Fashion and cultural costumes in Ghana a case study of Krobo’s in the Eastern Region

Abstract

Costumes play a significant role in Ghanaian culture. Dipo, a cultural puberty rite of the Krobo’s in the Eastern Region is marked with cultural costumes (local beads and traditional Kente) with every aspect of the cultural practices of the puberty rite. This research sought to study the fashion and cultural costumes regarding Dipo, a cultural puberty rite. This study was limited to the Lower Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region of Ghana. In the case of this study, the descriptive research design was used for the study. Questionnaires and interviews were used as the data collection instruments. The multi-stage sampling approach was used where convenience and purposive sampling were used to select the sample for the study. A total of 228 participants were sampled from a population of 1125. The study found that the costumes used for the dipo initiation portray the culture of the Kroboland, shows the social life of the people, the wearer's wealth and the prestige of the people that use the materials. Also, the items or materials used for the Dipo initiation rites are important for the occasion as they add colour, glamour and tradition to the celebration. It is also used as a means to show the wealth and kind of family the initiates belong to. It was therefore recommended that the Dipo rites like any other traditional or cultural practice have their significance hence government through the ministry of culture and tourism should invest in the practice to bring more attention to the practice in the area of observation. The practice can be used as a point of tourist attraction.