African Spirituality

On Becoming Ancestors, Revised Edition

Anthony Ephirim-Donkor

African spirituality among the Akan people of Ghana can be defined as a developmental quest to achieve ancestorhood in heaven (Samanadzie) after first attaining eldership and wisdom in the corporeal world (Wiadzie). The African life, then, is a cycle. A human originates in the Samanadzie as a spiritual personality (?saman) after being joined by a spirit (Sunsum). At birth, a newborn is endowed with a soul (?kra), becoming a living being (?kratsiasifo). During adulthood, a person embarks on an ethical existence (?bra b?), the successful application of which leads a community to confer an eldership title (Nana) on an adult. Upon death, a Nana is again transformed into an ?saman and judged at the Samanadzie. If found worthy, the ?saman joins the eternally esteemed company of the Ancestors (Nananom Nsamanfo), with the most powerful of them all—kings and queen mothers—transformed into deities.

University Press of America

Pages: 200 • Trim: 6⅛ x 9¼

978-0-7618-5467-8 • Paperback • March 2011 • $50.99 • (£39.00)

Subjects: Family & Relationships / Life Stages / Later Years, Religion / History, Religion / Spirituality, Religion / Faith, Religion / Ethnic & Tribal, Social Science / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies, Social Science / Anthropology / General, Social Science / Minority Studies

African Spirituality

On Becoming Ancestors, Revised Edition

Paperback

Summary

African spirituality among the Akan people of Ghana can be defined as a developmental quest to achieve ancestorhood in heaven (Samanadzie) after first attaining eldership and wisdom in the corporeal world (Wiadzie). The African life, then, is a cycle. A human originates in the Samanadzie as a spiritual personality (?saman) after being joined by a spirit (Sunsum). At birth, a newborn is endowed with a soul (?kra), becoming a living being (?kratsiasifo). During adulthood, a person embarks on an ethical existence (?bra b?), the successful application of which leads a community to confer an eldership title (Nana) on an adult. Upon death, a Nana is again transformed into an ?saman and judged at the Samanadzie. If found worthy, the ?saman joins the eternally esteemed company of the Ancestors (Nananom Nsamanfo), with the most powerful of them all—kings and queen mothers—transformed into deities.

Details

University Press of America

Pages: 200 • Trim: 6⅛ x 9¼

978-0-7618-5467-8 • Paperback • March 2011 • $50.99 • (£39.00)

Subjects: Family & Relationships / Life Stages / Later Years, Religion / History, Religion / Spirituality, Religion / Faith, Religion / Ethnic & Tribal, Social Science / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies, Social Science / Anthropology / General, Social Science / Minority Studies

Author

Anthony Ephirim-Donkor is assistant professor and undergraduate director of Africana Studies at Binghamton University, State University of New York. Dr. Ephirim-Donkor teaches African and African diaspora religions and cultures. He is the author of The Making of an African King: Patrilineal and Matrilineal Struggle among the Effutu and African Religion Defined: A Systematic Study of Ancestor Worship among the Akan.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Preface
Part 2 PART I: PERSONALITY FORMATION
Chapter 3 Chapter 1: The First People
Chapter 4 Chapter 2: Personality Perspectives
Chapter 5 Chapter 3: Gods In The Flesh
Chapter 6 Chapter 4: God Is Life
Part 7 PART II: STAGES OF AFRICAN SPIRITUALITY
Chapter 8 Chapter 5: Transient Being
Chapter 9 Chapter 6: Spiritual Personality
Chapter 10 Chapter 7: Education
Chapter 11 Chapter 8: Ethical Existence
Chapter 12 Chapter 9: Eldership
Chapter 13 Chapter 10: The Ancestors
Part 14 Endnotes
Part 15 Glossary
Part 16 Bibliography
Part 17 Index
Part 18 About the Author

African Spirituality

On Becoming Ancestors, Revised Edition

Anthony Ephirim-Donkor

African Spirituality

On Becoming Ancestors, Revised Edition

ALSO AVAILABLE