Traditional lore in population communication: the case of the Akan in Ghana.

Traditional modes of communication, including songs, riddles, appelations, and proverbs, remain predominant in small African communities and should be given greater attention as a means of disseminating government policy on family planning. An examination of the folklore of the Akan, an ethnic group in Ghana, demonstrates both the power of traditional communication and its intrinsic stability and tendency to resist messages of change. The persuasive power of art forms such as songs, proverbs, and stories derives from their link to ancestry and their representation of collective ideals. A review of Akan folklore reveals themes of communality and the creation of numerical strength through large family size. Qualification as an ancestor requires proven fertility, and fruitfulness of the womb receives special mention in dirges. At the same time, proverbs and songs emphasize quality child care and the importance of being able to support one's children adequately. The realities of economic hardships have found their way into Akan folklore, and the message that small numbers of adequately cared for children can provide the community with greater quality than large numbers of children who cannot be nurtured is emerging. Although this sentiment is consistent with government goals, it derives from a drive to preserve the traditional community. The government should seek to avoid any element of coercion in the dissemination of population control messages to this population given resistance to change, yet be alert to the tendency for traditional forms of communication to adapt themselves to changed social situations.