In the Akan tradition Nephews and Nieces are recognized; cousins are not, for a reason

The post about the flaws in the matrilineal system of inheritance does not in any way suggest that Otumfour’s last-born son has to replace him at all costs. In any case, he has older sons.

The post only sought to highlight how the system alienates some members of the family, especially in the royal family when it comes to ascension to the stool. He was just an example used for symbolic reasons to make it relatable and comprehension easier. That didn’t work out well.

The post is generally about Akan’s system of inheritance. When you write, you need to highlight the dominant example to help people appreciate it. The ability to read and place it contextually is very important; sadly, most people could not move away from the introduction. They read preceding paragraphs with that in mind. I am not to blame, though.

The link to the family only sought to suggest that the matrilineal system contributed to the near collapse of the extended family system. I stand by this because it’s a researched position. Every research or theory has an opposing view; it’s normal. This is how knowledge is expanded.

Again, I am not suggesting that we go patrilineal; I am looking at a hybrid. I should have equal rights in my father’s lineage as much as in my mother’s lineage.

Of course, I believe that the patrilineal system supported the children more in the past, especially considering the fact that economic powers were largely vested in the father’s bosom. Even where both spouses worked together, the wealth was deemed to belong to the man.

The patrilineal system at the time ensured that kids rightfully enjoyed the spoils of their fathers, whereas kids in the matrimonial homes lost out a lot because their auntie’s kids had more rights, especially after the death of their father.

One point most people missed is how this system, in a way, empowered Akan women. It can be highlighted in another conversation. In fact, we can’t ignore its effect on the stability of marriages. Several researchers have corroborated this.

Today, men still control the majority of the wealth, but the nuclear family system has ensured that the extended family not only has limited privileges but also limited rights to make claims after the man’s death. PNDC Law 111 has to be credited for this too.

As far as the traditional rulership system is concerned, though, it remains sacred, and I believe a second look needs to be taken at both ends. Stools become vacant for years because there was no son from their daughter, and sons from their sons were deemed to be not son enough.

Look at it this way: a boy born to an Ewe woman who is a royal and to an Akyem man who is also a royal can’t be a chief even though this boy has a link to the royal bloodline through both parents. He is not eligible to inherit the stool at either side because his mom is an Ewe where the patrilineal system is adopted, and his father an Akyem where the matrilineal system works.

When my dad, who is a Fante (matrilineal), died in April 1998, his family took everything and handed us over to my mother’s side with nothing to take care of us. Even at the funeral, when debts were calculated, they asked us to pay a portion despite no one rendering accounts of proceeds to us. Parliament footed almost every bill because he worked there, but they still had debt.

We were left at the mercy of my mother’s family. Why? Because it’s not their duty to take care of their son’s son, and my mother’s side had no right to claim my father’s assets. We can talk of law; I knew nothing about that then.

This practice means that every royal family has to cut off about half of its human resources in terms of leadership. We can talk of other stools created, but do they really matter as the ultimate?

What were the reasons for these systems? Why did the Akans deem the mother’s child to be more family than the father’s child, and why did the reverse apply in other areas? Is there a solution provided by modernity to deal with this?

I will look at it in detail later. However, paternity was one of the considerations; it may not be the central reason, but it was one of them. I have not less than 5 researched works published in credible journals to refer to. See comments for sources. Akan tradition seeks to preserve the bloodline. Traditionally, Akans believe that the man gives the child his spirit, and the woman gives the child her blood. Blood is the highest form of association. Science has proven that this is false, so why should a tradition based on limited knowledge at a time be preserved now that we have reliable knowledge?

There are stories of a Chief’s wife’s refusal to offer her child for sacrifice, and so when his sister offered her son, he decided to pass on his inheritance to him. There is the story of a man who wanted to offer his son for sacrifice, only his wife told him the child is not his. There are several schools of thought on this.

In Akan tradition, nephews and nieces are recognized; cousins are not, for a reason.

Such conversations open the floodgates for us to learn. Unfortunately, while many offered their rich perspectives, some decided to resort to insults.

Anyway, there remains so much we can learn from each other if we engage like civilized people refined by education instead of toy soldiers who only think of insults once they disagree or get offended by someone’s opinion.

It is sad that in our generation, when most people are hard-pressed and mom and dad can’t help, they are unable to run to a family member for help. It wasn’t like that.

The extended family system should not be completely overhauled; it serves a purpose. Today, a young lady can have rich uncles but has to rely on a man to be able to pay her fees.

When you narrow it down, you’d realize that most of us have suffered from the collapse of the family system.

NB: Majority of Akans practice the matrilineal system. Offended Asantes should chill; there was nothing offensive about the post; it only has something you can disagree with. Or once you disagree, must you get offended? How can you learn then?

If there are 5 reasons you know and you see someone majoring on one, provide the four; don’t fight the one. It is possible to know the four and not know the one.

We have so much to learn about; time is running out.

Thanks to those who shared their rich perspectives, I learnt something, to those who took to insults, eno nti na moabon nno.

Welcome to those who followed me; this is one of the relevant walls on Facebook.

By Kofi Kyei