Rose Mary Amenga-Etego

About

Rose Mary Amenga-Etego is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Ghana and a Research Associate at the Research Institute for Theology and Religion, UNISA. Focused on the African indigenous Religions, she brings her knowledge on the subject, especially the Nankani of Northern Ghana, to bear on her research and publications, including Mending the Broken Pieces (2011) and “Unpacking Toolluum as a Sacred Text” (2023).

Education

2004 – 2007/8: PhD (Religious Studies), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.

1995 – 1998:   M.Phil. (Religions), University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.

1990 – 1993:   B.A. (Religions with English), University of Ghana.

Research Interest

African Indigenous Spirituality and Gospel Music in Ghana 

Mental Health, and African Indigenous Religions 

Cross-cultural marriages and religio-cultural identity creation in Ghana 

Publications

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2025). Taboos, rituals and women’s spirituality in an African society. In Adogame, A., Obadare, E.  and Adebanwi, W. (Eds.), Topographies of African spirituality: Essays in honor of Jacob Olupona. (pp. 209-218). London and New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003259817

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2024). Akan traditional religion and economic ethics. In Amore, R. C. and Barrera, A. (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of religion and economic ethics. (pp. 317-332), Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192894328.013.35

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2023). Unpacking tuulloom as a sacred text: Understanding a religio-cultural concept of preparedness. In Somé, A., SJ, Mensah, M.K and Nsiah, G. (Eds.), Interpreting sacred texts within changing contexts in Africa (pp. 7-25). Kitabu na Neno 2. Abidjan: Presses de l’ITCJ – Rome: G & B Press.

Amenga-Etego, R.M. (2023). Christianity among the Nankani of Ghana. In A. Adogame & A. Arrington (Eds.), Interconnectivity, subversion, and healing in world Christianity: Essays in honor of Joel Carpenter (pp. 97-108). London & NY: Bloomsbury Academic.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. et al (2021). Language, Literature, Prayer, and Music Repertoires as Source of African Christian Spirituality and Values. International Bulletin of Mission Studies, 1-10. DOI: 10.1177/2396939320961100

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2020). Religion in a shared society: Finding peace in a fractured society. In M. Accad & J. Andrews, The religious other: A Biblical understanding of Islam, the Qur’an and Muhammad (pp. 96-98). Cumbria: Langham.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2020). Beyond the religious divide: Development in a multicultural society. In M. Accad & J. Andrews (Ed.). The religious other: A Biblical understanding of Islam, the Qur’an and Muhammad (pp. 31-34). Cumbria: Langham. 

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2020). Witchcraft and modernity in Ghana: A people’s approach to witchcraft and fear nowadays. In W. Kahl & G. Lademann-Priemer (Eds.), Hexerei-Anschuldigungen in weltweiter perspective/Witchcraft accusations in global perspective. Vol. 18. (Pp. 117-131). Missionshilfe verlag: Hamburg.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2019). The practice of traditional medicine and bioethical challenges. In Y. A. Frimpong-Mansoh and C. A. Atuire (Eds.), Bioethics in Africa: Theories and Praxis (pp. 113-130). Delaware and Malaga: Vernon Press.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2018). The church and FIFA World Cup in Ghana: A gender perspective. In A. Adogame, N. J. Watson & A. Parker (Eds). Global perspectives on sports and Christianity (pp. 96-113). London and New York: Routledge.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2018). Crossing research boundaries: ‘Our Nankani Daughter’ in academia. Journal for the study of religion in Africa and its diaspora – AASR E-Journal 4 (1), 3-14.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (Oct. 2017). Akuapem in retrospect: Ritual unification and state formation. Religion and Theology 24, pp. 274-294.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2017). Transcending religious and cultural barriers: The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians in Perspective. In U. Andrée, R. Liu und S. Lorberg-Fehring (Eds.). Transkulturelle begegnungen und interkultureller dialog: Erkundungen und entdeckungen im Anschluss an Werner Kahl (pp. 169-178). Hamburg: Missionsakademie an der Universität.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (Sept. 2017). Terrorism and counter insurgency in Africa: A religious and cultural perspective. NOCEN: International Journal of Arts and Social Sciences 1 (1), pp. 66-86. 

