THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCED THE RISE OF THE NORTHERN STATES OF GHANA Introduction The Gonjas, the Mamprusi, and the Dagombas are ...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Wednesday, 12 December 2018 / No comments

The factors that contributed to the rise of the coastal states and kingdoms in Ghana

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<img alt="Seascape, Tide, Landscape, Sea, Water" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/06/26/15/00/seascape-2444040__340.jpg" /></div>
<b style="text-align: justify;">THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE RISE OF THE COASTAL STATES AND KINGDOMS IN GHANA</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Introduction<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The coastal states and kingdoms in Ghana refer to those
traditional political units that dotted the coasts of the Gold Coast before the
coming of the Europeans explorers from beyond their shores and even after the
Europeans had arrived. These traditional coastal states include the Anlos, the
Fantes, the Ga Adangme, the Nzemas and the Ahantas. These coastal states may
not have existed concurrently but the features that contributed to their rise
seem to be similar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE RISE OF THE COASTAL STATES</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Political organization<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the factors that contributed to the rise of the
coastal states were their political organization. Among the Anlos, for example,
the king was called the Awomefia and below him were three divisional chiefs.
The Awomefia was chosen from between two royal clans – the Adzovia and the Bate clans – in alternate
order to prevent any of the royal clans from clinging to power for too long and to reduce the tendency for political dictatorship. The Awomefia ruled in close
association with three divisional chiefs below whom there were other sub-chiefs
and headsmen heading the smaller political units at the bottom. Among the
Fante, each state was headed by a paramount chief below whom there were
divisional and sub-chiefs. These chiefs and some representatives of Asafo
groups functioned as advisers to the paramount chief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Military organization<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another factor that had contributed to the rise of the
coastal states in Ghana was their military organization. The Anlo adopted the
military organization of the Akwamu people who were a little into the forest
zones of Ghana. As said earlier there was a king called the Awomefia.
Immediately below the Awomefia, the Anlo state was divided into three wings and
each of the divisional chiefs was responsible for one wing. There was a left
wing, a central wing, and a right wing. The strategy was that in the event of a
military attack from an enemy from any direction, the divisional chief of that
wing was expected to engage the enemy and send for reinforcement when they are
overwhelmed. Among the Fantes on the other hand, there was a military wing called the Asafo group. The
divisional chiefs together with representatives of the Asafo groups advised the
paramount chief on important matters. In times of war, the various states in
Fanteland formed an alliance to fight the enemy and revert to their various
states again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<o:p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Salt, Saltpan, Walvisbay, Namibia, White" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/11/26/16/46/salt-3839793__340.jpg" /> </o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Control of traditional commodities<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also, the control of some traditional commodities contributed
to the rise of the coastal states of Ghana. By virtue of their closeness to the
Sea, the coastal states had direct access to the fishes of the ocean and to a
rare commodity such as salt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The men went to Sea to catch fish and this was given to their
wives, sisters or other close relatives. The fish is then processed through
solar drying or smoking before being sold within the community and the rest is taken further into the hinterlands and to the forest areas. They also
discovered the art of mining salt. The Anlos and the Ga Adangme were noted for
the production of salt and this was transported into the hinterlands for sale.
These economic activities generated a lot of income for the coastal states and
brought in wealth which contributed to their rise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Contact with Europeans<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The rise of the coastal states is also attributed to their
early contact with European traders. By the 15<sup>th</sup> century, the
Portuguese had arrived at the shores of the Gold Coast. The Europeans
established several economic activities with the locals. They brought in goods
from their countries and took other items from Ghana back to their own
countries. The economic activities of the coast attracted other people to the
shores and this translated into growth and expansion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Introduction of firearms<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another element in the rise of the coastal states was the
introduction of firearms into the battles of the local people. When the
Europeans established trading activities with the local people, one of the
merchandise that was later brought was guns and ammunition. As these states mastered the art of using these firearms, some of them started attacking the
less powerful states close to them in order to expand their territorial integrity.
In addition, the firearms helped them to ward off attacks from their enemies.
This greatly contributed to the rise of the coastal states in Ghana.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><img alt="Lighthouse, Coast, Portugal, Ocean" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/02/01/00/20/lighthouse-2028507__340.jpg" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<o:p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>The Atlantic slave trade<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Atlantic slave trade was also a major contributor to the
rise of the coastal states of Ghana. At a point, after the Portuguese made their
first contact with the coastal communities, they started capturing Africans and
sending them back to Europe. When America was discovered, there was a need
for slaves but the slaves from America and Europe was insufficient to meet the
demands of the new world, hence the need for slaves from the African coast.
Soon, the coastal state realized that they could profit from the trade as well.
The wealth that was generated from the involvement of these coastal states in
the Atlantic slave trade contributed to their rise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Leadership and individual heroism</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The last but not least factor that contributed to the rise
and sustenance of the coastal states of Ghana was the leadership and heroism of
some individual members of the society. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One notable individual among the Anlos was Adzigbli
who single-handedly killed thousands of soldiers of an alliance of the Gas,
Akwapims, Krobos, Akyims and the Ada people. The alliance of 24,000 fighters
failed to defeat the 8,000 strong armies of the Anlos during the reign of Tɔgbi
Atiasa I, from 1784-1810 and Aʋadada Kɔwuga I and had to retreat. Adzigbli
chanced upon the retreating enemy army in a big canoe at the banks of the Volta River
and offered to ferry them across. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Each
time he ferried a group across, he drowned them mid-stream and came back to fetch another until 1000s of them
were killed. Individual acts of heroism therefore also contributed to the rise and </span>maintenance<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> of the coastal states of Ghana.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>SAMPLE QUESTION(S)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Explain six factors that contributed to the rise of the
coastal states in Ghana.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Highlight the factors that accounted for the rise of the
coastal states in Ghana.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<b>ALSO READ:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.virtualkollage.com/2018/12/the-factors-that-accounted-for-rise-of-the-forest-states-in-Ghana.html" target="_blank">The factors that accounted for the rise and growth of forest states in Ghana before the seventeenth century</a><br />
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The factors that contributed to the rise of the coastal states and kingdoms in Ghana

THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE RISE OF THE COASTAL STATES AND KINGDOMS IN GHANA Introduction The coastal states and kingdoms in...

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The contribution of the Kushite Kingdom to civilization

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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Khartoum, Meroe, Old, Archaeology, Trip" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/12/30/16/37/khartoum-3050424__340.jpg" /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE KUSHITES TO CIVILIZATION</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Introduction</i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The kingdom of Kush can be found in the present state of
Sudan. It was located near the Nile Valley. The Kushite kingdom is noted to
have made a lot of contribution to the civilization of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Iron technology</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the ways in which the Kushites contributed to world
civilization was in the area of iron technology. There were lots of iron ore deposits
in the kingdom and there were also large tracks of wooded forests where timber
could be obtained to fire the furnaces in order to produce raw iron for the
manufacturing of iron implements. The special skills of the Kushite iron
artisans to manufacture implements from iron made a great contribution to world
civilization. The Kushites developed tools that revolutionized agricultural
production. They also produced weapons of war that helped their army to protect
the kingdom for as long as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Contribution to agriculture<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Kushite civilization also contributed to the development
of agriculture. Their long association with the Egyptians enabled them to learn
a thing or two from the Egyptian methods of agricultural production. To the
northern parts of the kingdom were arable lands. Thanks to the annual flooding
of the area by the Nile and the depositing of silt, this created a fertile land for
the production of crops to feed the kingdom. The development of the iron
industry with its attendant production of farm implements gave a boost to grain
production. The ability to turn otherwise a not so good land into cultivable land
through irrigation contributed a lot to modern agriculture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Trade and commerce<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Kushites, like other kingdoms, were able to develop trade
with the rest of the then known world. The Kushites traded gold and other
products with Egypt, India, and countries to the Far East. They also sold grains
and animal hide. Like China and other developed economies today, which are able
to trade with the rest of world and bring back so much wealth into their
countries, the Kushites did similar things and so much wealth poured back into
the kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<o:p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Khartoum, Meroe, Desert, Archaeology" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/12/30/16/42/khartoum-3050444__340.jpg" /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Political organization</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The political organization of the kingdom of the Kush was a highly
centralized one. It was ruled by kings based on the consent of the people.
Kingship was hereditary but the elaborate system put in place, ensured that only
the best-suited person ascended to the throne. The king was chosen from among
the members of the royal family in line to be crowned kings but all the nobles
must agree that was the best choice that could have been. After that, the
approval of the Priesthood was required. Under the Kushite political
organization, the Queen-mother was not the wife of the king, she was rather the
mother of the king. Her major political role was to ensure stability in the
kingdom and that there was always a smooth transition from one king to
another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Architecture<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Kushites, like the Egyptians, were good builders. They had
developed the skills and ability to design and build pyramids and burial
grounds which were used as tombs. The only difference was that the Kushite
pyramids, which were mostly located in the city of Meroe, were smaller,
compared to the Egyptian pyramids. Their architectural skills may have
contributed to modern architecture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<b>SAMPLE QUESTION(S)</b><br />
1. Highlight five ways in which the kingdom of Kush contributed to the civilization of the world.<br />
<br />
<b>ALSO READ:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.virtualkollage.com/2018/11/the-factors-that-contributed-to-rise-of-the-kingdom-of-Kush.html" target="_blank">The factors that contributed to rise of the kingdom of Kush</a><br />
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The contribution of the Kushite Kingdom to civilization

THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE KUSHITES TO CIVILIZATION Introduction The kingdom of Kush can be found in the present state of Sudan. It...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday, 4 November 2018 / No comments

The factors that contributed to the rise of the kingdom of Kush

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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Friends, Khartoum, Sudan, People" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/10/27/22/48/friends-2895745__340.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traders in Khartoum, Sudan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO RISE OF THE KUSHITE KINGDOM</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Introduction</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ancient kingdom of Kush was located near the Nile Valley
in the South of Sudan and Egypt. The modern location of the ancient kingdom is in modern-day Sudan. Several factors have contributed to the rise of the Kush as a
kingdom and some of these factors are discussed in the under listed
paragraphs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO RISE OF THE KUSHITE KINGDOM<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>The brief fall of Egypt</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the factors that contributed to the rise of the
kingdom of Kush was the brief fall of the kingdom of Egypt. With the Hyksos' conquer
of Lower Egypt and their subsequent rule over the same, the kingdom of Kush became
the superpower in Upper Egypt. In about 730, the leaders of Kush invaded Egypt and
ruled it for almost 70 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Iron deposits in Kush</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another contributing factor to the rise of the kingdom of
Kush was the presence of iron ore deposits. In addition to these
iron ore deposits, the people were skilled in the extraction of iron and using
same to manufacture implements for farming purposes and for making weapons.
Their various tools were in very high demand in the region and this turn the
kingdom of Kush into a hub where money, weapons, and farm implements exchanged
hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Agriculture<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also, agriculture played a major role in the rise of the
Kushite kingdom. The skills of their artisans in the iron industry helped them
to manufacture farm implements. These implements were employed in clearing,
tilling and ploughing fertile lands for cultivation of various cereals such as millet and sorghum. Agricultural production, therefore, increased the food security of the
kingdom. They also engaged in the raising of domestic animals to meet their
protein needs. Food security gave enormous stability to the kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Desert Rocks Sand Sudan Meroe Sudan Sudan" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/09/10/10/38/desert-1658851__340.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desert rocks in Sudan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Trading activities</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again, trading activities contributed to the
rise of the kingdom. As a kingdom endowed with the skills of iron smelting and
manufacture of implements of various kinds, many people wanted to acquire some
of their products. The Kushites became traders in iron products used for either
farm work or for war. Apart from this, the Kushites went into the importation
of wood, used in firing the blast furnaces when their stock of wood started
dwindling. They also established trade with West Africa and engaged in buying
gold through the Sahara Desert. These trading activities contributed to the sustenance of the kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>The military<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In addition, one other factor which contributed to the rise
of the kingdom of Kush was their military. The Kushite leaders ensured the
training of Kushite hunters in the handling of weapons and how to engage in
warfare. These then formed the core of the Kushite military. The army was then
used to ward off invaders and to launch military attacks of other areas for
purposes of territorial expansion. They also built garrisons where soldiers were stationed to serve as a buffer in times of any invasion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>SAMPLE QUESTION(S)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Highlight five factors that contributed to the rise of the kingdom of Kush</span></div>
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The factors that contributed to the rise of the kingdom of Kush

