Conceptualization of romantic love in Ghana: A probe within the Zongo societies

Romantic love is a complicated and multifaceted phenomenon that has been examined and disputed by academics from various fields, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and philosophy. The evolutionary perspective on romantic love contends that it results from natural selection and is motivated by the desire to find a compatible spouse with the highest possibility of generating healthy children. In contrast, the cultural view of romantic love contends that romantic love is a social construct that differs between cultures and time periods. This thesis aims to try to analyze how romantic love is conceptualized in Ghana's Hausa-speaking Zongo communities and cultures. This thesis probes into the Zongo culture, the ethnic groups in Zongo, globalization, and its effect on the people's understanding of romantic love. This work examines the relationship between love, romantic love, and culture. Then, it gives a detailed history of the formation of the Zongo communities and the intercultural relations between people from different tribes and ethnic groups settling in Zongo. This ethnographic research documents diverse encounters and interactions with the people interviewed and allows us to hear the meaning people give to love and romantic love. It reveals how they define love and romantic love, how it is expressed within these communities, and the agency of religion on people's conception of romantic love in Zongo. Keywords: Culture, Ghana, Hausa, Love, Romantic Love, Zongo.