The Mallam and “Mallamism” in Ghana: An Exploration of the Functions of Muslim Clerics in the Wa Municipality

Abstract

In Islam, Muslim clerics are the heirs of the prophets. They represent a continuation of the prophetic traditions and functions in the Muslim community. These Muslim clerics are known as mallams in Ghana. Indeed, as heirs of the prophets, the mallams contribute towards promoting the wellbeing of the people in both the sacred and profane spaces. However, those clerics who participate in the production of spiritual goods and services are the only ones the general public refers to as mallams. The Ghanaian populace believes that the title mallam is the exclusive preserve of those who have the ability to manipulate the course of events as mallam. As a result, Ghanaians often ascribe ‘the unexpected’ to the works of the mallams. The mallam is, therefore, generally perceived as an exclusive agent of the spiritual. This paper explores aspects of the activities of the mallam in Ghana, using the Wa Muslim community as the site of exploration. The paper argues that although some of them render many spiritual services, dissemination of Islamic heritage is the main function of the mallam. The paper explains that the influence of the mallam in the past and their presence in the media in contemporary times together contribute to the perception about the mallam in Ghana today. It concludes that exclusively limiting the title to the spiritualist only is, therefore, not sustainable.