Traditional authorities have bemoaned the lack of virgin girls at Dodowa in the Shai Osudoku District for Dipo – a rite of passage for pubertal females among the Krobos.
Some women who spoke to the media noted that to ensure the continuation of the rite, they are now compelled to introduce girls who have had sexual intercourse, which is against the tradition.
They indicated that most girls no longer practice chastity.
The leader of the “mothers”, Awunye Ashiakie, who has been involved in Dipo rites for the past 60 years believes there has been a decline in interest for Dipo due to formal education, Christian Religion and the media.
According to her, the rite among the Krobo people has been described as an evil doctrine by pastors to the world.
“It is the misconception people peddle around that is preventing others from bringing their daughters. I have heard people say you will not give birth or get married when you go through it and that is false,” she said.
One, Maameo, perturbed about the trend fears Dipo rite would gradually fade away till nothing of it is remembered.
Despite the current circumstance, they are resolute to preserve their tradition.
When asked whether Dipo had outgrown its usefulness and should be cancelled, they are said to have retorted loudly, “y3 ntwa mu,” to wit “we will never cancel it.”
Dipo
The Dipo rite transitions a female from childhood into womanhood.
The initiates would be aged between 10-14 and the rite traditionally could take up to three years of which the girls had to remain on the Krobo mountain.
In both the Shai and Krobo communities going through the Dipo rite is a prerequisite in becoming a woman who is capable of fully participating in the community, being a wife and having a family.
In the olden days, those who did not do it or got pregnant before the Dipo rite was done were considered outcasts – some banished from the community.
Steps
The initiate has to be stripped of who she was before in preparation of the transition into womanhood all of these actions are carried out by elderly women in the house.
- Yi Si Pomi – The shaving of the head. The lower part of the head of each initiate is shaved. This is usually done by an adult female in the house
- Kpa womi- Tying of the string. All jewellery and beads worn by the initiate are removed and she is given a string bracelet with a single reddish bead called lɛ
- Tying of the Sɔni – This is a raffia type fibre tied around a girls neck
- During this time the Dipo initiates are not allowed to wear any footwear.
Food
1) They cannot drink pipe borne water except on the Monday Niwomi ceremony.
2)They are not allowed to eat foreign foods such as Peanuts and Roasted Maize.
3) They can only eat typical Krobo foods such as Alamua (called ‘water yam’), hyɛ (white guinea yam), Plantain, Wuwui etc.
Further rituals take place where initiates will visit the shrine, Klama songs will be sung, and the girls will have a period of time away from the community where they are taught about the Krobo way of life.
At the end of their rites, they will be dressed beautifully and paraded around the town as worthy Krobo women.
Source: The Independent Ghana