Documentation of chiefs regalia within Kwahu traditional area

Abstract

The Kwahu are part of the Akan ethinic group with unique culture and traditions. This study documents the royal regalia of chiefs within Kwahu traditional area. It aimed at establishing fashion trends of the royal costumes and other accessories of the Kwahu chiefs and to document the ethnic sysmbolisms of the royal regalia of the Kwahu people. Study adopted the narrative and phenomenology approach using the narrative historical inquiry tools grounded in qualitative research. Data was obtained through archival documents, semi-structured interview and unobstrusive observation guides. 20 participants from the Kwahu traditional area were purposively sampled for the study. The sample consisted of four chiefs, six elders from the royal family, four youths and six elders from the community. The participants were engaged in focused group interviews for the puposes of ensuring validity and reliability of the qualitative data. The research results reveals that the symbolisms of the chiefs regalia of the Kwahu has been the same. Also the regalia for the kwahu chiefs were influenced per the occasion, colour and duties attached. It also reveals that royal regalia of kwahu chiefs worn currently reflect the historic events that happened in the past as well as depicting power and wealth. Most occasions demanded a prescribed form of regalia to match the events such as enstoolment, confinement and death. However, the quality of the chiefs regalia in terms of materials like fabric, jewelry and other regalia accessories have been refined and well finished over the years due to advancement in textiles and fashion due to the current modern innovations in textiles arts. . Some of the chiefs regalia used in the past have been abandoned by current chiefs. Whereas the traditional cultural festivals of the Kwahu people have experienced some competition with the popular culture of Easter celebration which resulted in kwahu especially the youth lacking interests in the traditional knowledge (royal costume). It is therefore recommended that the Kwahu traditional council takes vital steps to reintroduce its unpopular traditional festivals to complement the Easter celebrations whereas a royal mesuem should be established to help portray and preserve the culture of the Kwahu.