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Kona Sacred Grove
( 6°52' N, 1°31' W).
The town of Kona is located ~25 km north of Kumasi
along the Mampong road, just north of the junction
at Ntonso. The specific name of the sacred grove is
Nkwaati/Naahamu, but we refer to the grove using the
simpler name of the town, Kona. The grove is a
royal burial ground and also the site for conducting
spiritual rituals. Traditional protective measures
governing access to the forest are still very much
in place and certain areas of the forest are
strictly off limits. Permission to study the forest
was granted after many visits and discussions with
the Nana and village elders and the pouring of
libations. Initially, we were required to have an
elder with us every time we entered the forest, but
over time the requirement was relaxed. Although
fires penetrated the interior of the forest in
certain sections and these remain degraded more than
20 years later, much of the canopy remains intact
and in nearly pristine condition. Taboo prevents
access to this site on Tuesday and Friday.
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