How the Lesser Gods Came Down

How the Lesser Gods Came Down

Nyame was far away now, and the distance was a problem. A person with a sick child cannot shout that far.

So the abosom came — the children of Nyame, sent or descended, who took up residence in the things of the world. One entered a river and became Tano. One entered the sea. One entered a rock, one a grove, one an anthill, one a particular tree at a particular bend in a particular road. They are not the things themselves. They live in them, the way a person lives in a house.

Each of them found a human being to speak through: the ɔkɔmfo, the priest, who is seized by the god at the drumming and dances words the god wants said. And each of them made rules — this day is mine, this fish may not be taken, this grove may not be cut — and these rules are the reason there are still stands of old forest in Ghana with no stump in them.

Nyame remained above all of them, and above the abosom's quarrels, and above being asked for small things.

If you visit Ghana. Any shrine to a river or a mountain; any akom drumming where a priest is possessed.