In Ga Mashie spirituality, the Wulomei (singular: Wulomo) occupy a unique space. They are not only priests who pour libations and lead festivals; they are also healers, diviners, and mediators between the human community and the spirit world. To understand how they perform healing and divination, it helps first to understand who they are and how they are chosen.
Servants of the deities
The word “Wulomo” loosely translates to “priest” in the Ga language. More precisely, a Wulomo is a servant of a specific deity (dzemawon; plural: dzemawonji or dzemànwọdzi). Each Wulomo is tied to a particular spirit—such as Sakumo, Nai, or Korle—and acts as that spirit’s mouthpiece and caretaker.journal.ru.ac+1
Their core duties include:
- Officiating public worship and festivals like Homowo.
- Pouring daily or weekly libations to their god.
- Interpreting the wishes of the deity to the people.
- Advising chiefs and communities on spiritual matters.
- Performing healing and divination when individuals or families face crises.journal.ru.ac+2
In earlier times, Wulomei were the primary rulers of Ga towns. Today, their formal political power has receded, but their spiritual authority remains strong, especially in matters of health, destiny, and ritual correctness.ia801506.us.archive+1
How a person becomes a Wulomo
There are two main pathways to the priesthood:
- Lineage-based selection
Certain families or houses hold the right to produce priests for particular deities. From these lineages, a candidate is chosen based on character, knowledge of ritual, and sometimes signs from the spirit itself.ia801506.us.archive+1 - Spirit-called priests and mediums
Some individuals are “called” directly by the spirits, often through unusual experiences: persistent illness, vivid dreams, or episodes of possession. In Ga-Adangbe tradition, deities frequently communicate through female mediums (wọŋ yoo / wɔŋyei), who then relay messages to the Wulomo.journal.ru.ac+1
This second path is especially important in healing and divination. A person may resist the call for years, but when they finally accept their role—often marked by a ritual initiation—their affliction may cease, and they begin serving as a priest or medium.thegadangme
Healers as well as priests
While all Wulomei perform rituals, not all are equally known as healers. Some shrines gain reputations for treating specific problems: mental distress, infertility, chronic illness, or spiritual attacks. Families in distress may travel from other parts of Accra or beyond to consult these shrine priests.cambridge+2
Healing in this context is holistic. It addresses:
- Physical symptoms (pain, weakness, madness, infertility).
- Social problems (conflict, broken relationships, repeated misfortune).
- Spiritual causes (offended deities, ancestral displeasure, witchcraft, broken taboos).scholar.sun.ac+2
The Wulomo’s task is to diagnose the root cause—often through divination—and then prescribe a combination of ritual actions, herbal medicines, and behavioural changes.cambridge+1
Divination as diagnostic tool
Divination is the method Wulomei use to “read” the spirit world’s response to a problem. Through signs, symbols, and spirit communication, they seek answers to questions like:
- Which deity or ancestor is involved?
- What taboo has been broken?
- What offering or ritual is required?
- What must the patient and family do to be healed?journal.ru.ac+1
In the next article, we will look closely at the divination methods Wulomei use: how they prepare, what tools or signs they rely on, and how they interpret messages from the spirits.