EKKO
neutralSpirit
The name Ekko, also rendered eqo or e'ko, attaches to the beliefs of the Kafa, a people of south-western Ethiopia. In traditional Kafa religion, eqo designates a category of spiritual powers at the heart of a possession cult. These spirits, very numerous, may be clan spirits or spirits of natural phenomena. Tradition reports that an eqo often attaches itself to a person after their father's death and that it can take possession of a living person. The bond with these spirits is established through a medium and diviner called alamo, reputed to communicate with them. This belief, inseparable from the old kingdom of Kafa, which flourished from the mid-fourteenth century until 1897, persisted after Christianisation, the faithful visiting the alamo while also going to church. The precise documentation on Ekko as a possession spirit of a deceased person nevertheless remains thin and rests mostly on second-hand presentations.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Ferryman of souls. EKKO ensures the circulation of souls and prevents stagnation between the worlds. Bound to the Ethiopian pantheon. Its alignment depends on the invoker's protocol.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of sacred wood, old metal and black stone, engraved with symbols of possession, embodiment of the power of Ekko
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
To which tradition does Ekko attach?
To the eqo belief system of the Kafa, a people of south-western Ethiopia, of which the name Ekko is a variant. These spirits are at the centre of a possession cult bound to the old kingdom of Kafa.
How does an eqo enter into relation with humans?
Tradition reports that an eqo often attaches itself to a person after their father's death. Contact and mediation pass through a diviner and medium called alamo, believed to communicate with the spirit.
What are the eqo spirits?
A very numerous category of spiritual powers, clan spirits or spirits of natural phenomena, which can possess a living person. This belief survived among the Kafa after their conversion to Orthodox Christianity.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Sayuri Yoshida, The Transition of the Belief in Eqo from a Traditional Religion to a Culture: Historical Changes and the Roles of the Alamos in Kafa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia
- Wikipedia, Kingdom of Kaffa