Ntam ‘reminiscential oath’ among the Akan of
Ghana is a commissive form that has statutory force. In it, the
oath-taker evokes the memory of historical events that are dangerous
and unpleasant to mention. The statutory force of the oath is
accomplished by the evocation of these memories in the community which
shares them. This article reviews the types of ntam oaths, the
contexts for their use, and their structure.