Nyame

Short description: God of the Akan people of Ghana

Nyame (Ono nya me)

Lord of the Sky

Adinkra Symbol: Gye Nyame

Consorts| Asase Ya
Issue

Tano
Bia
Anansi
Apo[1]
Bosomtwe[2]

Owuo[3]

Nyame (or Onyankopon) is the god of the Akan people of Ghana.[4] His name means "He who knows and sees everything" and "omniscient, omnipotent sky goddess" in the Akan language.

## Function

Nyame is the Twi word for god and the Adinkra symbol "Gye Nyame" means "Nothing but God". The Akan people usurped the Adinkra symbols when their chieftain imprisoned Nana Adinkra, chief of Gyaman and his entourage. The Akan chief had his scribes copy the Adinkra symbols and then appropriated them into their culture, changing the meaning to fit what today means "there is nothing except God" in the Twi language of the Akan. However, the Adinkra people who originated the symbol knew nothing of Christianity and invented the symbol independent from its use and meaning in today's Akan culture. The Gyaman people are also Akan.

## See also

* Akan religion

## References

1. ↑ God of waters.
2. ↑ Also god of waters.
3. ↑ Created by Nyame
4. ↑ Willis, Roy (2006). World Mythology The Illustrated Guide. Oxford University Press. p. 266. ISBN 9780195307528. https://global.oup.com/ushe/product/world-mythology-9780195307528?cc=us&lang=en&. Retrieved 2022-06-23.

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