Promoting Local Development in Atwima Nwabiagya through a Hybrid of Cultures
Loading...
Date
MAY 2010
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study investigates hybrid cultures of the people of the Atwima Nwabiagya District
of the Ashanti region of Ghana and the various ways by which these hybrid cultures have
promoted local development in the district. The study is based on the assumption that the
culture of the people of Atwima Nwabiagya, and some other foreign cultures have
intermingled to create a hybrid of cultures which are being used to promote development
in the district. The research also proceeds on the grounds that current cultural practices of
the people of Atwima Nwabiagya are predominantly hybrid in form and any discussion
of the socio-economic development issues of the district must be approached from the
perspective of cultural hybridity. The literature review reveals some important theories
upon which the investigations are conducted. These theories include writings on the
transformation of culture, cultural hybridity, and development and in totality indicate that
cultures that are transformed through cultural loss, acculturation, adaptation, and or
replacement lead to the new form of cultures that are termed as hybrid. The study was
conducted using an integrated qualitative and quantitative technique which was mainly
descriptive. Data collection instruments used for the research include interviews,
participant observations of some cultural performances and analysis of some
administrative and historical documents. Purposive sampling procedure which dealt with
target and accessible population were used. Data in the form of photographs of some
selected hybrid products were collected to complement analysis of the phenomenon
under study. The findings show that the prevalence of hybrid cultural performances or
products could be found in several socio-cultural, political and economic activities in the
district. The research also shows that development agenda of the district is spurred by the
ii
existence and engagement of hybrid cultural performance and products. Based on the
data obtained and the analysis conducted, the study validates the assumption that the
promotion of local development in the Atwima Nwabiagya District is a consequence of
the prevalence of a hybrid of foreign and Atwima Nwabiagya cultures.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology, Kumasi, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Degree of
MASTER OF ARTS IN AFRICAN ART AND CULTURE,