Abstract:
The study was designed to explore the changes in traditional marriage practices
among the Kasena in the Nogsenia Traditional Area of the Upper East Region. The
study was guided by the interpretivist philosophical position, which assumes that
reality is socially constructed and subjective. The study adopted a qualitative research
approach, using an exploratory case study design. The study's population consisted of
elders and clan heads from the Nogsenia Traditional Area of the Kasena-Nankana
Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The sample consisted of 20
respondents selected based on data saturation. The study revealed that the marriage
practices of the Kasena have undergone significant transformation overtime,
especially in terms of mate selection, bride wealth, marriage ceremonies, marital
rights and obligations, the prevalence of endogamy, and the neglect of the extended
family in marriage processes. The study also found that these changes have
multifaceted implications for the socio-economic systems in the district, such as a
shift in gender roles among the Kasena people, challenging or reinforcing patriarchal
structures, and empowering or disempowering women. The study recommended that
a study be done on the effects of these changes on other aspects of their culture and
society, and it also recommended that conscious efforts be made to document and
preserve certain traditional marriage practices and rituals, and pass them on to future
generations because of their significant roles towards marriage sustainability over the
years.
Description:
Faculty of Social Science Education, submitted to the school of
Graduate Studies, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Social Studies Education)
in the University of Education, Winneba
