Poro Forest Spirit
Mende · deity · Mende traditional religion; continuing Poro society · deity
Spirit-class tutelary entered as a deity (Poro masked spirit, masculine counterpart to Sande's Sowo). The Poro/Sande pairing structures Mende ritual life. Sources: Britannica 'Mende'; Wikipedia 'Masquerade in Mende culture'.
Domains
- initiation male society
- law discipline
- forest bush spirit
Powers
- to initiate boys into manhood and enforce the law of the society
- Manifest as the chief masked spirit (ngafa) of the Poro society