Essence and Meaning of 'Twa Omanjre aba! - Ye Wow!' Apostle Abeiku Okai

 

The Essence and Meaning of 'Twa Omanjre Aba! - Ye wow!'.

"Twa Omanjre Aba! - Ye wow!" is a special pronouncement (with its different greeting forms) in the Awutu/Efutu/Senya dialect. This dialect is spoken in the Central Region of Ghana. It belongs to the Guan language of the Gua people, who are the aboriginals of the Republic of Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast, and part of its neighbouring countries. 

"Twa Omanjre Aba! - Ye wow!" is also a very common pronouncement among the Ga-Adangme people. Their version is, "Twa Omanye aba." 

This all-powerful and common statement, "Twa Omanjre aba", that usually comes after every major traditional discussion, declaration, or prayer simply means, "Let (Twa) peace (Omanjre) prevail (aba)." The response, which is, "Ye wow", also means "Respond (ye) with praise (wow)."

One would ask why the Ga-adangme has a similar phrase. The obvious conclusion has always been attributed to the fact that the two people share common boundaries and have lived together for several years and sharing common coast, intertwined political and social history, culture and trades. But I am beginning to discover and be convinced that the Gas are Guans and the word, 'Ga', which has been attributed to 'ant' might rather be a corruption of the name, 'Gua'. It would interest you to know that Gua is the original name of the entire jurisdiction (or country) covered by the Guans long before the Akans and the Europeans arrived on the land. Gua had six regions headed by Guan patriarchs called patriarchates, spanning from the Northern to the Southern part of Ghana, namely:

1. Berekum (North)

2. Bireku or Breku or Beraku (South) 

3. Kyereponi (North East)

4. Kyerepon (South East)

5. Ahafo (North West)

6. Ahanta (South West).

This traditional and ancient administrative demarcations, the names, and the original people still exist as Guans, even though this part of their history is missing from history books. But reference can be made from "The Senyans of Gua" (1971), by Mr. Samuel Parry.

The pronouncement, "Twa Omanjre Aba! - Ye wow!" as being discussed has been attributed to idol worshipers just as almost everything rooted in traditional African culture is considered as such by uninformed Christians and the so-called elites of today. I believe this erroneous attribution comes from the mere fact that when libations or traditional prayers are offered the declaration is concluded it just as 'Amen' is said among Christians and Moslems. 

As an Apostle of the gospel of Christ and a researcher into the culture of my people, and haven come to the knowledge of the truth concerning my people and the beauty and amazing values beneath their culture, which are not idolatry, I find it disturbing seeing us waste away our culture value in favour of western civilisation in the name of education and religion.

Any true Bible student will notice that our African traditional life has so much in common with biblical culture. There is an overwhelming abundance of evidence to prove we belong to the original tribe of Israel. One oral school of thought suggests the Gua or Guans are actually of the Gad tribe while the Ga-Adangme is a mixture of the Gad and Dan tribes (GAd-DANgme). 

That aside, I will wish to draw attention to the fact that the phrase in question has a direct link with the greetings of our Lord Jesus Christ when he rose from the dead. The Bible says,

"Then, the same day at evening, being the first   day of the week, when the doors were shut  where the disciples were assembled, for fear of  the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst,  and said to them, *“Peace be with you.” '* (John 20:19)

The translation of this greeting from the scripture in the Senya dialect is, "Anesɔ Omanjre", and the response is, "Omanjre mba." This is the commonest greeting in Senya Beraku, Winneba (Simpa), Awutu Breku, and of course, among the Ga-Adangme. You will also realise this is the common greeting in almost all the Epistles written by the Apostles to the church.

Why then have we thrown away such an amazing local expression and in its place we use the English expressions; Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, etc., I remember very well how folks used to chastise me for greeting "Sɔ Omanjre" (Receive Peace) only because I am a pastor and not a traditionalist. They forget Jesus greeted His disciples using the same expression. On several occasions, I do pray in the Senya dialect and end the prayer by declaring, "Twa omanjre aba". You can just imagine the looks on the faces of the skeptics. But I won't back out of taking pride in my language in the service of my Lord Jesus Christ. For I am African. 

In conclusion, I would admonish that if we can develop as a people then we must develop in our own identity as Africans. Let us overcome the identity crises that have plagued us all these years and know that we are a people of profound values. And to my Christian brethren, let us do the honourable thing to learn and know the difference between African culture and idolism and also the difference between Christianity and 'Europeanity'/'Westernity', which is pure Idolism.  

Apostle Abeiku Okai

Anathallo Chapel Int.

Senya Beraku.

0249287855