The Konkomba ethnic group in Ghana holds deep beliefs about death and the afterlife, with soothsaying playing a crucial role in their understanding of life beyond death.
Soothsayers, regarded as spiritual intermediaries, are believed to communicate with the spirits of the deceased, offering guidance and insights to the living.
As part of the Ghana Month celebration, Adom News attended the final funeral rites of Nana Teki at Bonakye-Asuogya in Nkwanta South, where soothsaying took center stage.
During the ceremony, a soothsayer, dressed in traditional regalia, performed rituals involving divination and the invocation of ancestral spirits.
This practice not only provides closure for grieving families but also helps them understand the circumstances surrounding a death while receiving messages from the departed.
Speaking with Adom News, Magya Kwesi Ali, an assembly member from the area, explained that the Konkomba people believe the spirits of the dead continue to influence the living.
Soothsaying, he noted, serves as a vital channel for these interactions, offering family members comfort and guidance while reinforcing their cultural identity and ancestral connections.
He further emphasized that soothsaying remains an integral aspect of Konkomba funeral traditions, reflecting their belief in the continuity of life beyond the physical realm.
However, some Konkomba traditional leaders have raised concerns about the increasing influence of modernization, cautioning against the gradual erosion of such sacred traditions.
They urged Ghanaians to embrace and preserve these cultural practices, recognizing their role in maintaining community cohesion and spiritual understanding.
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