| Asase Ya | |
|---|---|
Goddess of Earth, Fertility, Love, Peace, Procreation, Sky, and Truth | |
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| Venerated in | Akom |
| Planet | Jupiter |
| Ethnic group | Akan people |
| Genealogy | |
| Spouse | Nyame |
| Children | Bia • Tano/Tano |
| Equivalents | |
| Roman | Juno |
| Bakongo | Nzambici |
| Egyptian | Amunet |
| Igbo | Ala |
Asase Ya/Afua (or Asase Yaa, Asaase Yaa, Asaase Afua, Asaase Efua) is the Akan goddess of fertility, love, procreation, peace, truth and the dry and lush earth in Ghana and Ivory Coast. She is also Mother of the Dead known as Mother Earth or Aberewaa.
Asase is the wife of Nyankapon, the male sky deity, and is the daughter of Nyame, the female aspect of the Nyankapon-Nyame-Odomakoma trinity, all of whom created the universe. Asase gave birth to two children, Bea and Tano. Bea is also named Bia. In some folklore tales, Asase is also the mother of Anansi, the trickster, and divine stepmother of the sacred high chiefs.
Asase is very powerful, though no temples are dedicated to her, instead, she is worshipped in the agricultural fields of the Asante and other Akans. Asase is highly respected amongst Akans. Sacrifices are given to her for favour and blessings. Asase's favoured people are the Bono people. Planet Earth is Asase Yaa's symbol whilst Venus is Asase Afua's symbol.[1][2][3]
- ^ Warren, Dennis M. (1973). Disease, Medicine, and Religion Among the Techinan - Bono of Ghana: A Study in Culture Change. Indiana University.
- ^ Warren, Dennis M. (1975). The Techiman-Bono of Ghana: An Ethnography of an Akan Society. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-8403-1122-1.
- ^ Antubam, Kofi (1963). Ghana's Heritage of Culture. Koehler & Amelang. ISBN 9780598513489.