Spiritual twins of the Ga People of Ghana

KOFI AYIM

Twins, in traditional Ghana are believed to have some special and unique powers. The perceived spiritual powers stem from the belief that each set of twins has a soul that acts in tandem with the earthly twins.

It must be remembered and understood that from the metaphysical mind of the African, if giving birth to one child is a natural wonder, then it stands to reason that the birth of twosome is a supernatural phenomenon that warrants special attention and treatment from the religious point of view.

The Ga of Ghana call twins Haadzii. The elder of male twins is called Oko and the younger Akwete. For females, the elder is Akwele while the younger is Akuokor.  Twins of different sexes are called Oko for male and Akwele for female.

Irrespective of sex, one born after twins is called Tawia, followed by Ago, then Abam. Ago presents an interesting coincidence. The appellation for Ago in Ga is Nyankoma. In the Akan concept of twins, a person born after Tawia is called Nyankomago. Nyankom and Ago is therefore compounded to create Nyankom-Ago.

Because twins are believed to bring good fortunes if and when treated right, special rites to sync and unite with their “double” soul mates are performed.

On the contrary, they could be visited upon with wrath, rendering them restless, troublesome, (especially those of different sexes) and by extension casting bad omen on the family.  

Thus, to “regenerate and rejuvenate” soul of both earthly and spiritual doubles,  an oracle is consulted, amongst others to ascertain the ancestral land and/or house (e.g. Asante, Krobo, Frafra, Masai, Yoruba) from whence emanated the twins.

Traditional needs of the twins are also enquired about. This is to ensure that taboos etc that existed in the ancestral home of the twins are adhered to in their contemporary abode. Traditional names are similarly requested and given.

It is interesting to note that even though twins of Ga parentage are physically and earthly deemed as of Ga extraction, they could have originated from say Frafra land from a particular house. If so, then the taboos and specific Frafra rites must by all means be upheld for this “Frafra” twins.

The spiritual transmigration from Frafra land/home to a physical Ga land and family must be cordial and acceptable to the twins. In short, the twins must be welcomed and accepted in their new environment for peaceful growth.

Where there is indication of “unwelcomeness’ proven through the dynamic process, the spirit of the twins would request particular or additional compensatory rites to facilitate their welcome. This is the “welcome” ceremony.  

Communication with the spirit of the twins is effected through a priest/practitioner per a patrilineal representative elder of the twins. It is importantly so, because almost all sects of Ga (and Dangme, and most cultures of Ghana) are patrilineal.

The Haadzii Anii rites – is specifically performed on a Friday – barring any major religious ceremony on that day- because it is a sacred day for twins. These socio-religious rites and ceremony are very elaborate and encompass different phases.  

It could start from day of birth, to naming ceremony (on the eighth day of birth) and up to a year. However, in contemporary situations, some phases could be lumped together.  

Ceremonies on the eighth day include but not limited to communicating with soul of twins, naming, ritual baths, male circumcision and female ear piercing etc.

The ritual bath of concoction and portions of special “wonder” herbs from a wooden Sese pot is administered to the twins twice a day for a period of one week.

Main components of twin rites consist of a shrine (for the twins), a pair of bush cow (buffalo), and a sese pot. The two cow horns represent the soul/spirit of the twins, and the sese pot is the repository of ingredients (special herbs, water, skin of peeled yams etc) that are used in and for the rituals.

Songs of minstrels and dirges interspersed throughout the rituals play vital role in the ceremony.  Fowls/roosters used in the process are not slaughtered or strangled but go limp through incantations and invocations.

In preparing the fowl, its feathers are removed from the skin without the usual warm/hot water. The peeled skin of yams together with feathers of the fowl goes into the sese pot. Libation (prayers) features prominently throughout the rituals.  

A special food presented by the parents of the twins includes mixture of corn, millet, and red beans.  The pair of bush cow horns, cowries, and other items, covered with a piece of calico (white linen) is stored in a special place for twins’ ceremony on a Friday preceding the beginning of the Ga Mashie Homowo festival.

The last part of the ceremony is the Yee Ye Yee. If fowl and roosters are to the “welcome”, ceremony then sheep and goats are to the “Yeyeeye.” It is an occasion of enjoyment after rites completed of the day’s rites.

Ritualized food (e.g. mashed yams) and special dishes (e.g. fufu) are prepared for the entire Haadzii kindred (Tawia, Ago etc) after which family and friends feast on assortment of dishes and drinks.

It is during this ceremony that the twins are appropriately costumed with ornaments and decorations of beads etc. This is a merry-making time for all and sundry.

The Ga people also have an annual yam festival for twins called Haadzii yele yeli in which special rites are performed before they can partake in eating freshly harvested yams.   

In some cultures of Ghana, the belief is that twins come as a king (queen) and a linguist (spokesperson). And in almost all cultures of Ghana, twins, like kings, do not go near dead bodies unless certain rituals are performed.

Note: This is an abbreviated version of a detailed socioreligious ceremony.