African Spirituality: On Becoming Ancestors

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 (ɔsaman) after being joined by a spirit (Sunsum). At birth, a newborn is endowed with a soul (ɔkra), becoming a living being (ɔkratsiasifo). During adulthood, a person embarks on ...