Akan Spiritual Systems-gctid35072

[Okomfo Akosua]

Kwame, have you met Nana Abosomakotere and been to his shrine?  I read the information on his website about the money rituals which causes me to be suspect of him....especially the one where a fowl is used.

[KwameD]

You may be right, you know? I must admit that when I first heard of him I thought his experiences were extraordinary, having (as his website said) spent 8 years training with the nkwatia and using his gifts to help others. I tried to get in touch with him in the past via email but got no reply back so it's really too bad that I don't have first hand experience of interacting with him. As to whether or not he is a real person I suspect that he is, since there have been other articles and info about him on Ghanaweb and elsewhere. If he is for real but into money and shady rituals maybe his leaning is toward the darker side of experience? That is only a hint at a possibility, since I've got no data to work with other than what we can access about him from third party sources. Too bad, really. I didn't think of it this way in the past, so from now until I get more concrete info on him I will not forward his name as I have done in earlier posts here.

Nana Abass I have not met either but I like the info posted on his website. There are surely others like him, it is really fortunate for our spiritual tradition that the nkwatia still train individuals the way they did a long time ago. Since their lifespans are different from those of regular human beings, and since they are keepers of traditions, stories and lore, it is good that we can still learn from them and about them through those who work with them, even in these times.

[KwameD]

Ebusua (Clan), there is a thread currently being developed [as of January 2011] relating to Akan cultural, language and spiritual traditions in West Kmt and in Suriname that has a lot of information which could easily have been under the "Akan Spiritual Systems" thread. For this reason, I thought it fitting to post a link to that thread here so that if you're interested you could check out the fascinating cultural-spiritual links between present day Akan in west Kmt and Suriname:

[Similarities between the culture and spirituality of Akan of West Kmt and their descendants in Suriname (click on "Hello")]

http://www.abibitumikasa.com/forums/introduce-your-Kmtyw-self-Kmtyw-family/43137-hello.html#post41709

[KwameD]

Ebusua, I would like to share the title of a book written by Kmtyw scholar Barbara Wallace (Columbia Uni) about the life and experiences of Nana Akomfohene Korantema Ayeboafo, whose remarkable journey starting in Philadelphia and taking her to none other than the great late Nana Okomfohene Akua Oparebea. This book entitled "Kmtyw Shamans and Ancient Shrines -- The Remarkable Life Journey of Nana Akomfohene Korantema Ayeboafo" is literally a biography of Nana Korantema's life experiences. For that reason it is very personal and one gets to learn a lot. It may be pricey for some but if you can afford it then I definitely recommend considering adding it to your library if you're interested in learning more about Akom. This is so far the closest account I've come across to the biography of an Okomfo. You can find out about the book at StarSpirit International Inc. and by emailing the founder, Nana Korantema
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[nuzulu]

Kwame thank you for all of this info i had herd of nana abas but i will now research deeper his story sounds very interesting

[KwameD]

Meda ase, Nuzulu. You're welcome This last book is a good one if you're interested in Akan spirituality, the Okomfo goes into a lot of personal detail and it's written with an Kmtyw flavour! :peace: I will likely purchase one more book of hers at some point in the future.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Look for Akɔm ho Nkɔmmɔbɔ. It's written in Twi as a series of interviews with Nana Mframa transcribed by Prof Kofi Asare Opoku (author of West Kmtyw Traditional Religion).

[Tenkamenin]

A fantastic thread, I think one of the most important books ever written is "A Discourse on Akan Perpetual Calendar" by Osafo Osei and you can get it in the book section here. What's refreshing about the book is that the author Osafo Osei took the approach of modernizing our holy days to reflect our present circumstances. If we all took time on Awukudae to give food to the poor or donated money to a Black cause like this site that would be a powerful statement.

On the flip side, there are some aspects of the religion that just don't jive with me. For one is the belief in "small gods" these gods that are created can be abandoned if they do not fulfill the will of the people. If memory serves me correct In Dr Busia's book on Chieftaincy he highlights a god being abandoned in Wenchi. I cant fathom having a spiritual entity in my life that I can abandon. I could never abandon Nyame or Nananom Nsamanfo. I can't abandon the Holy days that honor them either. Abosoms like the river Tano can not be abandoned either. Furthermore after doing research on Okomfo Anokye it is said that he worshipped the Creator directly. However he created small gods and gave them to other priests but he himself did not serve those gods.

[KwameD]

It is really good to see that this thread still inspires responses after it has been up for quite a while. Thanks for the book title you mentioned, I will check it out!
The existence of the deities is a reality...these work in hierarchies to maintain that which has been created, so they have a definite purpose. Akan traditional practice has always acknowledged Odomankoma Bɔrebɔre bo adeɛ.
As for Okomfo Anokye, aside from the knowledge he gained from his own natural abilities and from the folk at Awukugwa, there are indications that he travelled "up north" to learn from other Kmtyw groups. There are also indications that there is a connection between his 77 laws and those of the Gourmantche (who also have a Dogon lineage). We Akan call our Okomfos "Nana" while those of Gurma call their priests "Naba". Anyway, just some points of possible interest. A couple of years ago I compiled a list of feats associated with Okomfo Anokye, perhaps you may find these to be of interest.

[Tenkamenin]

KwameD;76392 wrote: It is really good to see that this thread still inspires responses after it has been up for quite a while. Thanks for the book title you mentioned, I will check it out!
The existence of the deities is a reality...these work in hierarchies to maintain that which has been created, so they have a definite purpose. Akan traditional practice has always acknowledged Odomankoma Bɔrebɔre bo adeɛ.
As for Okomfo Anokye, aside from the knowledge he gained from his own natural abilities and from the folk at Awukugwa, there are indications that he travelled "up north" to learn from other Kmtyw groups. There are also indications that there is a connection between his 77 laws and those of the Gourmantche (who also have a Dogon lineage). We Akan call our Okomfos "Nana" while those of Gurma call their priests "Naba". Anyway, just some points of possible interest. A couple of years ago I compiled a list of feats associated with Okomfo Anokye, perhaps you may find these to be of interest.

Thanks for the comment Bro Kwame,

I appreciate the link on Okomfo Anokye's greatest feats.  I've read and also own a copy of A.A. Antwi's mighty research on Okomfo Anokye and Asantehene Osei Tutu.  However, even A.A. Antwi acknowledges that Okomfo Anokye did not serve an Abosom.

My critique of the small "gods" is rooted in experience, I've seen family shaken up because of them and I've seen personal responsibility shunned because of it. Today there is a god for everything, and these gods are just as money hungry as the Pastors in many of our churches. Moreover, I was completely turned off by Kwaku Bonsam's interview on GTV where he did a magic trick of turning paper into money, honestly I've seen Penn and Teller do better tricks. Even with Okomfo Anokye, carving a board game with your bare hands is good but molding the soul of a nation (which he did) was even better.

Personally, life has been much more fruitful venerating the ancestor, standing in awe of nature, and receiving blessings directly from the Creator. I take all Akan Holydays seriously, I fast pray, meditate, give and receive.

[Ohemaa Yaa]

Thanks!