This divining chain is referred to asAgumaga.
Agumaga is thrown on a mat to establish commu-
nication with Afa. The manner in which the
concaves turn as the chain falls will provide a pre-
liminary answer to the question asked. The first
sign that reveals itself as answer to the question is
known askpoli. Afa divination has 256 kpoliwo.
Each sign is associated with particular plants,
animals, stories, songs, food taboos, and so on.
Follow-up questions may be asked for further
details and clarification. At the end of the divina-
tion session, the diviner will share with the client
what he or she might need to do to achieve his or
her aim. This could mean making an offering or
sacrifice to one of the deities.
Another quite important deity is Yewe, the
older brother of Afa. Yewe is the god of thunder
and lightning. The Yoruba serve him as Shango.
Initiates to Yewe receive a new name at the end of
the initiation process, their old name never to be
spoken again. Any proven offender will be judged
by Yewe priests and elders and sentenced to pay a
heavy fine because uttering the old name of a
Yewe initiate is considered highly offensive to
Yewe and its devotees.
Other important divinities include Legba, the
guardian of the spiritual world; Gu (or Egu),
the god of iron, war, and hunting; and Nyigbla,
the deity of the Sacred Forest. The Trowo are pro-
tective, healing forces acting on behalf of the liv-
ing. During a ceremony organized to honor them,
which will necessarily involve drumming and
dancing, Trowo will mount their human spouse
and use them to pass on certain messages to the
community. They may render a verdict in the case
of a conflict between humans or they may also
heal the sick.
Key RitualsThe Ewe carve special spiritual figures related to
the divinities. For example, earthen Legba statues
are quite common, as are ritual objects covered
with cowrie shells, among other things. Drums are
also made for ceremonies, as well as costumes
associated with particular divinities.
According to Ewe religious beliefs regarding
death, a person’s spirit (or djoto) will come back
in the next child born into the lineage. Newborn
males are circumcised and named on the seventh
day after being born, whereas newborn girls have
their ears pierced and are also named on the sev-
enth day after their birth. The Ewe believe that the
spiritual and physical worlds mirror each other
and are, therefore, very similar.
Funerals are extremely important because,
according to Ewe religion, death is the most
significant moment in a person’s life. Funerals are
commonly reported to be extravagant affairs
involving more expenses and lavishness than any
other ceremony. Drummers will drum and mourn-
ers will dance all night long, several nights in a
row. Attending funerals; making a financial con-
tribution toward the purchase of a coffin, burial
clothes, and the hiring of dancers and drummers;
as well as bringing food and drinks are non-
negotiable social obligations. Funerals will typically
involve many events over the course of 1 month.Ama MazamaSeealsoFon; Mawu-Lisa; Vodou in Benin; YorubaFurther Readings
Agblemagnon, F. N. (1969).Sociologie des sociétés
orales d’Afrique noire:les Ewe du Sud-Togo(Préface
de Roger Bastide). Paris: Mouton.
Ellis, A. B. (1965).The Ewe-Speaking People of the
Slave Coast of West Africa, Their Religion, Manners,
Customs, Laws, Language, &c.Chicago: Benin Press.
Manoukian, M. (1952).Ewe-Speaking People of
Togoland and the Gold Coast. London: International
African Institute.EYE OFHORUS
The symbol of the Eye of Horus—that is,
wedjat—was used for protection, healing, as well
as mathematical and medicinal calculations in
ancient Egypt. In fact, the Eye of Horus, or all-
seeing eye, is one of the most recognized symbols
of ancient Egypt. It was in use throughout the
thousands of years of Egyptian civilization and
continues to be used today.
According to Egyptian mythology, Horus/Heru
loses his left eye in one of his struggles with Set
for the right to rule Egypt and to avenge the deathEye of Horus 251