The Ga-Dangme of Ghana
The Ga-Dangme of Ghana
The Ga-Dangme claim to be the descendant of the Israeli tribes of Gad and Dan (GA-DANgme) and if so, no wonder that on their way to Ghana they passed through Nigeria where the Igbo, who are predominately descendants of Gad, but has among them other tribes of Israel such as Dan, Judah, Levi, Zebulon, etc. Ga-Dangme’s oral history states that they came from Israel about or around the 6th century B.C. through Egypt to Ethiopia by the Assyrians. While in Ethiopia they occupied the Gonder Province in the north. The Assyrians attacked them there which forced them to Sudan’s south and then onto Niger proceeding to Nigeria. Possibly because they knew or had heard that their relatives Gad through his son Eri who founded the Eri and Nri Kingdoms. From Nigeria they are have said to have settled in Dahome then Togo. From Hustsi Togo they went along the eastern bank of the Volta (Jor) River, crossed between Old Kpong and Akuse and stayed for a time on the plains of Tag-logo until approx. 1200 A.D. which they then migrated to the plains between Lorlorvor and the Osudoku hills.
Interestingly enough both the Igbo and the Ga-Dangme have Osu clans.
Many names or derivatives thereof are Biblical names: Amasa (II Sam. 17:25, I Chron. 33:20-21) Amon (II Chron. 33:20-21) Ashale (I Chron. 2:16, II Sam. 2:18-19), etc.
Some Ga-Dangme village and towns have Biblical Names like Toma (Job 6:19, Isa. 21:14), Hebron (Gen. 13:8, II Sam. 2:11)
The following is a list of names and words found in the Ga-Dangme tongue that is also in the Bible:
GADANGME NAME OR WORD HEBREW NAME OR WORD
1. ARYEH (Means, My brother") ARYEH (Hebrew Bible, 2 Sam.1:14; 1King 5:15))
2. AFRA (An Israeli settlement) OFRA (Torah, Tihilim 116:15)
3. OTTO (Meaning, "Who is Mighty") YISHAI (1 Sam. 16: 8-18; (Psalm 46)
4. ARYELLE/AYELE (Means, "Lion of God") ARYELLE (Acts 27:27)
5. OFEI OFER (Hebrew 13:15; Rev. 3:20; Luke 6:29)
6. ADA (Reference to Adam, the first MAN) ADA (1Corinthians 15:45)
7. TEMA TEMA (Job 6:19;Isaiah 21:14)
8. NUNU NUNU (Num. 14:16; Num.14:38)
9. DODOO DODO (Judges 10:1); 1 Chron. 11:26
10. ASHI ASHI (Leviticus 12:8)
11. DANGME (Dan means "a Judge" in Hebrew) DAN (Genesis 30:5-6); Judges 18:27-29
12 ANNAN (One of those who sealed the Covenant) ANAN (Nehemiah 10:26)
13. GAD (Gad means, "good fortune") GAD (Genesis 30:9-12; Gen.10:11-13
14. ABE AVRAHAM/ABRAHAM (2 Timothy 3:8)
15. SAKA/SAKA. (Father of AHIA in the Bible). SACHAR (1 Chron. 11:35)
16 DODE (DODI) ("Beloved") DODI (Solomon Song of Songs 2:16 Hebrew Bible;
Isaiah 51:9)
17. KADI KADI
18. NERLE ("Who is like God" ) NERLI (Is another word for Rebeka in Hebrew,
Genesis 22: 20-23)
