The Complexity of the Adze in African Mythology
You might have seen our video of the Adze and wanted to know more about them... well you've come to the right place, because the truth behind the Adze as a myth, symbol and force is simply fascinating and more nuanced than you might think.
If you haven't seen the video... its here:
Introduction
The Adze is a significant and complex figure in the mythology of the Ewe people, found predominantly in Ghana, Togo, Benin, and parts of Nigeria. Often misrepresented in Western interpretations as merely a vampiric entity, the Adze embodies a broader spectrum of cultural beliefs, intertwining notions of spiritual power, sorcery, and social dynamics within the Ewe community. This essay explores the multifaceted nature of the Adze, considering its historical context, symbolic significance, and the implications of its portrayal in both traditional and modern narratives.
Historical and Cultural Context
In Ewe cosmology, the Adze is not just a monster but a manifestation of malevolent spiritual power. Traditionally, the Adze is believed to be a shapeshifting entity that can assume the form of a firefly or other insects to infiltrate homes and harm individuals, often by sucking their blood or causing illness. The Adze’s shapeshifting ability symbolises the hidden dangers within the community, representing the destructive potential of jealousy and envy when directed towards those with desirable traits such as beauty, intelligence, or wealth (Spieth, 1906).
As night falls across regions like Togo and Ghana, it is said that the Adze slips through keyholes, under windows, and around doors. In this form, the Adze preys on the unsuspecting, particularly children, draining their life force or consigning them to madness and misery. For centuries, the Ewe people have lived in fear of the Adze, a fear exacerbated by the belief that no potion, spell, or weapon can ward off this entity, and that there is no cure for those bitten (Atlas Obscura, 2021).
The origins of the Adze lore are difficult to pinpoint, though archaeological evidence suggests that the Ewe people settled in what is now Ghana and Togo around the 13th century. Historians propose that the Adze myth may have originated as a response to the deadly threats of malaria and other insect-borne diseases that plagued the region—diseases against which the Ewe felt powerless (Atlas Obscura, 2021).
In the 19th century, after Christian missionaries from Europe established colonies in West Africa, the Adze evolved into a scapegoat for a wide range of evils—jealousy, mental illness, bad luck, addiction, and infertility, to name a few. As the Ewe people encountered Christianity, they did not completely abandon their traditional beliefs. Instead, they merged them, loosely combining their indigenous Vodun practices with Christian teachings, resulting in the Adze taking on characteristics more akin to the Devil (Levack, 2001). This syncretism is reflective of a broader pattern where traditional beliefs were not entirely supplanted but were instead overlaid with new religious concepts.
Shapeshifting and Symbolism
The Adze’s ability to shapeshift, particularly into a firefly, is deeply symbolic. Fireflies, with their bioluminescence, represent both beauty and danger in the night. The Adze’s association with the firefly likely stems from the insect's glowing appearance, which mirrors the flame-like entity that the Adze is said to become when it exits the body of a possessed person (Nde, 2020). This connection may also be metaphorically linked to the threat of insect-borne diseases, adding a layer of real-world fear to the myth.
Moreover, the Adze’s proboscis-like appendage, described in some variations of the myth, might be interpreted as a symbolic response to the dangers posed by disease-carrying insects. This feature reflects the community’s fears of unseen threats, both physical and spiritual, that can infiltrate their lives and cause harm (Bunson, 1993). The preference of the Adze for attacking children, particularly the most beautiful, ties into broader societal concerns about the protection of the vulnerable, as well as the destructive nature of envy (Atlas Obscura, 2021).
Sociocultural Impact and Misinterpretations
The Adze's role in Ewe society extends beyond the supernatural. It is deeply intertwined with social dynamics, particularly in the context of envy, jealousy, and the protection of communal resources such as wealth and fertility. The Adze is often invoked in discussions of familial and community relationships, where it serves as a cautionary figure against the destructive power of envy and the importance of maintaining social harmony (Spieth, 1906).
The first documented mention of the Adze in Western literature was by Jakob Spieth, a German missionary, in 1906. However, Spieth’s interpretation was influenced by his colonial perspective, framing the Adze within the broader, often pejorative concept of "witchcraft" in Africa. This interpretation reduced the Adze to a mere "vampiric" figure, aligning it with Western supernatural tropes rather than understanding it within its cultural and spiritual context (Spieth, 1906). Over time, the figure of the Adze merged with Christian concepts of evil, becoming a representation of the Devil in some interpretations (Levack, 2001). Yes, it always goes back to the missionaries/colonialism.
This fear of the Adze was not limited to its mythical form. In Ewe culture, women were often more susceptible to accusations of being possessed by an Adze, particularly if they exhibited traits such as jealousy, infertility, or an uneven temperament. This gendered aspect of the Adze myth parallels other cultures where women have been historically viewed as more prone to evil influences. The persistence of these beliefs underscores the deep-rooted nature of the Adze in Ewe society. