Shrine house priestess Okomfoyaa Anosua and attendants, Besease, Ghana

"Similar to a typical traditional Asante courtyard house, a shrine house or 'Obosomfie' is made up of 4 buildings enclosing a central courtyard or 'gyase'. Three of the buildings are open to the courtyard with raised floors. One of these is reserved for the drummers; another room is used by the singers; the third open room is used as a cooking area where ceremonial meals were regularly prepared to be partaken of by the gods. The fourth building, housing the shrine, is closed by decorated walls or intricate open-work screen walls. The entry to this room is usually strictly restricted to the priest and his attendants. In their communication with mankind, the 'abosom' or tutelary spirits, require a medium. This function is carried out by priests known as 'akomfo' (sing. okomfo). These have the ability to become possessed by their 'obossom' (pl. abossom) and, by so doing, act as the mouthpiece of the god, offering advice or prophesying the future." [Asante Traditional Buildings. World Heritage. A Ghana Museums and Monuments Publication]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from March 17, 1970 to July 17, 1970.