19. AYAH/Aiah. ("to ascend"in Hebrew) AYAH/AIAH (female), Gen.36:24; Chron.7:28.Sam3:7)
20. AYAA (Male or female name in Hebrew). AYA
21. ADAMA ("First man on earth") ADAM (Genesis 1:26; 1Cor. 15:21; 1Cor. 15:45)
22. NETE NATHANIEL (Ezra 8:15; 2 Kings 24:8
23. ACHIMOTA ACHIMOT (1 Chronicles 6:25-27)
24. NMATI MATTAHIAS
25. AMAA (Amal means "Heavy Labor in Hebrew). AMAL (1Chron.7:35)
26. ABEKA ("Half a Sheke in Hebrew") A'BEKAH (Exodus 38:26; Gen.24:22; 1Sam 9:8).
27 OMANYE (Means, "Good Omen) OMEN (John 1:45; Romans 1:12; 1Peter 4:6)
28. AKU ("Who is what God is" ) AKU (Hebrew Bible, Matthew 1:1; Dan.1:6-9;
Dan.3:1-30; Leviticus 8; Mark 1:1)
29. AYE AYELET
30. SHORME (Means,"The right spirit") SHOR' ME. (Hebrew Bible, Isaiaah 56:2,6; Song of
Songs Hebrew Bible)
31. NAATE/NARTEY.( Means, "Gift of God") NATHAN/ NATE, (John 1:45; psalm 19:14; 2 Sam.12)
32. LADJE LADJE (Croatian Bible, Matt.6:7-9; Isaiah 23:1-4
33. GAMA (derivative of GAMALIEL) GAMA (Lamentations 4:4; Judges 16:4)
34. ACHI ("My brother; leader of the Gad tribe). ACHI. (Jeremiah 17:9; 1King 5:15)
35. ASHITEY (Derivative of ASHI) ASHI (Leviticus 12:8}
36. ADODOADJI ("pleasant news" in Hebrew) ADODOADJI
37. ADE (Means, "Wonderfully made") ADE, (Psalm 139:14; Isaiah 66:17; Eccl.7:14)
38. AMAA ("Heavy labour in Hebrew). AMAL. (1 Chronicles 7:35)
39. AMON AMON. (Matthew1:10; 2 Chronicle 33:20-21)
40. KOTE ("over the top") KOTE (Leviticus 4; James 1:27; Gen.35:8; Isaiah 59:19
41. ABBA (Means, "Father" in Hebrew) ABBA
42. MOE (Means, Crucified on the cross) MOE (Gad) Provebs 17:22, John 4:41; Num.12:15)
Matthews 22:14)
43 SAI (Means,"personification of truth) SAI (Roman 3:5-8; Leviticus 12:1)
44. KOI KOI (Rev. 20:10); Matthew 4:19
45. AYE AYE (Gen. 1:33)
46 ABELE (Means, "Peace" ) ABELE (Hebrew 2:1)
47 KWEI KWEI (Luke 2: 1-7)
48 ABAN ABAN
49. BOTE BOTE (Job 1:14 in Luther Bible; Psalm 120: 1-2
50. KOSHI (Means, "Difficult", also place in ancient Israel that flooded). KOSHI (John 14:6)
There are over 200 of them; the list can be found at this web address: http://gadangme.weebly.com/list-of-names-ga-dangmeisraelites.html
Culturally the Ga-Dangme is a patriarchal society which circumcises their male children on the 8th day. Very rarely are there a people that circumcise their males that are not descendants of Abraham. Their Homowo Festival is virtually the same as Passover.
The Ga-Dangme also has idioms and sayings that are very much like Proverbs and other Biblical sayings.
"Let us consider or evaluate few of GaDangmes values and proverbs in the light of Biblical teaching, which point to their Hebrew Israelites origins.
The GaDangmes call to make the right use of opportunity and act appropriately is affirmed in Biblical texts like the popular passage that there is time for everything under the sun (Ecclesciates 3: 1-8), Bei ye keha nofeeno”
Again, the Bible teaching on cause and effect and the boomerang reaction are echoed in Deuteronomic principle which runs throughout the Bible. The Bible teaches that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6: 7-10) GaDangmes say, “Noni oduo le, no obaakpa”
Justice, fairness and impartiality are counseled in GaDangme proverbs: “Ke okee nwei no le, okei shikpon no”. The idea expressed here is essentially the same as the one expressed in Deuteronomy 16: 18-20 concerning the appointment of judges and administration of justice in ancient Israel.
The Dangmes also acknowledges that blessing comes from the truth as stated in their saying: “Anokwale joo ka tsui he”, meaning telling the truth cools down the angry heart”. The Bible teaches that knowing the truth makes one heart free. (John 8: 32), and speaking the truth to one another makes for harmony (Ephesians 4: 20-32)
The desire and counsel for peace and reconciliation is expressed in the Ga proverb: “Ajo ajo le esee be sane” This means that peace brings no trouble in its wake. Similar sentiments are expressed in Mathews 5: 25-26; Romans 12: 14-21, where people are advised to make peace and not seek litigation or revenge.
Knowledge and wisdom are NOT the monopoly of any one person. This means that we should confer with others in order to benefit from their wisdom. The Dangme proverb: “Yi kake ye da mi” or the Ga proverb: “Yitso kome eyaa ajina”, meaning one head does not sit in counsel. Proverbs 3: 7 and Romans 12: 16 advise us not to claim any special wisdom, and in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2, the Apostle Paul shows the limitations of human wisdom."
