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