Traders in Khartoum, Sudan. THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO RISE OF THE KUSHITE KINGDOM Introduction The ancient kingdom of Kush...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Tuesday, 23 October 2018 / No comments

The religious practices of the ancient Berbers

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<img alt="Algeria, Flag, Africa, Arabic, Nation" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/07/13/14/01/algeria-161961__340.png" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>THE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF THE ANCIENT BERBERS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><i>Introduction</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At the height of the ancient civilization of the ancient Berbers,
some striking religious practices could be identified. A few of these ancient
religious practices are discussed below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><b>RELIGIOUS PRACTICES</b> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Polytheism</b><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One striking aspect of the religion of the ancient Berbers
was that it was polytheistic in nature. As a result, objects of worship were
manifested in natural phenomenon like the Sun, rivers, mountains, trees and
many others. Their form of worship through several natural mediums made their
religious practice a polytheistic one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Deification of kings<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Among the ancient Berbers, kings were held in great honour.
In so much honour that they were regarded as gods. The reason for this great
honour was rooted in the belief that the kings were sanctioned by the gods to
rule the people. It was a taboo to disobey the ancient Berber king. They were
therefore regarded as deities. A gift from an adherent, presented to the king
was as good as having been presented to the gods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>The existence of priests<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another dominant factor of the ancient Berber religion was
the place of their priests. The priests were the officials of the shrines. They
were priests were the mouth-pieces of the gods. One of the functions of the
priests was to maintain the shrines. Another function was to perform the
necessary rituals that were required by the gods of the land on behalf of the
people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Animal sacrifice<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As part of their religious practice, the ancient Berbers
sacrificed animals to their gods. They believed that in order to obtain certain
favours from the gods, they needed to make blood sacrifice. For example, in
order to obtain victory in an impending battle, some of the Berber tribes could
sacrifice a cow to the gods. The Ursifan Berbers, for example, are documented
to have sacrificed black cows to their gods to help them become victorious in
battles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><img alt="Algeria Sahara Desert Dunes 4X4 Sand Erosi" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/02/24/18/33/algeria-647671__340.jpg" /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Human sacrifice<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another major religious practice of the ancient Berbers was
the sacrificing of human being to their gods. They believed that certain types
of favours are almost impossible to obtain from the gods unless a human blood
was sacrificed to them. This was considered as an ultimate sacrifice and the
gods could never fail them. The Numidian Berbers were identified as those who
practiced this ultimate sacrifice. They are recorded to have sacrificed their
first-born sons to their objects of worship in exchange for specific favours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>The use of amulets<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also, the ancient Berbers were known for the use of amulets
to give them personal protection from evil charms directed at them by evil
people in the society. The ancient Berbers believed that a person can be harmed
through the use of evil forces of every kind. In order to prevent these evil
forces from inflicting any kind of harm on them, they used amulets and talismans
to give them protection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>ALSO READ:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.virtualkollage.com/2018/10/the-economic-organization-of-ancient-Berber-society.html" target="_blank">The economic organization of the ancient Berber society</a><br />
<a href="https://www.virtualkollage.com/2018/10/the-influence-of-Arabs-on-Berber-civilization.html" target="_blank">The influence of the Arabs on the Berber civilization</a><br />
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The religious practices of the ancient Berbers

THE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF THE ANCIENT BERBERS Introduction At the height of the ancient civilization of the ancient Berbers, some s...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Thursday, 18 October 2018 / No comments

The economic organization of the ancient Berber society

The economic organization of the ancient Berber society

THE ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION OF THE ANCIENT BERBER SOCIETY Introduction The ancient Berber civilization relied heavily on various ec...

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