Pokoyirdeme Tribe 1 miwor 2008

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15.00


The Pokoyirdeme also known as the Miiwors are believed to have hailed from Lobi Gawu in Côte d'Ivoire. They are presently found around Meteu, Ga and Lassia in the Wa West district of the Upper West region.

Chemuoyiri, also known as Babile, is one of their major and very promising settlements in terms of progress. The community is located a few kilometres away from Ga to the West sharing boundary with Lassia Tuolu in the Wa West districts. The founder of this noble community migrated from his hometown to seek asylum and peace because of his troublesome son who could snatch people’s wives indiscriminately. And each time he perpetuates this act, his father was fined heavily which renders him powerless and voiceless among his tribesmen.

Agriculture is their mainstream economic activity with emphasis on food cropping, and livestock production. Sheabutter extraction, pottery and ‘zana’ mat weaving are other economic activities their women engage in. While the Ghana Cedi is the official medium of exchange, barter system of trade as well as the use of cowries for customary and business activities is common practices among the people of Chemuoyiri.

The people of Chemuoyiri are industrious hard working yet they lack a lot of basics in life. Children still travel kilometres to attended school. Just like the Brfios, child labour, teenage marriages, high school drop outs especially among girls, rampant rural urban drift among boys, violations of women rights, and limited access to health and educational facilities are common among the people of this tribe. There is only one borehole serving the community of nearly 1,500 residents.

A good lot of these drawbacks have customary undertones. For instance, just like the Brifos, girls are married out for cattle; and women are much seen and treated as estates than human beings.

The Pokoyirdeme also have very interesting cultural practices. Notable among them is the ‘Kuruwii’ practices, which is a kind of puberty or initiation rites performed to introduce young adults to their ancestors, and to seek protection and blessing from them. The month-long outdoors rites, which are performed every six years, involve making a voyage to their homeland and re-naming every participant by the ancestors. The ‘Kuruwii’ are usually escorted with yawning sound producing set of drums, known as the gangakpen and singing.

Additional product information

Year 2,008
Material Copper
Condition UNC
Denomination 1 miwor
Mintage 1000
Diámeter (mm) 30

Browse these categories as well: African Tribes and Kingdoms, Unusual coins