Key Points

- Extremely evil and violent 

- Can kill anything - even the supreme being. 

- Symbolizes the death of a creative process - a reference to him killing Odomankoma

Brief Bio

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 just so he could kill 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.

In Akan depictions, Owuo is a truly sadistic and cannibalistic deity 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. 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). However, 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 his the Abosom of Evil.