Owuo is the abosom of Death in the Asante and Akan mythology of West Ghana and the Ewe, specifically the Krachi tribe of East Ghana and Togo. He is represented with the Adinkra symbol of a ladder. It is said that he was created by Odomankoma (could also be spelt Odomankama) just so he could kill humans (although, specifically for the Asante and Akan retelling, this attribute comes later during an altercation with Ta Kora, hinting that he might've been created before humans) and possibly other deities, such as Odomankoma himself. He signifies the termination of the creative process in the world, a reference to him killing Odomankoma, the Great Creator.
Names Owuo is also known as Odomakama Owuo', or the Destroyer (or the Death of Creation), due to his destructive nature of killing mortal life and the fact that he killed Odomankoma, causing Odomankoma to then get resurrected and then live through Nyankopon:Onyankopon onye Odumankoma sunsum ' (literally 'Nyankopon is Odumankoma's personality )Odomankoma would later poison him in an effort to kill him, although it did not work.
Another name for Owuo is Owuo Papa, or the Death fan who blows the "uncertain ones" back into the other world of Samando, the Akan spirit realm and is the generator of whirlwinds inhabited by hostile spirits. In Asante mythos, it is said that when Death has no particular place to go and kill, he will return to Samando
Owuo, like many Akan deities, also has a day name, which is Owuo Kwaaku (Death born on Wednesday). This explains Owuo's personality, as those born on Wednesday are said to be full of nsem bone (tricks, bad and acts of evil). This means that Owuo is involved in all forms of death, even the most evil kinds.
In Jamaica, Owuo is possibly known as Bredda Death, specifically in the story involving Death (possibly him) and Ananse. This symbolises the fact that in Akan culture and mythos, where Jamaican culture heavily takes from, Ananse is actually the brother of Death via Odomankoma.
Personality In Akan depictions, Owuo is a truly sadistic figure who kills without a second thought or care. His first act after being created was to kill his creator and in other tellings of the story he even tried to kill all 3 supreme beings.
It is so driven to desire destruction, whilst it is blind, even hearing the voice of a person it has missed in his acts of cullings stating that they are alone after killing one close to the victim will drive it to try and finish its job of completing its job of destruction. Hence is why the proverb "Owuo a akum wo ena ne wo agya wo ho a, wunnye din se, 'Aka me nko'''"; "When Death which has killed your mother and your father is there (with you again), you do not say to him, 'I alone remain'".
He is also described as inevitable and unrelenting. It is said that when he has come for your family and has killed your mother and father, it is best to weep an acceptance that you will also accompany your parents to go with Owuo instead of saying you are alone (as he will then hear and try and kill you). Owuo also does not listen to begging; any attempt to supplicate it when it comes for you, calling it "Mother" or "Father", will fail: it will kill you regardless. Between a human wanting you to do some work and Owuo wanting you to do some work, Owuo will always see you first. Even an attempt to distract Owuo when it overtakes a person to go for another person is ill-advised; it will likely kill both the former and the latter person
He is also said to be indestructible. He also tried to claim humanity in an attempt to strike fear into the hearts of people. While not succeeding in his primary task, he did succeed in his secondary goal. He is also greatly associated with evil. Any form of death is brought about by him and it is said that he often blows all kinds of sunsum from Samando, from good sunsum to evil sunsum. Obayifo (Witches) and Obansam (Wizards) and other evil beings such as the Asanbonsam follow him.
For all of his negative connotations, he cannot be bribed and actually despises money, displayed by the proverb 'Owuo mpɛ sika (Death doesn't like money). Despite this, it is said Owuo can open the boxes and chests of all, even the stingiest of misers. Owuo also avoids killing slaves and those of lower standings. Hence, a tactic Asante parents did in the past was add the prefix 'Ko (Nko, coming from the word Donko meaning "slave" in twi) to the names of their children to try and cheat death and trick into believing a person is a donko and thus avoiding trying to kill them first. As for those of higher ranks and royals, it is said have been absurd and even criminal to couple the name of a royal and Owuo, even in the same sentence. Hence, euphemisms such as saying that "A royal has gone to cast away salt", "They have gone to Samando", "They have gone elsewhere" and "They have become property of Nyankapon" are used to convey that a royal has passed on
Due to his birth being on a Wednesday, his personality is the personification of evil to the point that he might also be the Abosom of Bonsam (Abosom of Evil) or one of his followers or even children the Abosom of Evil. Due to his personality and how it opposes Ta Kora's personality, the two despise one another.
In Krachi depictions Owuo's personality shifts to a more kinder tone, taking care of a boy who asked for his help and feeding him to make sure he remained alive although what he fed the boy was human meat and Owuo did kill the two people the boy sent to take his place. Owuo's murderous tendencies in Krachi representation are most likely caused by his taste for human flesh, which he craves. The taste for human flesh can spread to any who has extensively eaten human flesh, with even the boy having a craving for the meat up until when he realized that it was actually human meat he was eating.
