The Fante Lineage-Cognate Bonds, Territoriality, and Christian-Muslim Relations in Ghana

The religiously plural environment of Ghana has called for the active engagement of adherents of religious traditions for effective encounters and dialogue. The Fante people are organized along lineage (kin) structures according to blood relation, which generates cognate relationships of Christians and Muslims in many ways. This article examines the dynamics of the Fante lineage and its territoriality claim, which are significant for the appreciation of Christian-Muslim acceptability and encounters among the Fante people. It also examines the crucial role of the indigenous customary practices associated with lineage- cognate relations among the Fante people and argues that they contribute positively to the promotion of Christian-Muslim encounters. It is concluded that the claim to territorial space of Muslims and Christians of the same lineage also tend to negatively impact relations with ‘alien’ Muslims who are frequently treated as outsiders. There are also occasions when Christian and Muslim cognates disagree on issues bordering differences of religious beliefs and practices as well as relations at the personal level. The cognate filiation has been an obstacle to the promotion of intra-Muslim relations.