Agoo! (May I have your attention? pronun. - Ah'go)

(your response hopefully would be Amee - you have my attention pronun. - Ah'mae)

Akan Protocol is based on three major elements: Spirituality, Respect and Humility. Akan spirituality is built into the community and is a way of life. The social values of the Akan are supported by the spirituality. TRespect is another aspect that is taught form cradle to grave. Respect for authority, position, the elderly, the spiritual, the mysterious and the sacred is strict tradition. There is no on in the Akan family who is greater that Onyame (Almighty God), the Abosom (deities) or the Nsamanfo (the ancestors). Thus the concept of one's ego being so great that humility is lost is one that is not tolerated among the Akan. Every Akan including the Asantehenne (King of the Akans) and lower must show humility. In fact it is one of the qualifying attributes for an esteemed position.

The above was taken from the book of the same name by Nana Akua Kyerewaa. The proverbs below deal with aspects of Akan protocol and are also taken from this book.

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"There is something dreadfully wrong
with an education/socialization process
that leaves us ignorant of our past,
strangers to our people, apes of our
oppressors, and creatures of habitual,
shallow thought, and trivial values."
-Dr. Asa G. Hilliard,III

"general group behavior patterns matter
more than individual exceptions. and
past group behavior is indicative of
future group behavior." - yuckwheat

"Everyone has their myths which is
fine. However when one parades "myth"
as "fact" especially concerning ANOTHER
group of people independent of the said
myth-making group then we have a
problem. The myth now becomes a LIE." -
Solarus