Akan Divination and the Abosom Tradition in Ghanaian Ethnography

Record summary

Late twentieth-century studies of Akan religion documented abosom, shrine priests, possession, sacrifice, healing, and divination in Ghana. This is a viable research lead because the named Akan categories and shrine institutions can be traced through specific ethnographies, interviews, and regional histories, allowing comparison with other ritual systems without assuming identical meanings. The period often reflects postcolonial continuity rather than a single new movement. Researchers should identify the particular shrine, town, lineage, and publication because “Akan religion” covers diverse local practices.