Religious Beliefs of the Akan

Opening ParagraphThe eminent scholar-missionary J. G. Christaller, compiler of the Twi dictionary and of 3,680 Twi proverbs, wrote in 1879: ‘May those Africans who are enjoying the benefit of a Christian education make the best of the privilege; but let them not despise the sparks of truth entrusted to and preserved by their own people.’ Now Dr. J. B. Danquah, well known as the author of those admirable volumes Akan Laws and Customs and Cases in Akan Law, has brought a philosophical mind trained by such teachers as G. Dawes Hicks of University College, London, to expound the religious and ethical system of his own people. It is the first time, I believe, that an African educated on western lines has produced so detailed an exposition. It should, and doubtless will, be studied sympathetically by every Africanist. It would, however, be no compliment to the talented author if his statements were accepted without question. Very unfortunately two of the three manuscript volumes were destroyed by fire; and these, we are given to understand, contained many of the data upon which Dr. Danquah based his conclusions. Had the book been published in its entirety no doubt many of the questions we now ask would have been forestalled.