The Bowiri of Ghana. People and Language Detail Report

Transcription

1 People and Language Detail Report Profile Year: 1996 Language Name: Tuwuli ISO Language Code: bov The Bowiri of The Bowiri people live in the Volta Region in the eastern part of. Their main subsistence is growing cassava, maize, yams and other cultures which they sell among other places in the market in Kwamekrom. They live in compounds of about fifteen persons, usually the husband, his two wives and the husband's extended family. The district headquarters are located in Jasikan, which is about five kilometers away. The paramount chief of the twelve Bowiri villages resides in Amanfrom, but there is a dispute over the paramountcy with the town of Anyinase. Although Bowiri is not one of the languages officially developed in, the maintenance of the Bowiri language can be considered stable, with about one quarter of the population said to be speaking only Bowiri. A further quarter of the population is indicated as living outside the traditional area, mostly due to lack of opportunities for employment and secondary education. The Bowiri people can look back on several decades of missionary involvement, yet the traditional religion clearly has maintained its stronghold, and it is not clear to what extent people have really become converted and to what extent they only took Christianity as an add-on to their traditional religion. The fact that in the churches the preaching is mainly done in, makes it difficult for many people to understand the Gospel. Primary Religion: Christian Disciples (Matt 28.19): Churches: 15 Scripture Status (Matt 28.20): None in their language Population (date): 20,000 (1996)

2 Have They Heard The Gospel? Call Themselves Christian (%) 80 Prophet/Good Man, But Not God's Son (%) 2 Number Of Pastors 50 Number Of Communities 12 Number Of Churches 15 Is The Word Of God Translated? Translation Medium Any Hinderance To Scripture Distribution? Forms Of Gospel Presentation Available (Summary) What Kind Of Missionaries Are Needed? Population All Countries no World Population For This People World Population (Date) 1996 World Population (Urban Percent) 5000 Comment (World Population) Profile Summary There are no hindrances. The people are open, the roads are good, the area accessible. Some leaflets in The need for adequate water, health care and education systems have all been expressed. Furthermore the need for missionaries who come to preach and teach. pop and urban pop are estimates by elders of the community Countries Where People Group Lives Country Name Country Name Geography & Environment Location Country Ecosystem Type Geological Type Elevation Longitude 0.4E Latitude 7.3N Climate Comments (Geography & Environment) Language & Linguistics Alternate Language Names Attitude Towards Mother Tongue Percent Monolingual (%) 25 Second Languages 75 Second Languages 10 Mother Tongues Of This Group Mother Tongues Of This Group Mother Tongues Of This Group Mother Tongues Of This Group In the Volta Region in the eastern part of, just south of Jasikan, about 20 km north of Hohoe. Tropical Forest Mountain Slopes about 200m comparatively cool with abundant seasonal rains villages: A man from, Takorabe, Kyirahene, Anyinase, Kwamekrom, Abetinase, Odumase, Aborieh, Abogabo, Kubiase, Garaka, Fahiakobo Bowili, Liwuli, Siwuri, Bawuli, Tuwili AKAN EWE EWE AKAN

