Reconsidering Ivor Wilks’s 'Big Bang' Theory of Akan History

Ghana Studies v.14(2011): 11-52

42 Pages Posted: 13 Apr 2016

See all articles by Mariano Pavanello

Mariano Pavanello

Sapienza University of Rome - Dept. History, Cultures, Religions

Date Written: January 1, 2011

Abstract

The paper challenges Ivor Wilks's "big bang" theory of Akan history for what concerns the recent origin of matriclans (sixteenth century). The article is based on the analysis of the different kinship systems of the Akan area, and on the analysis of the widespread custom of cross-cousin marriage, which is labeled as 'marriage in the house' exactly as the marriage with a slave that was in use until the first decades of the twentieth century. The article concludes that the origin of matriclans and matrilineality must be dated back of centuries before the sixteenth century.

Keywords: Akan, clan, lineage, matrilineality, matriclan, kinship, marriage, slavery

Suggested Citation

Pavanello, Mariano, Reconsidering Ivor Wilks’s 'Big Bang' Theory of Akan History (January 1, 2011). Ghana Studies v.14(2011): 11-52, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2762380

Mariano Pavanello (Contact Author)

Sapienza University of Rome - Dept. History, Cultures, Religions ( email )

Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5
Rome, 00185
Italy

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