Idéologie de l'or chez les Akan de Côte-d'Ivoire et du Ghana - article ; n°1 ; vol.48, pg 127-140

Journal des africanistes - Année 1978 - Volume 48 - Numéro 1 - Pages 127-140
Georges Niangoran-Bouah first recalls the Akan's conception of gold : alive in the state of a nugget, dead in the state of powder. In the first form gold is both dangerous and beneficial, and cannot be commercialised : gold powder, on the contrary, circulates as a means of exchange. The author then analyses the role played by gold in the institutions and social life of the Akan. In religion, gold is used at the time of the introduction of a new cult, on the occasion of yam festivals, and for royal funerals ; in passing, the history of the renowned Ashanti's Golden Stool and the symbolism it represents is recalled. Gold is also used in legal procedures — an oath on gold has the value of an ordeal — and in medicine, it is used in making up certain remedies. In economics, gold dust has a monetary function : the weights employed for weighing it each have their name, and these names indicate the type of goods that can be procured with the corresponding quantity of gold dust. Finally, the display of gold is the decisive moment in feasts which, in certain Akan societies, mark the social promotion of rich men.
14 pages
Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.