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# Home

Born in Oldenzaal, in 1935, I did my secondary education (gymnasium alpha) at the Mi­nor Seminary of the Society for African Missions (Societas Missionum ad Afros, SMA) from 1948 to 1954; and my training in RC (Philosophy and) Theology at its Major Sem­i­nary from 1954 to 1961, after which I was ordained to the priesthood. After a ʽPastoral Yearʼ in Win­­neba, Ghana, from November 1961 to July 1962, with daily lessons in Twi, a major Akan dialect,  I was appointed to St. Teresaʼs Minor Seminary at Amisano near Elmina to teach History. Some of those I taught are now in high positions: Cardinal Peter Kodwo Ap­piah Turkson is one of them; another is the Archbishop of Cape Coast, Matthias Kobena Nket­siah. Again others are the retired Archbishop of Kumasi, Thomas Kwaku Men­sah, and the Bishop of Ko­non­go-Mam­pong, Dr. Joseph Osei-Bonsu.

Research interests

African indigenous religions, in particular those of Akan societies of Ghana and of San  societies in Botswana and Namibia; Anthropology of religions;  the methodology of the comparative study of religions; ritual studies; the comparative study of spirit possession; the history of the academic study of religions, especially in The Netherlands

 Personal information

Nationality: DutchDate of birth: 25 June 1935Place of birth: Oldenzaal, The Netherlands

I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.