Dreaming of a deceased loved one in the Akan tradition: meaning
In the Akan tradition the dead are not gone: they become nsamanfo, ancestors, who counsel, warn and protect the family. A dream about a deceased loved one is therefore read seriously and warmly, as a visit or counsel.
Within this tradition
Among the Akan death is a passage. Whoever led a good life goes to Asamando, the world of the ancestors, and remains involved with the family. The nsamanfo are honoured with libations, at the Adae festivals that return every six weeks, and with large, communal funerals. For many Akan it is self-evident that an ancestor shows themselves in a dream.
Because according to the tradition the sunsum can travel during sleep, such a dream is sometimes seen literally as a meeting: your spirit and that of the deceased came across each other. What the deceased did or said counts. A calm, smiling ancestor is read as blessing or reassurance. An ancestor giving something, as counsel or a gift you may use. An ancestor who seems angry or sad can point to something in the family that needs attention, such as a quarrel or a neglected custom.
A well-known caution is not to simply go along with a deceased person in a dream or accept food from them, without knowing what is intended. Such dreams are discussed in the tradition with an elder in the family, who knows the customs and the family history.
Whoever looks back to a deceased grandparent can also think of Sankofa: what did that person give you that you must not forget?
Common variations
A smiling deceased parent
Blessing or reassurance from the nsamanfo.
An ancestor giving something
Counsel or a gift you may use.
An angry or sad ancestor
Something in the family that needs attention, such as a quarrel or a forgotten custom.
Going along with a deceased person
Read cautiously: discuss such a dream with an elder in the family.
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Write your dream in the appFrequently asked questions
What are the nsamanfo?
The ancestors in the Akan tradition, who according to the tradition remain involved with the family and counsel and protect it.
Why do I dream of a deceased grandparent?
Often out of longing. In an Akan reading it can also be a visit or counsel, and Sankofa fits: what did that person give you?
Does such a dream predict misfortune?
No. The Akan reading on Dreamkin does not predict misfortune. A dream is read as counsel or encouragement, and whoever finds it weighs heavily discusses it with an elder in the family.