Sankore - Sankore Foundation Indigenous Knowledge Study

SANKORE Indigenous Knowledge Study curriculum is without question the most innovative and unique component of THE SANKORE FOUNDATION Corp.

The successful implementation of the SANKORE core mission involves and is critically linked to African American’s capacity to be exposed to, learn, and absorb the rich culture and traditions of Ghana. SANKORE Indigenous Knowledge Study provides comprehensive training in traditional dance, drumming, midwifery, music, or any traditional and non-traditional profession of your choice. Come and learn from authentic community elders these trades, professions, customs, and practices, all while living within a tradition Ghanaian community.

In addition, under the umbrella of the SANKORE Indigenous Knowledge Study participants can also study traditional medicine, herbal formulations, religion and spiritual philosophy through the Ghana Federation of Tradition Medical Practitioners (GHAFTRAM) and its network of over 1800 traditional healers. This exposure and knowledge will have a substantial impact on the psyche of African Americans, will improve social functioning, and mental health, and help bridge the gap between Africans and African Americans through the acknowledge of the common link of kindred, lineage, and ancestry.

Participate in these indigenous opportunities while living in traditional Ghanaian villages or compounds and actively participating in traditional Ghanaian daily activities. One weekend Sankore will also help organize outings to visit as many as 7 historic and vivid sites threw outall of Northern Ghana while completing your SANKORE IKS.

These sites include:

Paga Alligator Park
Pikoworo Salve Camp
Sirugu Art Center
Tenzu Hills & Tango Shrine
Techiman Monkey Central
Salago Slave Market
Mole Park

It is true that African Americans were captured, kidnapped, and taken by strangers to a strange land. Naturally, this catastrophe has had great and lasting affects on the psychology of African Americans. Several people are blamed for these unfortunate events, however, very little has been done operationally by either Africans or African Americans to help lessen the pain and lasting psychological effects caused by the slave trade. SANKORE is pioneering the active engagement of real solution oriented efforts to address and resolve the horror of slavery and its lingering mental effects. The time and environment is ideal for the genesis of a realistic model designed for the African American community to develop a real appreciation and knowledge of its own culture. SANKORE is positioned to fill the cultural void within our communities and replace it with a healthy confidence and strong sense of IDENTITY.

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE STUDY TESTIMONIALS
SCROLL OVER EACH PICTURE TO VIEW THE TESTIMONIALS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS
Diane, Ghana - March 2007

Matilda X, Ghana - March 2007

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE STUDY GALLERY

STAGES IN LIFE
In any traditional society in Ghana, the growth of man is marked by stages.

These are the stages – birth, puberty, marriage, death and life after death. These stages are termed the Life Cycle. After birth, the baby grows through the puberty stage into a young adult and then adulthood. The adult then marries, brings forth children, grows old and dies. After death he moves into the next world. Some religious rites and ceremonies are performed for each stage. There are rites and ceremonies for birth, puberty, marriage and death.

PROVERBS, RIDDLES AND PUZZLES
What Proverbs Are and Their Significance in Ghanaian Languages?
A proverb is a short, wise saying. Proverbs play a very important role in the everyday

language of the Ghanaian. Our languages have beautiful proverbs, which cover all aspects of our life. They are drawn from careful observations of social events, the lives of people and animals. Some are also drawn from experiences in occupations such as farming, fishing, hunting and weaving. We have proverbs that talk about family and human relations, good and evil, poverty and riches, joy and sorrow.

CHIEFTANCY
Chieftaincy in Ghana is the system of ruling in the traditional Ghanaian society. The

common term for a “ruler” is chief. It is the term used for every grade of ruler in the traditional setting.

The chief is the first citizen of the town or village. As the ruler of the town or village, the chief has other office-bearers under him. Under them are other office bearers. The authority gets down until the ordinary citizen or subject is reached.

FESTIVALS
Significance of Ghanaian Festivals
In Ghana, there are different types of festivals. These festivals

differ from community tocommunity.Festivals are very important occasions on the traditional calendars of the various traditional areas. All the festivals have political, social and religious significance for the people who celebrate them. They are celebrated for many reasons.

Traditional Religious Beliefs and practices
The traditional religion teaches that there is God and this God is a spirit and is supreme.

To show he exists, the traditional man uses the expression, “One does not show the child God.”

VALUES AND SOME SPECIFIC VALUES
Meaning of Values
Values mean standard or ideas, which most people have about the worth of good qualities such as kindness, freedom, mercy, respect and love. There are moral and social values.