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GA (Ghana)
Index →Africa→Ghana →
Ga
(Thsi-Speakers, Tallensi, Akan / Ashanti, Fanti, Kokomba, (S)Isala, Ga, Ewe, Vagla, Krobo)
Among the Ga in Accra, Jahoda
(1956:p126)[1] “occasionally observed sex-play among small
children; adults who discover it happening will discourage this, not without
any obvious signs of disgust and moral indignation”. During the seclusion
associated with female puberty rite, “some” families would take the
opportunity to provide sex education (Otoo, 1973)[2]. In Tema,
boy infant’s penises are fondled, allegedly to produce a smile (Kaye). In Teshie, “the attitude of parents towards young children
who masturbate is one of indifference, though if the child is a boy he may be
told that his penis will be cut off if he holds it again. Some parents may
scold or slap their children for masturbating”. Also, “make-believe games of
husband and wife often lead to attempts at sexual intercourse. “More often
than not, parents take a serious view of such actions”. They are punished in
many cases with red pepper on the genitals. While such organised games are
not common, boys of eight, nine and above sometimes have sexual intercourse
with the girls in the room during the night. When children sleep in the same
room, boys on one side, girls on the other, “this usually leads to sexual
activities during the night”. In Christiansborg,
“children play sex games which are severely disapproved of by their parents. If
they are caught doing so, red pepper is put in their genitals. “It usually
happens that there is always a very old woman in every house whose official
duty is to deal with such cases”.
Janssen,
D. F., Growing Up Sexually. VolumeI. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed. 2004. Berlin:
Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology
Last
revised: Sept 2004
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