The Priestess Responsible for Training 1st Afrikan-American Akan Priests

[IfasehunReincarnated]

A BIOGRAPHY OF
OKOMFOHEMMAA AKUA OPAREBEA
THE HIGH PRIESTESS OF THE AKONEDI SHRINE
LARTEH KUBEASE, GHANA


TRADITIONAL BELIEF
By tradition, Africans have firm belief in the Supreme and Almighty God, the only true One. Despit this firm conviction, the traditional African does not worship God directly. God is too unique, so they serve their ancestors and the lesser gods, fetish.


In Ghana, there are a multiplicity of fetishes, some rated very high, well known, well organised, very popular, effective and flourishing; others are mere imitations of the cult.


Among the great ones is the fetish Akonedi, Nana Akonedi, Akonedi Abena. Her shrine is at Larteh Kubease, in a sacred house, sacred groves and sacred streams. Her cult is a well organised and controlled system of worship, directed by the fetish through divination and oracles.


The power, authority and worshipping of Akonedi is vested in the High Priestess. She is the Chief fetish dancer. She receives seeing, healing, interpretation and discerning and soothsaying powers from the fetish when possessed. The power fame and prestige of Akonedi rests squarely on the Highly Priestess, the Chief fetish dancer of Akonedi shrine.


OKOMFOHEMMA AKUA OPAREBEA
Okomfohemmaa Akua Oparebea was born in 1900. Both her father and mother were from distinquished royal families.


While she was yet a suckling, her aunt professed under fetish influence that she would be a fetish priestess who would one day be a High Priestess of Akonedi shrine.


When she was seven yeras old, she was baptised at Adawso Presbyterian Church and attended Adawso Presbyterian Primary School after baptism.


It would seem the prophesy of her aunt was materialising. For Oparebea would be missing. Then she would suddenly appear without being able to say where she had been and why. The time came when she vanished all together. When all attempts to trace her had been futile, some non-Christian members of the family consulted the shrine of a fetish priest. After there had been fetish drumming and dancing continuously for seven days, she reappeared. This time she spoke and said she had been possessed and led away by the fetish Akonedi.


By and by, Oparebea grew into a very beautiful woman and got married. But strange happenings, which still proved to be fetish, caused the marriage to break and Oparebea went to live with her mother. There too, she used to fall into comas intermittently, causing her to sleep for long periods, sometimes days. Again, fetish consultations revealed that her behaviour was due to the influence of Akonedi. It became obvious, that the only solution to the problem was to send her to Akonedi shrine and she became at long last a priestess in training at the shrine.



THE SHRINE AT NKUMKROM
After her qualification she started to practise at Dobro. Three years later she moved and settled at Nkumkrom. It was there she came to the limelight. She built a shrine for Akonedi and soon she rose to fame in leaps and bounds. People came from far and near and from all walks of life to her shrine for oracular consultations and for healing.


Oparebea was a capable and effective trainer of newly possessed fetish priests and priestesses. At Nkumkrom shrine she trained hundreds of them methodically and thoroughly. When they passed out, she posted them to places and they worked under her and in association with her shrine.


Okomfohemmaa Akua Oparebea was meek and humble and observed the cultural practices and fetish systems of the Akondi shrine. While she was definitely on her own and well established at the Nkumkrom shrine, she did not regard herself as self-sufficient. During the annual yam festival of Akonedi, she came home with a large retinue to join Okomfo Amma Ansaa, the High Priestess, for the celibration.


Indeed it is true, whatever a person sows, he would reap. By her patronage of the Akonedi shrine at home, Oparebea was popular, highly respected, conservant and up-to-date with what went on at the shrine. It was no surprise therefore that the High Priestess, when on her death bed, sent for her and said her final words.


HIGH PRIESTESS AT AKONEDI SHRINE
On the passing away of Okomfo Amma Ansaa in 1957, Okomfohemmaa Akua Oparebea was proclaimed the new High Priestess the same year. By this, ultimate spiritual and physical authority and healing power of the Akonedi shrine was conferred on her.


About 1960, a high ranking academican of repute suffered from some strange headache. As a highly placed person, he had the means of receiving treatment from very able local medical practitioners at very good hospitals. But he was not cured, so he went overseas for medical treatment. He returned home uncured and worried.


Upon a suggestion by a friend he came to Akonedi shrine to seek herbal treatment. Oparebea diagnosed the disease and cured him. The learned scholar was so impressed that he initiated research into herbal medicine at once. The president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, got to know of it. Immediately he gave his blessing and requested the formation of a national body for official recognition.


Consequently, all the known and progressive fetish priests, priestesses and herbalists converged to Larteh and at a great dubar the Ghana Phsychic and Traditional Healing Association was formed with regional branches throughout the country. Okomfohemmaa Akua Oparebea was elected as the first president of the association. This was in 1962.


OVERSEAS TRIPS
Wonders do not end. One of the traditional beliefs is that when a fetish or juju crosses on the high seas to the other side, it is rendered powerless and ineffective. For the gods of the seas would block her way and take away its power. Oparebea gave the lie to this.


In 1971, an African-American, Dinizulu, whose researches had revealed to him that his ancestors came from Ghana, came all the way to the Akonedi shrine for an oracular consultation. The consultation was a success. He was completely overwhelmed. Before he left, he requested permission to establish an Akonedi shrine in the U.S.A. He invited Oparebea to visit the U.S.A.


Okomfohemmaa Akua Oparebea courageously accepted Dinizulu´s invitation to visit America. She left the shores of Africa and flew to the States and performed. There she has established shrines in New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., California and in Toronto, Canada.


