Documentation of the Socio-Cultural Significance of Artefacts in Sefwi Bekwai Palace in Ghana

Abstract

Documentation of artefacts is a great avenue for recording the relevance of the works in the lives of the people. This would also help in improving the care and maintenance of artefacts. This study thus aimed at unfolding the philosophical foundations of the traditions and culture of the people of Sefwi Bekwai located at the Sefwi Bekwai palace in the Western North Region of Ghana. The artefacts made in different kinds of materials project the religious, political, social, economic and medicinal roles that these works play in the Sefwi Bekwai culture. The study was ethnographic research under the qualitative research approach. A total of 30 study participants were purposively sampled and interviewed with the help of a semi-structured interview guide. The study participants included chiefs, linguists, and elders of Sefwi Bekwai, art experts and visual art teachers. The study revealed that the artefacts are used as mediums of worship to satisfy religious needs; to bridge the gap between people and their ancestors; to act as dwelling places of the deities, ancestors, and other spiritual powers; to seek protection and good luck; to serve as a bond of unity, kinship, and belongingness; to express beliefs in bad force, death, and the afterlife. The study contends that documentation of artefacts in palaces is crucial for safeguarding and propagating the rich cultural heritage of a people to generations. Keywords: Art Forms, Palace Artefacts, Sefwi Bekwai, Ghanaian Chieftaincy.