Dr. Joseph Nii Abekar Mensah, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
http://www.ghanadot.com/Review.mensah.gahebrew.032111.html
More such proverbs can be found at this link: http://gadangme.weebly.com/ga-dangme-proverbs-found-in-the-bible.html
The Ga-Dangme claim to be the descendant of the Israeli tribes of Gad and Dan (GA-DANgme) and if so, no wonder that on their way to Ghana they passed through Nigeria where the Igbo, who are predominately descendants of Gad, but has among them other tribes of Israel such as Dan, Judah, Levi, Zebulon, etc. Ga-Dangme’s oral history states that they came from Israel about or around the 6th century B.C. through Egypt to Ethiopia by the Assyrians. While in Ethiopia they occupied the Gonder Province in the north. The Assyrians attacked them there which forced them to Sudan’s south and then onto Niger proceeding to Nigeria. Possibly because they knew or had heard that their relatives Gad through his son Eri who founded the Eri and Nri Kingdoms. From Nigeria they are have said to have settled in Dahome then Togo. From Hustsi Togo they went along the eastern bank of the Volta (Jor) River, crossed between Old Kpong and Akuse and stayed for a time on the plains of Tag-logo until approx. 1200 A.D. which they then migrated to the plains between Lorlorvor and the Osudoku hills.
Interestingly enough both the Igbo and the Ga-Dangme have Osu clans.
Many names or derivatives thereof are Biblical names: Amasa (II Sam. 17:25, I Chron. 33:20-21) Amon (II Chron. 33:20-21) Ashale (I Chron. 2:16, II Sam. 2:18-19), etc.
Some Ga-Dangme village and towns have Biblical Names like Toma (Job 6:19, Isa. 21:14), Hebron (Gen. 13:8, II Sam. 2:11)
The following is a list of names and words found in the Ga-Dangme tongue that is also in the Bible:
GADANGME NAME OR WORD HEBREW NAME OR WORD
1. ARYEH (Means, My brother") ARYEH (Hebrew Bible, 2 Sam.1:14; 1King 5:15))
2. AFRA (An Israeli settlement) OFRA (Torah, Tihilim 116:15)
3. OTTO (Meaning, "Who is Mighty") YISHAI (1 Sam. 16: 8-18; (Psalm 46)
4. ARYELLE/AYELE (Means, "Lion of God") ARYELLE (Acts 27:27)
5. OFEI OFER (Hebrew 13:15; Rev. 3:20; Luke 6:29)
6. ADA (Reference to Adam, the first MAN) ADA (1Corinthians 15:45)
7. TEMA TEMA (Job 6:19;Isaiah 21:14)
8. NUNU NUNU (Num. 14:16; Num.14:38)
9. DODOO DODO (Judges 10:1); 1 Chron. 11:26
10. ASHI ASHI (Leviticus 12:8)
11. DANGME (Dan means "a Judge" in Hebrew) DAN (Genesis 30:5-6); Judges 18:27-29
12 ANNAN (One of those who sealed the Covenant) ANAN (Nehemiah 10:26)
13. GAD (Gad means, "good fortune") GAD (Genesis 30:9-12; Gen.10:11-13
14. ABE AVRAHAM/ABRAHAM (2 Timothy 3:8)
15. SAKA/SAKA. (Father of AHIA in the Bible). SACHAR (1 Chron. 11:35)
16 DODE (DODI) ("Beloved") DODI (Solomon Song of Songs 2:16 Hebrew Bible;
Isaiah 51:9)
17. KADI KADI
18. NERLE ("Who is like God" ) NERLI (Is another word for Rebeka in Hebrew,
Genesis 22: 20-23)
