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Grandparents and Grandchildren in Kwahu, Ghana: the Performance of Respect

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

Sjaak van der Geest
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Abstract

This description of relations between grandparents and grandchildren in a rural Ghanaian community argues that the quality of these relations varies according to age and gender. Literature on African kinship has almost entirely focused on very young grandchildren. This article draws attention to changes that occur when those children grow into adolescents and adults. Grandchildren—both young and old—speak respectfully about their grandparents, but older people regret that their grandchildren do not come to them for advice once they have grown up. Older men seem more ‘neglected’ by their grandchildren than older women. The second argument is about performance: respect, affection and relatedness between grandparents and grandchildren are demonstrated in public even when their ‘contents’ have dwindled. The article is based on anthropological fieldwork over a period of almost ten years.

Résumé

Cette description des relations entre grands-parents et petits-enfants dans une communauté rurale ghanéenne montre que la qualité de ces relations varie selon l'âge et le sexe. La littérature consacrée à la parenté africaine s'est presque exclusivement intéressée aux petits-enfants en bas âge. Cet article attire l'attention sur les changements qui surviennent lorsque ces enfants deviennent adolescents et adultes. Les petits-enfants, jeunes et vieux, parlent respectueusement de leurs grands-parents, mais les personnes âgées regrettent que leurs petits-enfants, une fois adultes, ne viennent plus leur demander conseil. Les hommes âgés semblent plus «négligés» par leurs petits-enfants que les femmes âgées. Le second argument concerne la conduite : respect, affection et parenté entre grands-parents et petits-enfants se manifestent en public même lorsque leur «contenu» s'est réduit. L'article repose sur des études anthropologiques de terrain qui se sont déroulées sur une période de près de dix ans.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 74 , Issue 1: Grandparents and Grandchildren , February 2003 , pp. 47 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2004

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