ABOUT THE ASHANTI

-live in Ghana appoximately 300 km away from the west coast

-it is the center of Ghana, previously the Gold Coast (was a British colony until 1957)

-now, politically seperated into four main parts

-ashanti people live on an extended family

   -live in various homes or huts that are set up around a courtyard

   - head of the household is usually the oldest brother that lives there (he is chosen by the elders)-- called either father or house father and is obeyed by everyone 

- marriage is very important to ashanti communal life and it can be poligamous

   -men want more than one wife to express their willingness to be generous and support a large family

   -duty of both parents to keep marriage going 

   -children are said to inherit the father's soul (ntoro) and mother's flesh and blood (mogya)

-religion is a mixture of spiritual and supernatural powers 

   -plants, animals, and trees have souls

   -believe in fairies, witches, and forest monsters

   -variety of religious beliefs involving ancestors, high gods, and 'nyame' the supreme being of the ashanti 

Hierarchy:

-king: head of confederacy council made of paramount chiefs

-district chiefs

-district council of elders made of of subchiefs

-developed their ideas and we're not affected by other tribes and cultures

-influenced culture of Jamaica folklore

-ashanti influence can even been seen in the southern United states, in african American folklore