Ntoro Paternal Lineage and Its Funeral Role in Ghana

The Father's Side in a Matrilineal System

Outsiders often hear that Akan society is matrilineal and conclude that the father's family doesn't matter at funerals. That's wrong. The abusua (maternal lineage) holds custody of the body and controls burial decisions, but the ntoro (paternal lineage) carries distinct spiritual obligations that cannot be delegated to the mother's side.

Every Akan person inherits two things biologically in the traditional framework: mogya (blood) from the mother, which determines clan membership, inheritance rights, and social identity; and ntoro (spiritual character traits) from the father, which shapes personality, spiritual protection during life, and specific ritual duties at death. These are complementary systems, not competing ones. A funeral that honours the abusua but ignores the ntoro is ritually incomplete.

What the Paternal Family Must Do

Ritual Bathing: The Left Side

During the Friday-night kyeekyeere bathing, maternal kinswomen wash the right side of the body (representing mogya, the blood line). Paternal kinswomen wash the left side (representing ntoro, the spirit line). This is not symbolic division of labour — it's a fundamental mapping of the dual-inheritance system onto the physical body.

Paternal participation is part of the rite. If no paternal representative is available for the bathing, ask the family elders how they want that obligation handled. For diaspora or urban families where the paternal side may live far from the burial site, a senior female relative from the father's lineage should be specifically invited and her travel arranged.

The Hand-Washing Drink

After the bathing is complete, the deceased's father — or, if the father has also passed, his designated successor — must provide a ceremonial drink to the washers to "wash their hands." This is both a purification gesture and a payment of respect for the dangerous spiritual work the washers performed. The ntoro representative who provides this drink is fulfilling a duty that only the paternal side can discharge.

Spiritual Protection for the Living

The ntoro is associated with the spiritual protection of a person during their lifetime. In death, the paternal kinsfolk's participation in the funeral validates that the deceased's spiritual character traits — inherited from the father's lineage — are being properly honoured as the spirit transitions to Asamando.

If the paternal family is excluded or marginalised during the funeral, they hold the right to raise objections. In extreme cases, the ntoro side can veto burial decisions if they believe the maternal family is desecrating the deceased's legacy.

The Twelve Ntoro Lineages

Traditional Akan classification recognises twelve distinct ntoro spirits, each with its own personality traits, sacred cleansing day, and strict ancestral taboos. While not every modern family maintains active awareness of their specific ntoro lineage, the framework remains culturally significant:

Bosompra (The Strong) — River Pra spirit; warrior discipline; sacred day Wednesday. Surnames include Amoah, Asare, Boaten, Acheampong, Owusu.

Bosomtwe (The Kind) — Lake Bosomtwe spirit; grace and gentility; sacred day Sunday. Surnames include Kisi, Ofosu, Boafo, Antwi.

Each lineage carries specific food taboos — animals, plants, or preparations that members must not eat. During the funeral, catering should avoid serving taboo foods to family members from the paternal side. This is a detail that non-Akan spouses and diaspora relatives often miss because nobody thinks to mention it.

Why This Matters Practically

For funeral planning committees, the ntoro obligations create three concrete action items:

1. Invite the paternal representative for the Friday-night bathing — confirm their availability and travel arrangements during the one-week observation.
2. Arrange the hand-washing drink — confirm who from the father's side will provide it and what beverage is customary for the specific ntoro lineage.
3. Check catering against ntoro food taboos — ask the paternal family representative whether there are specific foods to avoid at the Saturday afternoon meal.

The Full Lineage Reference

The West African Funeral — Ghana guide maps the dual-inheritance obligations for both the abusua and ntoro sides, with a coordination checklist for ensuring the paternal family's ritual duties are planned rather than improvised on the night.