AFRICAN PROSE
ASARE KONADU: A WOMAN IN HER PRIME
Discuss the significance of Tano Kofi in the novel.
Explanation
Tano Kofi seems to occupy a central position in the small village of Brenhoma. Although it is not the highest God - Nyankopon Twedeampong - its activities as a god are observed throughout the story. This is so because the people are traditionalists and highly superstitious.
There are seventy-seven other lesser gods, but the great Tano's name is mentioned with awe, He seems to be the founding god of Brenhoma as the Asafo captain calls his people in his song during the search for Yaw Boakye. Tano is a uniting force and a custodian of the welfare of the people.
This is evident in the way the people throng to his shrine for consultation and sacrifice. The haste and excitement displayed by Pokuwaa at the beginning of the novel show that the shrine is no doubt a melting point where people go to either put their requests forward to the great Tano or to offer thanks.
This is why we meet Pokuwaa making frantic efforts to look for the lost jet-black hen which she has been asked-to present at Tanofie on the day of sacrifice. Pokuwaa's friend, Koramoa, has had a baby boy through the intervention of great god Tano and that is why every Fofie, she goes there and dances to the beat of the drumming.
In their routine prayer during the Odwira festival the name of Tano and the seventy-seven gods are invoked to bring healing, blessing and happiness to the people. This is the activity we see Pokuwaa engaged in through a good part of the novel until she gets fed up with the practice and stops.
Because of the respect accorded to this god by the people. Pokuwaa's decision to discontinue following the directives recommended by the Tano priest is not taken lightly by her mother. Pokuwaa's decision angers her and prompts the Old Lady to report Pokuwaa to the head of the Asona Clan, Opanyin Kofi Owusu. When Pokuwaa discontinues making sacrifices to the god Tano, her mother continues to make the sacrifices.
When Pokuwaa eventually becomes pregnant, Kwadwo and her mother attribute the pregnancy to the great god Tano. It is therefore obvious that for the people of Brenhoma, no good thing happens without being attributed to the god Tano.