The Akan are one of the best-known cultural groups in Africa. Currently 4 million strong, they are the largest cultural grouping of Ghana, representing approximately half of the country’s population. The Akan Abusua (family), or clans, includes the Akuapem, Akyem (Abuakwa, Bosome, Kotoku), Asante, Brong-Ahafo, Fante, Kwahu, and Nzema. The Asante and Fante are the two largest of these subgroups. Although the political, social, religious, and customary practices of the Akan are similar, each clan shares a common cultural heritage and language, which, added to their historical tradition of group identity and political autonomy, contributed to the formation of individual nation states during the precolonial period. This entry briefly describes their culture and then examines their ideas of spirituality in more detail.

Associated most often with a multitude of symbols, the term “adinkra” is more accurately used to denote a symbolic funerary message given to transitioning and/or departed souls. The term “di” means “to make use of” or “to employ,” and the term “nkra” means “message.” Literally, then, adinkra means “to make use of a message,” but when spoken together, the term is understood to mean “to leave one another” or “to say goodbye.” Moreover, because the term “nkra” has “kra” (life force; soul) at its root, adinkra is further understood as a message that a transitioning and/or departed soul takes with it on its return to Nyame. Thus, adinkra is a type of language.

Ashanti Empire (Asante) Vast territory that was controlled by the Ashanti, a subgroup of the AKAN people in present-day GHANA, beginning in the 17th century. The roots of the Ashanti Empire lay in the expansion of trade that began during the 14th century, as Dyula traders made their way across the savanna.

The world exists as a dwelling place for all.  However, every  society has its own perception about how the world came into being. Such understandings about creation lead to differing societal norms among which number religion is one. Whether or not the universe was created in one systematic procedure gives much cause to worry. The discourse of such sociocultural patterns has given birth to the subject of worldview. Thus, the subject of worldview is a complicated one that requires much in-depth analysis. No wonder numerous religions exist.