When returning, she brought young males and females to train at Akonedi shrine. Some have passed out and been posted back to their shrines. Others continue to come over. Oparebea made several yearly trips to America to sustain the shrines.


EPILOGUE
Okomfohemmaa Akua Oparebea received a baton, a baton of honour and responsibility from her predecessor, to pass on to posterity. She has carried it well.


She has been one of the most well known, well heard of High Priestesses of her time. She had carried the name of Akonedi high and far and wide. She emerged victorious after very trying moments of childhood and early days. One would say she was indeed destined to be what she has been. She achived her goal because of qualities possessed and well utilised.


Oparebea was a beautiful woman, brave and strong, yet flexible, meek and kind. She was intelligent and of a strong character and willpower. She would not tolerate halfmeasures; things done must be done and done well. She had love which drew people to her. She loved children and showed concern.


Okomfohemmaa Akua Oparebea received the baton of honour and responsibility of Akonedi shrine. She has carried it well and the shrine has had impact more than before. Its influence has transcended local boundaries.

Excerpts from the programme published for the funeral in January, 1996. Compiled by the family.

[Rekhati]

Hetepu,

OKOMFOHEMMAA AKUA OPAREBEA trained the Nana in my area, Nana Okomfo Korantemaa Ayeboafo. She spent 7 years in Ghana being trained by Oparebea. She was one of the last from the US to be trained by her.

[IfasehunReincarnated]

Greetings! Glad to see you here. Tell us more!

[Rekhati]

Well, Nana Okomfo Korantemaa Ayeboafo is considered to be the head of all the Akan in America. This is what OPAREBEA wanted. Her site is www.starspirit.org. She is also raising money for schools in Lareth. The village where Okomfohemmaa Akua Oparebea is from and the shrine is. I have had the opportunity to participate in akwasidae with the shrine.

I can tell you what going on in Lareth right now and what Nana Okomfo Korantemaa Ayeboafo is doing to help:

Star Spirit Inc
PO BOX 42048
Philadelphia, PA 19101

25 help toward a child going to school
50 help toward a child going to school
100 help toward a child going to school
150 pays for an entire school year for a child
1600 for 3 years of business college


These children live in the Lareth, Ghana. This is tax deductible. Check or money order can be made out to Star Spirit.

www.starspirit.org

[IfasehunReincarnated]

Ase! I will copy a section of this in community news.

[AfuaLena]

Originally Posted by Rekhati

Well, Nana Okomfo Korantemaa Ayeboafo is considered to be the head of all the Akan in America. This is what OPAREBEA wanted. Her site is www.starspirit.org. She is also raising money for schools in Lareth. The village where Okomfohemmaa Akua Oparebea is from and the shrine is. I have had the opportunity to participate in akwasidae with the shrine.

I can tell you what going on in Lareth right now and what Nana Okomfo Korantemaa Ayeboafo is doing to help:

Star Spirit Inc
PO BOX 42048
Philadelphia, PA 19101

25 help toward a child going to school
50 help toward a child going to school
100 help toward a child going to school
150 pays for an entire school year for a child
1600 for 3 years of business college


These children live in the Lareth, Ghana. This is tax deductible. Check or money order can be made out to Star Spirit.

www.starspirit.org

I have never heard of her being the head of Akan in America. I will ask my godmother. Thanks for posting this.

[IfasehunReincarnated]

What would be wonderful is if more Akan devotees posted on the aspects of the tradition. Most of what can be found is written from an intellectual point of view, which is biased at best and flawed at worst.

[AfuaLena]

Originally Posted by IfasehunReincarnated

What would be wonderful is if more Akan devotees posted on the aspects of the tradition. Most of what can be found is written from an intellectual point of view, which is biased at best and flawed at worst.

You will never see much information about the Akan tradition in terms of written material. The Abosum are very strict about that. Any material that is put out for the masses will not be very revealing.
If you would like to email me or PM please feel free.

[IfasehunReincarnated]

Well, I have access to several initiated Akan Priests. So I am really advocating for everyone, not just myself. Especially those that dont know how to find or get in touch w/ folks like yourself.

But I know some people struggle to decide which ATR to get involved with, so any info of any kind is good. I am trying to get a few Akan initiates to grant interviews. lol But any kind of perspective would be good for newcomers. Even if that just stops at "testimony" of how certain Abosum have worked in their life.

[AfuaLena]

Originally Posted by IfasehunReincarnated

Well, I have access to several initiated Akan Priests. So I am really advocating for everyone, not just myself. Especially those that dont know how to find or get in touch w/ folks like yourself.

But I know some people struggle to decide which ATR to get involved with, so any info of any kind is good. I am trying to get a few Akan initiates to grant interviews. lol But any kind of perspective would be good for newcomers. Even if that just stops at "testimony" of how certain Abosum have worked in their life.

I think your point is valid. I can say for me that the Abosum have really taken care of me. Nana Esi is so loving and caring just as a mother should be. She is a deified ancestor Obosom who died during childbirth. She assists with family issues, pregnancy, mothers, and she absolutely loves children. She is an old lady and she dances very gracefully when she comes.
Nana Asuo Gyebi is one of the most popular Obosum. He has many many wives. He is a great healer and protector. He has his own river in Ghana. His medicines are also used to heal mental illnesses which is also his specialty. Lemme also say that he is smooth, he loves to look good. He is a skilled dancer and he loves people.
One thing I can say about Akan tradition is that the protocol is very clear and is expected to be followed exactly as it has been set forth. No matter where you are in the world everything is done the same in the tradition. You greet most shrines with the right hand. The Abosum tell it like it is and if a person is dishonest then that person will only be further embarrased. The presence of the shrines is not taken lightly.