Browsing by Author "Boyong Gbene, Issahaku"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Imagery of Sissala Clan Totems as a Resource for the Tumu Paramountcy Textile Regali Imagery, Regalia, Resource, Textile
    (KNUST, 2020-07) Boyong Gbene, Issahaku
    In many cultures, chiefs are regarded as the custodians of cultural values, beliefs and practices. Their unique position as intermediaries between ancestral spirits and the people they represent, makes them sacred figures and their regalia sacred objects with symbolic significance. These objects are often a representation of an animal/bird or an incident of past history of the traditional area. Tumu traditional area in the Upper West Region is home to a variety of such animals and birds which serve as totems to their clans, yet the regalia of their paramountcy skin have little or no symbolic significance and are nonrepresentative of them (Sissalas). Most Sissala youth are also fast losing sight of the significance of their clan totems that unite and remind them of their ancestry. The study therefore sought to explore Sissala clan totems for design and production of symbolic textile regalia for the Tumu Paramountcy. The ethnographic action research through studio-based paradigm adopting the Universal Design Model by Zeidman (2003) was employed to study, identify, sketch and develop concept images of Sissala clan totems. Seven (7) unique textile regalia were designed and produced which reflect the traditional setting of Tumu paramountcy. The results of the study were discussed and analysed. The study revealed that Sissala clan totems have an endearing bond of unity among the various clans. The findings of the study largely confirmed that clan totems are a great source of inspiration for idea development and designs to artists and craftsmen. The study recommended that the artefacts should neither be displayed in direct sunlight nor washed with soap or detergents-they can simply be cleaned with damp cotton cloth if they are dirty. The new symbolic textile regalia could be used as a source of inspiration for future studies. Other researchers should also conduct further studies in the remaining Sissala clans to discover more totems for textile designing and production of artefacts.