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (Oct. 2016). Engaging the Religio-Cultural Quest in Development: An African Perspective. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 72(4), a3502. http://dx.doi. org/10.4102/hts.v72i4.3502

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (July 2016). Hope is as strong as a woman’s arm: Mobilizing amidst violence against women and girls in Africa and its diaspora- A reflection. Journal of Race, Ethnicity and Religion, 7(1.5), 1-19.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2016). Nankani women’s spirituality and ecology. Special Issue: Ecowomanism: Earth Honoring Faith, Worldviews, 20(1), 15-29.

Ross, R. E. & Amenga-Etego, R. M. (Eds.). (2015). Unraveling and Reweaving Sacred Canon in Africana Womanhood. Lanham, Boulder, New York & London: Lexington Books. 

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2015). Akokɔ bere so nim adekyee: Women’s interpretation of indigenous oral text. In R. Ross and R. M. Amenga-Etego (Eds.). Unravelling and reweaving sacred canon in Africana womanhood (pp. 3-19). Lanham, Boulder, New York & London: Lexington Books. 

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2014). Religion and democratization: A perspective. In A. O. Atiemo, B. K. Golo & L. K. Boakye (Eds.), Unpacking the sense of the sacred — A reader in the study of religions. University of Ghana Readers. (pp. 21-32). Oxfordshire: Ayebia Clarke Publishing Ltd.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2014). Critiquing African traditional philosophy of chastity. In C. N. Omenyo and E. B. Anum (Eds.), Trajectories of religion in Africa: Essays in honour of John S. Pobee (pp. 251-270). Amsterdam/New York, NY: Rodopi.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. & Oduyoye, M. A. (Eds.). (2013). Religion and gender-based violence: West African experience.Accra: TLSS and Asempa Publishers.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2013). When tradition and modernity meet: Nankani women at the cross-road. In R. M. Amenga-Etego & M. A. Oduyoye (Eds.), Religion and gender-based violence: West African experience (pp. 493-526). Accra: TLSS & Asempa Publishers.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2013). Deconstructing sexism and classism in an African society: A challenge to tradition. In L. D. Rhodes, C. T. Gilkes & M. F. Coleman-Tobias (Eds.), If I do what spirit says do: Black women, vocation and community Survival (pp. 56-78). Massachusetts: XanEdu Publishing.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2013, June). Categorization of women and human rights issues. CrossCurrents, 138-147.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2012). Same couple, multiple marriage contracts: Christian marriages in contemporary Ghana. Ogbomoso Journal of Theology, XVII(3), 133-52.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2012, Dec). Marriage without Sex? Same-sex marriages and female identity among the Nankani of northern Ghana. Ghana Bulletin of Theology, New Series (4), 14-37.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2012). Gender and Christian spirituality in Africa: A Ghanaian perspective. Journal of Black Theology, 8-27.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2012). The interplay of traditional and modern concepts of health. In H. Lauer & K. Anyidoho (Eds.), Reclaiming the human sciences and the humanities through African perspectives (321-330). Accra: Sub Saharan Press.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2012). Tribes without rulers? Indigenous systems of governance and sustainable rural governance. In A. Adogame, E. Chitando & B. Bateye (Eds.), African traditions in the study of religion in Africa – An interdisciplinary introduction (pp. 119-134). Farnham: Ashgate Publishers.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2012). Nkiru Uwechia Nzegwu. In C. Ceton (Ed.), Vrouwelijke filosofen: Een historisch overzicht(pp. 493-497). Amsterdam/Antwerpen: Uitgeverij Alas.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2011). Mending the broken pieces: Indigenous religion and sustainable rural development in northern Ghana. Trenton: African World Press.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2009). Sex and sexuality in an African worldview: A challenge contemporary realities. In D. N. Hopkins & M. Lewis (Eds.), Another world is possible: Spiritualities and religions of global darker peoples (pp. 234-249). London: Equinox.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2008) Chinchirisi: The phenomenon of the ‘spirit children’ amongst the Nankani of northern Ghana. Legon Journal of the Humanities xix, 183-214.

Amenga-Etego, R. M. (2006). Violence against women in contemporary Ghanaian society. Theology and Sexuality 13(1), 23-46.

Akurigu, R. M. (1996). Chastity and rituals on women. In E. Amoah (Ed.), Where god reigns: Reflections on women in god’s world (pp. 87-96). Accra-North, Ghana: Sam-Woode Ltd.