In Akan thought, there are two main conceptions of personhood: the normative and the ontological.
The normative conception focuses on the identity of a person as defined by their moral character, while the ontological conception focuses on the physical and spiritual components of a person.
The normative conception of personhood is often expressed in the proverb “Disgraceful behavior is unbecoming of an Akan born.” This proverb suggests that a person’s moral character is an important part of their identity.
The ontological conception of personhood is often expressed in the belief that a person is made up of two components: a physical body and a spiritual soul. The physical body is what allows a person to interact with the physical world, while the spiritual soul is what gives a person their identity.
Both the normative and ontological conceptions of personhood are important in Akan thought. The normative conception emphasizes the importance of moral character, while the ontological conception emphasizes the importance of the physical and spiritual components of a person.