SAKUMO
allyGod
Sakumo is, among the Ga of Greater Accra in Ghana, a deity of war and a protector of the Ga people. He belongs to the class of the Dzemawodzi, the great gods of the lagoons and the sea, held to be the closest to the supreme Being. The Ga tradition considers him the most eminent of the lagoon gods, whence his nickname of Katamanso bema, the support of the whole nation. Sakumo is closely bound to the Sakumono lagoon, near Tema, held to be a sacred body of water and a gift of the supreme Being. A warrior deity, he defends the community and presides over battles, alongside other gods of the waters such as Nai or Korle. His cult, led by priests named wulomei, is punctuated by rites and interdicts that protect the lagoon and the people. Still today, the Sakumo lagoon remains a sacred place and a protected natural space, a witness to the vitality of the Ga religion.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
Armed sentinel. SAKUMO stands between the community and the threat, and decides when the balance is broken. Bound to the Gan pantheon.
Sacred Mask
An ancient ritual mask of obsidian, forged metal and cooled lava, engraved with symbols of war, embodiment of the power of Sakumo
Era
Ancient cycle
Frequently asked questions
What is Sakumo's role among the Ga?
He is the god of war and the guardian of the Ga people. He is held to be the most powerful of the lagoon gods, nicknamed Katamanso bema, the support of the whole nation.
What link unites Sakumo and the Sakumono lagoon?
The deity is closely associated with the Sakumono lagoon, near Tema, held to be a sacred body of water and a gift of the supreme Being, still protected today.
Where is the cult of Sakumo situated?
In the Greater Accra region, among the Ga. His priests, the wulomei, watch over the rites and interdicts bound to the lagoon and to the protection of the community.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Marion Kilson, Kpele Lala: Ga Religious Songs and Symbols (etude de la religion ga et des Dzemawodzi)
- John Parker, Making the Town: Ga State and Society in Early Colonial Accra (2000)
- Madeline Manoukian, Akan and Ga-Adangme Peoples of the Gold Coast (Ethnographic Survey of Africa) (1950)