Taboos of the Sea Women and Fishing

68 exclusively for the protection of fishermen and had no influence on the amount and type of fish caught.

3.4 Taboos of the Sea

To most fishermen, traditional rulers and traditional priests, the sea is a sacred and unblemished entity with many taboos. Among the taboos are: • Going to sea on Tuesdays. Some fishermen and traditional leaders reported that the selection of Tuesday as a day of rest is part of the laws regarding fishing. It is a day when fishermen mend their nets and boats and replenish their depleted resources. Fishermen in Axim added that if a fisherman or fishermen go to sea on any day before Tuesday and stayed on the sea on a Tuesday, there was no violation. Such fishermen could return to land on a Tuesday. However, it is a violation to sell their catch on that day. A chief fisherman at Busua mentioned that at the time the laws regarding fishing were being discussed, the first chief fisherman of all time, Farnyi Kwegyan, was in his kitchen somewhere preparing a sumptuous soup with the best of his catch that day. Consequently, the sacred Tuesday law and other laws were passed in his absence. • Going for fishing after sexual intercourse without having had a thorough bath. • Going for fishing after committing adultery. Most fishermen agreed that it was a common practice among fishermen but they were quick to add that it had no effect on the victim at sea until the husband of the woman gets to know and curses the victim. • A person on whom a known curse has been placed. • Fighting on the sea during a fishing venture.

3.5 Women and Fishing

The name ‘fisherman’ or ‘fishermen’ translated ‘Afarfo’ ‘Farnyi’ respectively or ‘Apokofo’ those who go to sea seems to portray the fact that fishing is the preserve of men. The researcher wanted to know why this was so. In response, respondents, particularly fishermen and traditional religious leaders found the answers in history and greed. They all reported that in the past women used to go fishing. One day some women who had gone fishing had a bumper catch which their boat could not contain. The basic rule in fishing is that they should have thrown part of their catch into the sea to free their boat of the heavy weight for a safe passage back home. Unfortunately, because of greed, they kept all their catch in the boat. Consequently, the boat capsized under the heavy weight and all the women got drowned. Since then, women are not allowed to go to sea even though there are no strict rules prohibiting them. A fisherman from Axim was of the view that fishing is a very difficult and exacting venture which requires muscular strength and courage. Generally, women are not as strong and courageous as men; hence they do not go to sea.

3.6 Effects of Violations on Violators