Catholicism and problem-solving in Dagbon

The Dagomba people of northern Ghana should nor be Christian at all. Althou gh there has been a Catholic presence for the last 50 years in Dagbon, the people have never felt the need for Christianity. But some of their number are now forming village-level Christian communities. Taking the stance that religion in Africa is about problem-solving, especially when it involves t he unseen world, the authors surveyed 315 villagers, Catholics and non-Cath olics, asking about their most important problems and if Christianity respo nded to them. The problems involve beliefs and practices concerning fate, d reams, witchcraft, "bad death", divination and the ancestors-things not usu ally the concern of Christian rituals. II was found that while Christians c ontinue to have the same problems as their neighbors, they are not helped t o solve them in a Christian way. Bur the Dagomba Christian communities are gradually drawing the attention of the Catholic Church to their needs and m ore creative and responsive rituals are appearing.