The second half of KSU’’s Year of Ghana kicked off Jan. 17 with KSU Sociology Professor Sam Abaidoo discussing “Filial and Familial Obligations in Ghana.”
Dan Paracka, director of the Study Abroad Program refers to Abaidoo as the “Kennesaw Ghana expert.” Abaidoo is the first person he calls on campus when he has questions pertaining to Ghana.
The lecture is part of a series of weekly presentations from 12:30-2 p.m. every Thursday in Room 1019 of the Social Sciences Building. A different speaker presents each week.
“Every year we pick a country and study the country all year long,” Paracka said. “Ghana was chosen because of the good partnerships the school has with Ghana. Lots of students and two faculty members are from there.”
Abaidoo discussed the existence of a hierarchy system where one is expected to fulfill filial and familial obligations. As an example, nursing student Ernestina Ayamba found lodging with a friend of a friend. Ayamba moved from Ghana about five years ago without knowing anyone on American soil.
She relied on a tradition that reached from Ghana to America. Now she is married and will soon ”pay it forward” by helping another Ghanaian who will be moving to America soon. “You can’t say no,” Ayamba said.
Helping others is a constant theme that appears in the Ghanaian culture. Ayamba currently works in an assisted living facility, a job she speaks about with passion because it allows her to care for and nurture senior citizens. “We worship the elderly,” she said with pride.
The Ghanaian people live by various ancient proverbs. One such proverb noted by Professor Abaidoo is, “Aberewa hwe akoko na akoko hwe aberewa,” meaning, “The old woman cares for the chicken and the chicken cares for the old woman.”
Ghanians depend on the older generation for a representation of who they are as a people. In Ghana, not adhering to one’s filial duties can be seen as a sign of neglect to a culture filled with obligatory traditions.