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Osofo Egya Kofi Ahor: The Royal Fante Astrologer who offered himself to be sacrificed to save the Fante race
A brief history of Egya (Osofo) Ahor
Egya Ahor was very young when the Fantes were asked to leave Takyiman (Krako). Those who led the Fante exodus were the three great warrior brothers; Obunumankoman, Odapagyan, and Osun but also Egya Ahor was part of the exodus, and his sister Aba Gomoawa was the one who led the exodus of the Eastern Fantes (Boka Mfantse).
The real warrior chant of the Fantes goes like this: “Obunumankoman, Obunumankoman, Obunumankoman, Obunumankoman Odapagyan eh, Obunumankoman Odapagyan eh, Osun eh, Osun Ekyir ni Ahor (not Aboa). Ahor comes after Osun.”
Egya Ahor is referred to as Osofo Ahor because he was a wise priest showing the times, seasons, and natural laws to the Fante people. He is also known as Nana Gomoa.
Egya Ahor or Osofo Ahor was a Chief priest of the Fante Kingdom ever since they lived in Takyiman. He is said to have lived in the 13th Century. He was among the eminent leaders who led the Fantes in their migration from Takyiman to their present day settlement. His people relied or depended on him largely for almost everything about life and work. Egya Ahor was a priest and astrologer. Periodically, Egya Ahor performed some rites or ceremonies (rituals) to what the Fantes believed to be God called ‘Akyen’ on behalf of the Fantes. Sacred items he used for his priestly rituals included: Priestly hat (sebokyew), An iron walking Stick (Apea), Gong-gong which he used to summon the people, and a priestly book (adowno). He used the Adowno for identification of days especially for planting and harvesting in the year. Egya Ahor prepared many medicinal herbs and concoctions that protected the people from many diseases, evil spirits, calamities and infections.
With the help of ‘Akyen’ Egya Ahor used the Adowno to predict predicted times and seasons for the people to help them in their farming and fishing expeditions. He could tell when there will be rain, drought, windy conditions and bush fires. The people were therefore informed about the time to prepare the land for agricultural activities to begin. This enabled the people to plan their activities without fear of climatic failure. During the Akyenmu festival, he offered sacrifices and poured libation on behalf of the people. This gave them protection and divine direction. He ensured that there was always peace and unity among the Fantes and devoted much of his time to the service of the Fantes Kingdom. Egya Ahor was also a great farmer and a hunter who assisted the poor and the needy with his wealth and his farm produce as well.
He placed his intelligence and talents at the disposal of his people. He also used the Adowno to inform the people when “Akyenmu’ would be celebrated. By this, all noise-making, funerals, and other social activities are prohibited. Offenders to this directives were punished (received all sorts of punishment) He belonged to the Anona (Agona) royal family of the Gomoa State in the Fanteland. During his priestly reign, an epidemic broke out killing most of his people.
After several failed attempts, a Chief priest -Akomany (Okomfo Amona), prescribed human sacrifice to avert the situation. For the love of his people, Egya Ahor willingly offered himself to be sacrificed to the gods and the ancestors for the people to be saved. Before his death, he ordained his son, Edufor as his successor. Egya Ahor was sacrificed at a shrine he was sent to at 3:00 pm on Friday, circa May 3rd at Mankessim. The strange disease stopped soon after he had been sacrificed. The Fantes instituted an annual festival called “Ahobaa” to remember the sacrifice Egya Ahor made for his people. The festival is celebrated every year in May or early June.
The Story of Egya Ahor: A Hero Who Sacrificed Himself to Save His People
In the Middle Ages, Mankessim, the capital of the Fante people, was under attack by their enemies, who had brought a deadly epidemic to the town. The outbreak was lethal, spread quickly, and uncontrollable.
The sickness could not be stopped from spreading. Despite the herbalists’ best efforts, they were unable to find a cure. The ancestral spirits did not respond to the libations that were offered to them. People of all social classes and families perished.
Seeking advice from the Fante god “Akyen” and his fetish priest, Okomfo Amona, was the last resort. The announcement of the consultation’s outcome caused silence across Mankessim, as it required the sacrifice of a royal man to halt the plague.
This is where Egya Ahor came in. Being a man of royal blood, he volunteered to be the sacrifice, knowing that it would mean his death. Accordingly, Ahor was led to the altar of Akyen, where his throat was slit, and his royal blood was used for the sacrifice. The strange disease stopped soon after he had been sacrificed, and the Fante people were saved. Ahor’s selfless sacrifice was unusual, and everyone was grateful to him.
The legacy of Egya Ahor lives on in all Fanteland, where he is remembered every year during the Ahobaa festival. The festival is a commemoration of Ahor’s sacrifice and a celebration of the Fante people’s resilience and cultural heritage. Before his death, Ahor ordained his son, Edufor, as his successor.
Ahor was not only a hero who sacrificed himself to save his people, but also a great farmer and hunter who assisted the poor and the needy with his wealth and some of his farm produce. In summary, His story serves as an inspiration to many and a reminder of the power of sacrifice, courage, and selflessness.
Some Moral Lessons to Learn from Egya Ahor
- He performed his religious duties diligently. So we need to emulate this type of leadership quality from Eyga Ahor.
- He was a brave and courageous leader. We must be brave and courageous whenever leadership is given to us.
- Appointed his successor before his death.
- He was kind (generous) to his people by using his farm produce to help them.
- He showed love to everyone who came for help from him.
- He was a selfless leader. A Leader is called to lead and to serve sowe must learn to exhibit this type of leadership quality from Eyga Ahor.
Contributions to his community
- Eyga Ahor was a great farmer and a hunter who assisted the poor and the needy in his community with his wealth.
- He offered sacrifices and poured libation on behalf of the people.
- He ensured there was always peace and unity among the families.
- He gave up himself to be sacrificed to stop an epidemic on behalf of his people.
Festival in honour of Egya Ahor; AHOBAA (AHORBA) FESTIVAL or AHOBAAKESE
Ahobaa Festival: Preserving Tradition and Honoring a Hero
The roots of Ahobaa Festival can be traced back to a time when Fantes (Mfantsefo) settled in Mankessim, a place untouched by the festival culture they knew. However, when a deadly epidemic struck the region, the gods were consulted for a solution. The gods demanded the sacrifice of an upright Friday-born individual, Osofo Kofi Ahor, to appease them. Ahor willingly offered himself and was tortured to death. Miraculously, the epidemic ceased after his sacrifice.
The mourning period that followed Ahor’s death gave birth to Ahobaa Festival. Fante groups, recognizing Ahor as a leader and savior, poured libations at Gomuamanmu, where Ahor was buried. The festival’s name evolved from the phrase “yero kobo Ahor n’abawdo” (“we are going to honor Ahor”) to “Ahobaa.” The festival now marks the beginning of the farming season with the Fundaho (burial) ceremony, followed by the Ahobaa Kese, which represents the harvest period.
Gomuamanmu and its Significance:
Presently, Efuwa Edwumako, Borbor, and Enyan no longer go to Gomuamanmu as before, but they celebrate the festival in the manner in which they were celebrating. Gomuamanmu is the root of Gomuafo.
Succession of Asofo after Kofi Ahor:
The following have been Asofo after Egya Kofi Ahor: Eduful Panyin (Edufor), Etsia-Kunton, Yambowa, Esiar, Ampea, Okyeahen, Ampea, Otwe, Kyerbowa, Eduful, Obo, and Esiar.
