The Ntoro is the spiritual-genetic aspect of the father which the
Akan people
The Akan () people are a kwa languages, Kwa group living primarily in present-day Ghana and in parts of Ivory Coast and Togo in West Africa. The Akan speak languages within the Central Tano languages, Central Tano branch of the Potou–Tano la ...
believe is passed on to his children. These 12 Ntoro are considered inherited deities (spirits) who govern guide and protect their 12 clans patrilineally. The Akan believe that the Ntoro does not die with the father. Instead, it is passed down to the man's children, or if the children are not alive, to his nephews and nieces. The father's Ntoro represents the being of the child until the child
comes of age. At this point the Ntoro along with the
Sunsum
In the spiritual practices of the Ashanti people and Akan people, the sunsum is one's spirit. The sunsum is what connects the body (honam) to the soul ( kra). The sunsum can be transmitted in a variety of ways, including from father to son during c ...
and
Kra explains how one interacts in the world. The Ntoro is thus explained by Akans to be the father's characteristics and spiritual traits which can be inherited. Thus, it is the cooperation of the father's Ntoro with the mother's blood (Mogya)
Abusua
Abusua is the name in Akan culture for a group of people that share common maternal ancestry governed by seven major ancient abosom (deities). which is believed to form the child and mold it into the Human being.
[Asante Molefi; African Intellectual Heritage 1996]
Different Ntoro
1)
Bosompra (The Tough/Strong/firm)
2)
Bosomtwe (The Human/Kind/empathetic)
3)
Bosomakɔm (The Fanatic)
4)
Bosompo/Bosomnketia (The Brave/proud/courageous)
5)
Bosommuru (The Respectable/distinguished)
6)
Bosomkonsi (The Virtuoso)
7)
Bosomdwerɛbe (The Eccentric/Jittery)
8)
Bosomayensu (The Truculent)
9)
Bosomsika (The Fastidious)
10)
Bosomkrete (The Chivalrous)
11)
Bosomafram (The Liberal/Kind/empathetic)
12)
Bosomafi (The Chaste)
References
{{Reflist
1. http://pdfproc.lib.msu.edu/?file=/DMC/African%20Journals/pdfs/Institue%20of%20African%20Studies%20Research%20Review/1967v3n3/asrv003003010.pdf
2. http://cec.vcn.bc.ca/rdi/kw-40.htm
Culture of Ghana
Culture of Ivory Coast
Akan culture