3 NKONYA Literacy Adult Literacy Percentage 60 Literacy Attitude Active Literacy Program Comment (Literacy) Economics Subsistence Type Average Annual Income Occupation Income Sources Products / Crafts Trade Partners Modernization / Utilities Yes Literacy program in, Twi, English no MT publications Agriculturalists not known farming, basket weaving, carving farming (cassava, maize, oil), trading, crafts pottery, baskets, carving Akans, s, Lelemi hoes, cutlasses, grinding mills Community Development Health Care (Quality) Comment (Health Care) Diet (Quality) Comment (Diet) Water (Quality) Comment (Water) Shelter Description Energy/Fuel (Quality) Comment (Energy) Poor One clinic for primary health care in Bowiri-Kyerahene Good maize, cassava, yams, rice, vegetables, fish, little meat Poor One borehole well in A man from, there is not enough water, especially during the dry season. rectangular compounds with mud walls and zinc roofs, no surrounding walls, the gardens are fenced in by stick fences Fair wood, charcoal, kerosene. Electricity in A man from, Kyerahene and Anyinase. Clothing Traditionally: wrap around cloth. Nowadays, mostly western second hand clothes are worn. Transportation 1/2 mile foot walk to the main road. From there taxis to Jasikan and Hohoe, where the buses to Accra pass. Infant Mortality Rate 5% Life Expectancy 80 Leading Cause Of Death Comment (Community Development) Society & Culture Family Structures Neighbor Relations Authority / Rule Social Habits/Groupings old age Life expectancy seems too high to the interviewer. Further causes of death: TB, meningitis, snake bites At least 15 people live in one compound: husband, usually two wives, plus the husband's extended family. Intermarriage is frequent. peaceful Hierarchy: Paramountcy in A man from (there is a conflict over the paramountcy with Anyinase), village chiefs, clan chiefs, family heads. gatherings at funerals, chief callings (gong-gong), at the big market in Bowiri- Kwamekrom, for communal work

4 Cultural Change Pace Identification With National Culture Self Image Judicial / Punishment System Celebrations Recreations Art Forms Media Local Language Broadcasting Attitude To Outsiders Attitude To Change Youth Labor and tasks (6-12 year olds) Youth Problems (Teens) Youth Greatest Needs (teens) Medium Similar Prestigious Judging done in court. The chief only does arbitration. There used to be a rice festival, which is in suspension now. Funerals are attended avidly and Christian festivals are observed, too. Owari, Draft, Ludu (ian games), drumming, dancing Drumming, dancing, pottery, baskets, carving radio, newspapers, gong-gong (chief's callings) None Somewhat receptive farming, cooking, carrying water, sweeping, watching siblings, weaving baskets. unemployment, nothing to do, some smoke marijuana job and secondary education opportunities Education Primary Schools 25 Percent Of Eligible Students Enrolled 90 Teacher To Pupil Ratio 45 Language Of Instruction Early Years Language Of Textbooks Early Years English Language Of Instruction Later Years Language Of Textbooks Later Years English Number Of Schools > 90% Homogeneous 3 Church Growth Reached Status Reached Reached Classification Evangelized Total Baptized Lay Leaders 25 Religion & Response Religious Practices & Ceremonies Attitude To Christianity Attitude To Religious Change Resistance / Receptivity Religious Analogies & Bridges Spiritual Climate And Openness Comment (Religion) Recommended Approaches Current Needs Christian and traditional festivals are being observed The Bowiri people are open to Christianity. Recently numerous new indigenous African denominations have come to their area. They need good, biblical teaching to be protected from false teachers. The power of Satan is very real to the Bowiri people, as it is to most Africans. From there it should not be too hard to present Jesus as the one who frees from bondage. They also have the concept of sacrifices in their traditional belief. The Bowiri people are open to Christianity. A lot of new denominations have lately came to their area The percentage for Traditional Religion seems too low to the interviewer. preaching, mother tongue evangelism, films and slides adequate water system, health care and secondary education. Missionaries who preach and teach.

5 Items For Prayer History Of Christianity In Group Year Began 1910 By Whom Significant Events For protection from false teachings, for unity of the church(es), for a mother tongue Bible translation. Gospel Recordings First contact by Bremen missionaries by preaching and bringing medical aid. Scripture Translation Status Available Scripture Comment (Scripture) Missions and Churches Definite None (Imported: Literature/Media: Literature: Some leaflets Recordings: Film: Radio: Video: Audio-visual: ) (Imported: Summary: Word of God translated: no Word of God form: forms of gospel: some leaflets in ) Gospel Recordings Roman Catholic Church Number Of Adherents 6000 Number Of National Workers 7 Language Used By Workers Presbyterian Year Started 1910 Number Of Adherents Number Of National Workers 11 Language Used By Workers Christian Literature And Media Status Literature Available Audio Recordings Available Films Available Radio Programs Available Videos Available Audio Visual Available Some leaflets