scholarly journals BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE CROSS: RELIGION, SLAVERY, AND THE MAKING OF THE ANLO-EWE

2012 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-64
Author(s):  
MEERA VENKATACHALAM

ABSTRACTThe idea that mission Christianity played a pivotal role in the creation of modern African ethnic identities has become paradigmatic. Yet, the actual cultural and social processes that facilitated the widespread reception of specific ethnic identities have been under-researched. Suggesting that historians have overemphasised the role of Christian schooling and theology in ethnic identity formation, this article examines how the Anlo people of south-eastern Ghana came, over the twentieth century, to recognise themselves as part of the larger Ewe ethnic group. Although Christian missionaries were the first to conceive of ‘Ewe’ as a broad ethnic identity, a corpus of non-Christian ritual practices pioneered by inland Ewe slave women were crucial to many Anlos' embrace of Eweness.

Author(s):  
Predko Victoriia

The article is devoted to a theoretical analysis of the problem of ethnic identity and its main mechanisms. The driving factor in the life of the ethnic group is its ethnic identity, which is an important component of socialization and a leading factor in the further development of the individual, its productive functioning in society. The article analyzes the main provisions on the definition of ethnic identity. The basic functions and structure of ethnic identity are considered, its psychological role is determined. The process of ethnic identity formation in the times of globalization changes is characterized. Its leading role in socio- psychological adaptation, maintaining the mental health of the individual and maintaining state integrity are determined. The important role of ethnic identity in the formation of ethno-national values that regulate the living space of society is emphasized. The article presents the relationship of ethnic identity with the ethnic mentality of the population.


2019 ◽  
pp. 227-237
Author(s):  
Olga Zotova ◽  
Lyudmila Tarasova

The paper demonstrates the role of psychological security in the process of cross-national interaction. The condition of psychological security can reduce barriers, giving people an opportunity of interacting freely with the world around them. Criteria and indicators of ethnic identity formation were developed, depending on the degree of intensity of individual’s psychological security; these were classified into cognitive, affective and behavioral components and considered at two levels: in relation to oneself and to others. A series of expert interviews was conducted based on the developed system of criteria and indicators of ethnic identity transformation. During this interview series, experts were offered to identify the most significant criteria of individual’s ethnic identity transformation, in their view, depending on the degree of his/her psychological security. To identify the most relevant criteria in experts’ opinion, a variation coefficient was calculated for each of the criteria, and its weight was identified based on experts’ estimates. Contentbased, procedural and discursive features of ethnic identity transformation under condition of cross-national relations were identified, along with their dependency on psychological security.


Author(s):  
Mily Crevels ◽  
Pieter Muysken

This chapter presents the main questions raised in this book, as well as introducing some key notions that play a role in their answering. How did languages spread across the globe, and what are the implications for our understanding of human prehistory? Sometimes we find large language families, and elsewhere clusters of very small families or language isolates. What was the role of agriculture in language spread, and what did different language ideologies and patterns of ethnic identity formation contribute? Do geography and climate help explain dispersal patterns? Notions discussed are diversity versus disparity and the role of different time depths, followed by a survey of different continents. The models of dispersal in the work of Nichols, Dixon, and Nettle are analysed and contrasted, and the Farming Dispersal Hypothesis critically reviewed. Then the concepts of language families, linguistic areas, and linguistic isolates are presented, followed by a discussion of diversification mechanisms.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 245-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria M. Arredondo ◽  
Melanie Rosado ◽  
Teresa Satterfield

Studies show positive associations between ethnic identity, socio-emotional health and academic success. However, most work is carried out with adolescents and few have examined how young children develop an ethnic identity, particularly u.s. Latino children. The present study represents a first-pass investigation of children’s ethnic identity mechanisms and their relation to academic success. We carried out semi-structured interviews in Spanish with 25 Latino children (ages 5–12). Open-ended questions addressed items on the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure and Ethnic Identity Scale, incorporating a mixed qualitative (i.e., themes) and quantitative (i.e., scoring) analysis. Results revealed that children provide great detail when discussing their ethnic background. Additionally, Latino children’s bilingualism and Spanish-language proficiency were significant markers of ethnic identity formation, which in turn were positively associated with affect and Spanish literacy. These findings shed light on the complexities of ethnic identity construction during children’s early years, and establish a path for further investigation of Latino children’s socio-emotional health and academic achievement.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document