TANO (ESPRIT DU FLEUVE)
allyWater, war, justice
Tano, whose true name is Ta Kora, is a deity (abosom) of Akan religion, present in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. He personifies the Tano River and counts among the most important water spirits of the Akan. Ashanti tradition makes him the son of Nyame, the supreme god, and of the earth goddess Asase Yaa, and credits him with considerable power, sometimes said to be second only to Nyame's. He is venerated as a god of war and conflict and, among the Ashanti, as a spirit of thunder and lightning. His epithet Kora, linked to the idea of immensity but also to that of 'mending', earns him a reputation as healer and protector, hostile to death. The sacred grove of Tanoboase, near Techiman, is held to be his earthly dwelling.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
A fragment of Onionkupón's Breath, bound to one of the five elements of the cosmic balance.
Sacred Mask
A mask carved of ancient energy — a symbol of the cosmic force proper to its pantheon.
Era
3,000–1,000 BCE — Cycle of Elemental Powers
Spiritual Lesson
To understand the nature of one's own balance and the wisdom hidden behind every trial.
Words of the Spirit
“The waters keep the memory of what the earth forgets.”
Frequently asked questions
What does Tano represent?
He personifies the Tano River and figures among the principal abosom, or deities, of Akan religion, venerated as a god of war and of the waters.
What is his parentage?
Ashanti tradition presents him as the son of Nyame, the supreme god, and of the earth goddess Asase Yaa, with a power sometimes said to be second only to Nyame's.
Why is he also seen as a healer?
His epithet Kora can evoke the idea of 'mending'; he is credited with powers of healing and protection, and a hostility to death.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Wikipedia (EN): Tano (Ta Kora)
- Oxford Reference: Tano