Vanishing Voices from Ghana's 'middle belt'

Language	Nawuri
Depositor	Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu
Affiliation	University of Ghana
Location	Ghana
Collection ID	0325
Grant ID	SG0174
Funding Body
Collection Status	Collection online
Landing Page Handle	http://hdl.handle.net/2196/ecb6efab-a6c1-457f-a0fe-9a295533d92d

 

Summary of the collection

The project documents endangered cultural and linguistic practices in two cult languages still used in the Nawuri-speaking Balai community. The Kiliji language is used almost exclusively by women, in the context of a cult know popularly as Okule and more accurately as Ojo Aliji. It is identifiable as a variety of Yoruba. The other is an archaic variety of the Nawuri language used by the indigenous founder clan of Balai, also known as Balai, exclusively in prayers. This clan is known for iron working and still practices it, using traditional methods. The Ojo Aliji cult is highly endangered in the medium run, since no new members are being recruited. The Balai clan language is a relic of the language as spoken before the arrival of incomers. Although they still practice iron working the methods are changing. Information was also collected on pottery making as it was formerly (but is no longer) practiced by Balai women.

 

Group represented

The women’s language, which involves service to a cult (Okule) is called Aleji when spoken by one person, Kileji when spoken in a group. It is highly endangered, because due presumably to the influences of Christianity and modern education no women have been initiated into the cult for at least a decade. Initiates receive special cult names. The cult is influential in other aspects of community life as well.

The Bale or Balai clan of the Nawuri is considered to be the founder clan, preceding both the other Nawuri and the Gonja. Traditionally they were blacksmiths. They are today Nawuri-speaking and use this special language, name at present unknown to us, only for special prayers.

 

Language information

Nawuri is a North Guang language, in the Guang branch of the Tano (or Akanic) group. The project was carried out in Balai in the Kpandai district at the north-western end of the Nawuri-speaking area. However, although Nawuri is the vehicle for most of the information collected, a major focus is Kiliji, a Yoruboid language used in the Ojo Aliji cult practiced by women of the village. It is apparently most similar to the Ife language of Togo and Benin.

 

Special characteristics

The Ojo Aliji cult and its Kiliji language have not been previously documented or noted in any detail.

 

Collection contents

The Kiliji language is documented with a short lexicon that identifies Yoruba sources, recordings, transcriptions and translations of songs and libation texts in Kiliji, and photos and videos of ritual performances. The special register of Nawuri is documented with recordings of interviews with Balai clan members, recordings and transcriptions of libations with photos and video of a performance. There are also photos, video and discussion of the traditional craft of iron working, and photos and and interview on pottery which is no longer practiced.

 

Other information

Documentation of endangered cultural and linguistic practices in two cult languages used in the Nawuri-speaking Balai community.

 

Acknowledgement and citation

To refer to any data from the collection, please cite as follows:

Kropp Dakubu, & Mary Esther. 2014. Vanishing Voices from Ghana’s ‘middle belt’. Endangered Languages Archive. Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/2196/00-0000-0000-0002-B24E-F. Accessed on [insert date here].