Akan mythology: Anansi, Nyame and the spirits of Ghana
19 spirits documented in the Kunda Codex
The Akan tradition of Ghana and Ivory Coast centres on Nyame, the sky god, and Asase Yaa, the earth mother. It gave the world Anansi, the cunning spider of diaspora tales, but also darker figures like the forest vampire Sasabonsam. The entries below document these spirits with their myths and sources.
SpiritallyNYAME
Onyankopon
Guardian Spirit
EarthallyODOMANKOMA
The Shaper
Creator Spirit
EarthallyASASE YAA
Spirit of the Earth
SpiritantagonistANANSI
Guardian Spirit
SpiritallyOWUO
Death, fate
Spirit of the Dead
SpiritallyAMOKYE
Ferrywoman of the dead
Spirit of the Dead
SpiritallyABAM KOFI
Ancestral Spirit
EarthallyABEREWA
Goddess
Goddess
SpiritneutralABONSAM
Spirit
Spirit
SoulallyAKONADI
Goddess
Goddess
SpiritallyAKWABA
Goddess
Goddess
SpiritneutralASANBOSAM
Monster
Monstrous Spirit
WaterallyASHIAKLE
Goddess
Goddess
SoulallyDUBIAKU
Hero
Hero Spirit
EarthneutralMMOATIA
Spirit
Spirit
SpiritallyNIAMYE
God
Deity
SpiritallySAKARABRU
God
Deity
FireallySAKUMO
God
Deity
SpiritallyONIONKUPÓN
Yoruba threshold spirit
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