Types and Statuses of Children of Trɔxovi Shrines

Abstract

The "trÉ”xovi” system is a religious cult of the Ewes of South Eastern Ghana. It is established mostly in communities among the Anlo, Avenor and Tongu. The trÉ”xovi system revolves around deities believed to be responsible for social control in these communities. Associated with these deities are minors described as children of trÉ”xovi shrines. In contemporary times, these children are described by some as slaves because they are believed to have been abused and neglected. Lumped together and perceived as belonging to the same category and having the same status, they are, on the contrary, into four different identifiable categories with different statuses. These are the maidens of the shrines (trÉ”kosis/fiasiÉ–is), the children of the maidens fathered by the chief priests, the children of the maidens fathered by men other than the chief priests and children given birth to by barrenness threatened couple through the intervention of the deities. This work provides nuances to children of trÉ”xovi shrines believed to have been abandoned and abused in the shrine. Data was generated from respondents from seven shrines including chief priests and children from the four defined categories. Unstructured in-depth interview was used in generating data from the respondents. In addition to the interviews, personal observations were made in the study shrines during ritual celebrations. It was found out that these children of the trÉ”xovi shrine are treated differently with some having their freedom while some others do not. The trÉ”kosi/fiasiÉ–i, who is mostly committed as a child has no freedom, so is the child she gives birth to in the shrine with the chief priest. However, the others, the dÉ”feflevi and the child of the trÉ”kosi/fiasiÉ–i fathered by any ordinary man other than the chief priest enjoy freedom.