Abstract:
Abstract
The Akan doctrine of the human soul (nipa-kraa) expresses the indigenous
Akan worldview and theology. As a contribution to the contextualization of
Christian theology within the Akan community, this article explored the
Akan doctrine of the soul and then reflected on this doctrine from a Christian
theological perspective. The article used a qualitative research approach
through a critical review of relevant literature on the subject. In the process, it
analyzed selected portions of the Nana Kwame Ampadu’s highlife song titled
Yaa Amanua will provide further insights into the Akan understanding of the
human soul. The article shows that Christianity can better serve the Akan
community if indigenous ideas are connected to relevant aspects of the Christian faith. Yet, the Bible must be the final authority of that contextualization process.
Keywords: Akan, kraa (soul), Christian theology, Nana Kwame Ampadu