In Jamaican depictions which possibly reference Owuo, Death is a silent figure, seldom speaking unless he needs to. However, it changes if oneself invites themselves into his house. From there he stops at nothing to hunt you down to kill and eat you, and only you, as seen when Ananse's family literally fall into his clutches and he refuses to eat any of them, waiting only for Ananse. Despite is gaunt and incredibly old appearance, he is very fast and very strong. This personality of death is similar to that of the Akan.
Representation Owuo has two main representations, which are how the Asante represent him and how the Krachi represent him. There is also a third which is how Jamaicans see him based on the Asante description.
General and other representations The most widely recognised and the depiction that most likely the Krachi depiction is presented as a monstrous giant with one eye (like that of a cyclops) and a near-naked appearance, save for the large amount of hair that covers his body. He also has long, straight (usually white) hair, which is his second most highlighted feature and is said to extend over many miles, from Krachi to Salaga. It is so big and long that the hair can hold items in it. He has the tusks of a warthog or elephant, and the build of a giant gorilla. His skin colour and/or his fur is red, which is usually symbolic of death in Africa. He may also be depicted as one giant eye. He is a cannibalistic giant who feeds on human flesh and is said to have the power to kill humans by just blinking his eye.
Owuo's other depiction (the Asante depiction) is that of mostly a skeleton who wields an Adare that can kill many with a single slash. With it, it was able to kill the Great Creator in the Akan religion, part of the Nyame-Nyankapon-Odomankoma trinity, with Odomankoma said to have become part of Nyankapon's sunsum. He also holds the ladder, Owuo Atwedee, which souls climb on death. Due to its mostly skeletal appearance, it is actually blind as it has no eyes. However, it has ears so is said to have very good hearing. It is unclear if he is a cannibal in this interpretation.
His eye is his most distinguishable feature outside of the Asante, even in the Jamaican story where Death has both his eyes. It is by Ananse blinding him using flour that he evades death. In the Asante depiction, it is Owuo's lack of eyes, presence of ears on its skeletal body, ladder, and that are its most distinguishable features.
He is an extremely powerful deity in the Akan religion, able to fight Ta Kora to a standstill and even kill the great creator for a time in Akan mythology and is involved in every death in both Akan mythos and (believed) in real life. He is one of Ta Kora's rivals and is his main one in terms of life and death.
He is also represented by whirlwinds.
He also is naturally gifted with an extremely potent venom called Death's venom (Owuo Aduro), which can kill anything mortal and even those immortal.
Only three beings have resisted Owuo. Nyankapon by defeating Owuo in battle and feeding Owuo his own poison (in great part to Odomankoma, whom Owuo killed, becoming the sunsum of Nyankapon), Ta Kora by battling, singing and dancing Owuo to a standstill and Ananse, who used his webs and his quick wit to evade death.Asante RepresentationOwuo is represented by the adinkra symbol of a ladder "Owuo atwedee baakofoo mforo"a proverb meaning "Death’s ladder is not climbed by just one person."
Owuo is seen as a destroyer and one who humans are to be obsessively scared of. To even speak of death or being alone after someone close to you has died can prompt him to try and finish his work of destruction and causing more death. Whilst being blind and thus, having to rely on his hearing to find a victim.
He is also depicted as a mostly skeletal figure armed with an Adare, that can kill many in just one slash, and holds a ladder, Owuo Atwedee. Owuo is blind due it having no eyes (it is mostly a skeleton), but does have ears, so has very good hearing. It also has a key that can open the chests and boxes of all.
Ivory horns were also represented as Death due to the sound that is made when they are blown on (they may also represent Owuo via his tusks, as Owuo is depicted as having tusks, and the Ivory horns are made out of elephant tusks). For this, they are often blown at executions and funerals, but not exclusively. They are often decorated with human jawbones. Owuo is also represented as an executioner, although Abrani is the Asante deity of executioners.
Owuo resides in Samando when it is not killing humans and has no particular place to go.
No matter the form Owuo takes, Owuo is Owuo; Death is death.
A person dies in Akan mythos and in life when Owuo cuts down with his Adare or if the human is an Asante soldier when Owuo races Ta Kora to reach the soul of the dying.Krachi (Ewe) RepresentationIn the Krachi representation, Owuo has all of the same physical attributes as the first depiction mentioned in the general representation (see above). It is most likely that the most widely recognized depiction of Owuo, or even the idea of Owuo himself traditionally comes from the Krachi people, although in the days of the Asante Empire, the area that the Krachi people originate from was controlled by the Asante and, before that, most likely the Akwamu Empire, so Owuo could've traditionally been an Akan abosom who was adopted by the Krachi due to the culture of the Asante Empire. This would explain the reason why Death has always been called by is Akan name, Owuo, and never an Ewe name.
Unlike the Asante, who fear Owuo, the Krachi do not depict it as a malicious creature.Jamaican RepresentationHere, Owuo's appearance is based very much on that of the Akan description, specifically for his speed, power and cannibalistic tendencies. This is probably due to the story he is in most likely coming from the Asante. He has both eyes intact and is human in appearance. He is so skinny, he would look exactly like a skeleton if not the fact he has skin. He has a deep, raspy voice when he talks. He has 37 and a half teeth.
Myths