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“The Asantes like all Akans, believe in the existence of a supreme being called GOD the creator of the universe and everything in it. He gives life. He has the key to life and death. As such when a baby is born the Akans thank God for giving them the baby. When somebody dies the idiomatic expression given is, “Wayɛ Onyame dea” (He has become God’s own).
However, they believe that God is a supreme spirit and has no likeness. They would always point to the skies to denote the abode of God. They would erect a tripod-top tree in front of the houses of family heads and chiefs. They called the tripod-top tree “Nyamedua”: i.e. God’s tree. They would put a brass basin on the tripod-top tree and allow the brass basin to collect rainwater which they sprinkled on the family members when the elder said prayers to the Supreme God for forgiveness of the sins of their people. White clay would be dissolved in the rainwater and “Adwera” plant would be used in the sprinkling of the water of blessing. The worship was done on Saturdays which the Akans believe is the day of God thus they call the supreme God. “Onyame Kwame” Literally meaning God of Saturday.”
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This passage came from a book by Nana Osei Kwadwo on Asante Culture and Customs. Aside from the equal signs of God and Onyame and worship and service, I found the practice intriguing because I have not heard of such a Saturday custom.
The Nana Kwadwo explained to me that the custom faded with the rise of Christianity.
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