125
Journal of African Art Education
ISSN 2720-7714
Opinion Piece Volume 3 Issue 1
© 2023 Journal of African Art Education. https://www.jaae.atagonline.org
How to cite:
Adom, D., Mensah, P.J. E. & Kportufe, E. G. (2023). Resurrecting cultural objects and
artefacts in a museum space: The indispensable roles of museum theatre in palace
museums in Ghana. Journal of African Art Education, 1(1), 125-132.
OPINION PIECE:
Resurrecting cultural objects and artefacts in
a museum space: The indispensable roles of
museum theatre in palace museums in Ghana
DICKSON ADOM 1
EMMANUEL JEWEL PEPRAH MENSAH 2
GLORIA ESI KPORTUFE 3
adomdick2@gmail.com 1
ej.peprahmensah@gmail.com 2
esikay.gek@ gmail.com 3
1 Department of Educational Innovations in
Science & Technology, Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology, Kumasi,
2 National Commission on Culture, Accra, Ghana.
3 Centre for National Culture, Kumasi, Ghana.
pp. 125-132
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59739/jaae.v3i1.062306
Palace museums and shrine houses play a crucial role in reconstructing the
histories and cultures of people in specifc communities. In a broader perspective,
palace museums and shrine houses recount the origin, identity, economic and
warfare prowess as well as the material culture of a people (Shalima, 2019).
Shrine houses are typical to many indigenous Ghanaian communities. However,
due to the inter-ethnic wars and the captivation of kingdoms in the colonial era
as well as the infux of Christianity, Islam and other foreign religions, most of
these shrines are non-existent (Agbiji & Swart, 2015). For instance, in the Ashanti
Region of Ghana, there are about ten (10) of these shrines scattered across
the region that have been refurbished and inscribed to the United Nations
Educational, Scientifc and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage
List. Besease, Adwinase (Patakro Bonsam), Asawase, Adako Jachie, Bodwease,
Abirim, Kentinkrono, Saaman, Asenemanso and Kenyasi Tano Shrines have
preserved the spiritual embodiments of these people. The Tano god, according
to oral history, is the most revered god among the Asante people, hence a Tano
Shrine was found in every community in the Asante Kingdom of Ghana. This
is typical in the case of Bodwease where both the shrine and palace museum
are opened to visitors. These shrines were believed to inhabit potent spiritual
powers and were held in high esteem as well as revered in these communities.
They served as a spiritual backbone for the chiefs, hence, these shrine houses
are situated close to the palaces of these towns.