Asante Market Women

Synopsis

A study of Asante society filmed chiefly in the central market of Kumasi, Ghana. It is a matrilineal society, where wealth passes not to a man’s sons but to his sister’s children. In the home women are subservient to men, but in the market place women have dominance. Studies the strict hierarchy whereby each produce section of the market has its own head woman - the Queen Mother. It is explained that the womens’ supremacy in commerce is based on the need for economic independence because the Asante inheritance traditions work to their disadvantage. As Asante girls become more educated they are beginning to challenge the traditional domination by men.

Series

Disappearing World, Series

Language

English

Medium

Video; Videocassette. VHS. col. 52 min.

Year of production

1982

Availability

Sale (Granada); 2005 sale: £50.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Notes

Broadcast on ITV 3/82.

Keywords

Africa; Asante; Ghana; women

Credits

Director

Claudia Milne

Contributor

Charlotte Boaitey

Production Company

Name

Granada Television

Web

http://www.granadamedia.com External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7734 8080

Fax

020 7494 6280

Address

Non-Theatric Sales
36 Golden Square
London
W1R 4AH

Distributor

Name

Royal Anthropological Institute Film & Video Library, c/o Concord Media

Email

sales@concordvideo.co.uk

Web

http://www.concordmedia.org.uk/ External site opens in new window

Phone

01473 726012

Fax

01473 274531

Address

Rosehill Centre
22 Hines Road
Ipswich
IP3 9BG