19. AYAH/Aiah. ("to ascend"in Hebrew) AYAH/AIAH (female), Gen.36:24; Chron.7:28.Sam3:7)
20. AYAA (Male or female name in Hebrew). AYA
21. ADAMA ("First man on earth") ADAM (Genesis 1:26; 1Cor. 15:21; 1Cor. 15:45)
22. NETE NATHANIEL (Ezra 8:15; 2 Kings 24:8
23. ACHIMOTA ACHIMOT (1 Chronicles 6:25-27)
24. NMATI MATTAHIAS
25. AMAA (Amal means "Heavy Labor in Hebrew). AMAL (1Chron.7:35)
26. ABEKA ("Half a Sheke in Hebrew") A'BEKAH (Exodus 38:26; Gen.24:22; 1Sam 9:8).
27 OMANYE (Means, "Good Omen) OMEN (John 1:45; Romans 1:12; 1Peter 4:6)
28. AKU ("Who is what God is" ) AKU (Hebrew Bible, Matthew 1:1; Dan.1:6-9;
Dan.3:1-30; Leviticus 8; Mark 1:1)
29. AYE AYELET
30. SHORME (Means,"The right spirit") SHOR' ME. (Hebrew Bible, Isaiaah 56:2,6; Song of
Songs Hebrew Bible)
31. NAATE/NARTEY.( Means, "Gift of God") NATHAN/ NATE, (John 1:45; psalm 19:14; 2 Sam.12)
32. LADJE LADJE (Croatian Bible, Matt.6:7-9; Isaiah 23:1-4
33. GAMA (derivative of GAMALIEL) GAMA (Lamentations 4:4; Judges 16:4)
34. ACHI ("My brother; leader of the Gad tribe). ACHI. (Jeremiah 17:9; 1King 5:15)
35. ASHITEY (Derivative of ASHI) ASHI (Leviticus 12:8}
36. ADODOADJI ("pleasant news" in Hebrew) ADODOADJI
37. ADE (Means, "Wonderfully made") ADE, (Psalm 139:14; Isaiah 66:17; Eccl.7:14)
38. AMAA ("Heavy labour in Hebrew). AMAL. (1 Chronicles 7:35)
39. AMON AMON. (Matthew1:10; 2 Chronicle 33:20-21)
40. KOTE ("over the top") KOTE (Leviticus 4; James 1:27; Gen.35:8; Isaiah 59:19
41. ABBA (Means, "Father" in Hebrew) ABBA
42. MOE (Means, Crucified on the cross) MOE (Gad) Provebs 17:22, John 4:41; Num.12:15)
Matthews 22:14)
43 SAI (Means,"personification of truth) SAI (Roman 3:5-8; Leviticus 12:1)
44. KOI KOI (Rev. 20:10); Matthew 4:19
45. AYE AYE (Gen. 1:33)
46 ABELE (Means, "Peace" ) ABELE (Hebrew 2:1)
47 KWEI KWEI (Luke 2: 1-7)
48 ABAN ABAN
49. BOTE BOTE (Job 1:14 in Luther Bible; Psalm 120: 1-2
50. KOSHI (Means, "Difficult", also place in ancient Israel that flooded). KOSHI (John 14:6)
There are over 200 of them; the list can be found at this web address: http://gadangme.weebly.com/list-of-names-ga-dangmeisraelites.html
Culturally the Ga-Dangme is a patriarchal society which circumcises their male children on the 8th day. Very rarely are there a people that circumcise their males that are not descendants of Abraham. Their Homowo Festival is virtually the same as Passover.
The Ga-Dangme also has idioms and sayings that are very much like Proverbs and other Biblical sayings.
"Let us consider or evaluate few of GaDangmes values and proverbs in the light of Biblical teaching, which point to their Hebrew Israelites origins.
The GaDangmes call to make the right use of opportunity and act appropriately is affirmed in Biblical texts like the popular passage that there is time for everything under the sun (Ecclesciates 3: 1-8), Bei ye keha nofeeno”
Again, the Bible teaching on cause and effect and the boomerang reaction are echoed in Deuteronomic principle which runs throughout the Bible. The Bible teaches that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6: 7-10) GaDangmes say, “Noni oduo le, no obaakpa”
Justice, fairness and impartiality are counseled in GaDangme proverbs: “Ke okee nwei no le, okei shikpon no”. The idea expressed here is essentially the same as the one expressed in Deuteronomy 16: 18-20 concerning the appointment of judges and administration of justice in ancient Israel.
The Dangmes also acknowledges that blessing comes from the truth as stated in their saying: “Anokwale joo ka tsui he”, meaning telling the truth cools down the angry heart”. The Bible teaches that knowing the truth makes one heart free. (John 8: 32), and speaking the truth to one another makes for harmony (Ephesians 4: 20-32)
The desire and counsel for peace and reconciliation is expressed in the Ga proverb: “Ajo ajo le esee be sane” This means that peace brings no trouble in its wake. Similar sentiments are expressed in Mathews 5: 25-26; Romans 12: 14-21, where people are advised to make peace and not seek litigation or revenge.
Knowledge and wisdom are NOT the monopoly of any one person. This means that we should confer with others in order to benefit from their wisdom. The Dangme proverb: “Yi kake ye da mi” or the Ga proverb: “Yitso kome eyaa ajina”, meaning one head does not sit in counsel. Proverbs 3: 7 and Romans 12: 16 advise us not to claim any special wisdom, and in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2, the Apostle Paul shows the limitations of human wisdom."
Dr. Joseph Nii Abekar Mensah, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
http://www.ghanadot.com/Review.mensah.gahebrew.032111.html
More such proverbs can be found at this link: http://gadangme.weebly.com/ga-dangme-proverbs-found-in-the-bible.html
