Nawuri is a
Guang language
The Guang languages are languages of the Kwa language family spoken by the Guang people in Ghana and Togo:
*Southern Guang
** Efutu-Awutu
** Hill Guang: dialects Cherepon, Gua (Gwa), Larteh
Larteh is a language of southeastern Ghana. I ...
of
Ghana
Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is situated along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and shares borders with Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to t ...
. It is nearly intelligible with
Kyode.
The Nawuri's are part of the Guan ethnic group in Ghana and are located mainly in two regions: Northern and Oti region of
Ghana
Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is situated along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and shares borders with Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to t ...
. They are indigenous in this two regions of Ghana:
* In Northern Ghana, they are located in
Kpandai District
* In Oti Region, they are located in the Eastern bank of Oti River running through from Kpassa in
Nkwanta North through to Kitare Disane
Nkwanta South to Njare in
Krachi East, thus the homeland of Nawuri's.
The Nawuri lives in dozen villages around the chief town of Kpandai, at the eastern end of Salaga district; on the west bank of the Volta Lake/Oti River, some 70 kilometers north of Kete Krachi.
Farming is their main occupation. The mothers cut tribal marks on their children when they are 6 months old; names are given by the elders at 6 to 8 months; children are often named after their grandfathers and grandmothers.
An initiation ceremony is conducted for both boys and girls when they are aged 15. They wear special clothing and are questioned to test their maturity.
Traditional belief means in sickness it is usual to go to the soothsayer to find out whether one has offended an ancestor. If so the soothsayer will identify the ancestor concerned and prescribe the necessary sacrifices, which are performed on the ancestor's grave.
Christianity was first introduced to the people in 1944 by the WEC Mission and several denominations now work in the area. The Nawuri are favorable towards
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
. There are relatively few Muslims in the area at the moment.
References
External links
ComparaLex database with Nawuri word list
* ELAR archive o
Nawuri language documentation
Guang languages
{{kwa-lang-stub