Is Destiny Determined? An Akan Perspective

Abstract

Gyekye’s position claiming the unalterability of Akan destiny is contrary to the  Akan folk conception, moral cognition and social practice. Generally, Akan people believe in the idea that our entire life is predetermined (fatalism), yet they accept that we are capable of making responsible choices. This paper conceptually clarifies the interchanging expressions of Hyεbrε (destiny) and Nkrabea (fate) and argues for the alterability of destiny based on epistemic resources from oral tradition, including an Akan song (Yaw Ampadu’s Yaa Amanuah), Akan proverbs, and Akan literature (Efua Sutherland's Edufa). The argumentation resonates with the Akan folk conception of moral responsibility. This conclusively indicates that the Akan people philosophically identify with the compatibilist position, soft determinism, that despite being determined, individuals are capable of making moral choices which account for moral responsibility.