THE RE-EMERGENCE OF A SNIFFING CULTURE IN TAMALE-NORTHERN GHANA

Authors

  • S. N. Abokyi University for Development Studies
  • A. Akinyoade African Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL), at Leiden University, The Netherlands
  • F. A. Fordjour University for Development Studies, Tamale-Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47740/796.UDSIJD6i

Abstract

Northern Ghana has been associated with the use of hallucinogenic substances and stimulants such as pito, datura, marijuana, kola nuts and tobacco since pre-colonial times. Stimulants such as kola nuts and tobacco featured prominently as essential commodities in long distance trade and very much played a key part in boosting local economies. Aside their socio-economic significance, these stimulants have also been used as alternatives to orthodox medication. Just when sniffing (sundi) was thought to be on the decline, moringa snuff emerged as a stimulant and hallucinogenic substance, seemingly displacing the use of afore-mentioned varieties for recreational and medicinal purposes. Using interviews of users and sellers, personal observation, oral tradition and secondary literature, this paper attempts to provide socio-historical, gender and economic insights into the rise of moringa snuff in northern Ghana.

Keywords: Moringa Snuff Addiction, Tamale, Sniffing Culture, Social History

Author Biographies

A. Akinyoade, African Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL), at Leiden University, The Netherlands

Senior Researcher

F. A. Fordjour, University for Development Studies, Tamale-Ghana

Lecturer, Microbiology Department

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Published

2024-09-20

How to Cite

Abokyi, S. N., Akinyoade, A., & Fordjour, F. A. (2024). THE RE-EMERGENCE OF A SNIFFING CULTURE IN TAMALE-NORTHERN GHANA. UDS International Journal of Development, 11(1), 1114–1126. https://doi.org/10.47740/796.UDSIJD6i

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2024): UDS International Journal of Development

Section

Humanities

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

As a publisher of this Journal, the University for Development Studies reserves full copyright ownership of the Journal and all submissions published in it.