The Fante (also known as Boribori Mfantsi) are the inhabitants of the central coastal region of Ghana. The Fante (sometimes spelled Fanti) are members of the Akan group who speak the Akan language called Twi. Fante along with Asante (another cultural group), comprise two of the largest and best known ethnic groups that make up the Akan. Akan is a generic term used to refer to a large number of linguistically related peoples who live in southern Ghana. The Akan people are among the most prominent and traditionally well-cultured inhabitants of Africa. There are many groups that constitute the Akan people and these natives respect and believe in tradition. As reflected in their life style, the important and essential events in their life involve various rituals and ceremonies. Evidently, Ghana is a land of rituals, shrines and festivals. .
Family plays an important role in the life of the Fante and past traditions have an influence on the way family life is situated. The Fante had a dual kinship system where both the mother's and the father's family were essential in determining ones identity. The relatives on the mother's side were most important, especially maternal uncles. This was mainly because wealth and titles were passed from maternal uncle to nephew, rather than from father to son. Hence, a boy's rights connected him to his mothers family, which is known as the abusua. Sons frequently lived with their maternal uncles, and wives sometimes lived with abusua relative rather than with their husbands. .
The Fante believe that a persons personality, individuality, and character (known as ntoro) are passed down through the fathers family line. Each lineage is associated with a deity or god, called egyabosum, to which the ntoro is linked. Every egyabosum is identified with a particular river that is viewed as the spiritual source of each male lineage. Furthermore, each egyabosum has a sacred day of the Fante week on which it is worshipped.
