Samuel Awuah-nyamekye

Divination:: Its Nature and Meaning in Berekum Traditional Area Samuel Awuah-nyamekye

This thesis examines the nature and meaning of divination in the Berekum Traditional Area. Divination is seen as an attempt by humans to know the unknown or to know the will of the divine. Diviners are thus, all those who are capable of revealing the will of the divine. Eighteen principal divining methods are identified in the Berekum Traditional Area. Religious behaviour has been seen to be symbolic. Thus, all items used in divination are those that are believed can enhance the result of divination. Divination in the Berekum area has both diagnostic and prescriptive dimensions. Divination in Berekum also shows that the people believe in a host of supernatural beings all of which can influence the life of humans either positively or negatively. The phenomenon of divination plays an important role in the life of the people of Berekum. But factors like Science and technology, formal education, urbanisation as well as other religious traditions, particularly Christianity is posing a very great challenge to the survival of divination in the study area. But the hold of religion on the people is so huge that it is likely the phenomenon of divination will be with them for a very long time.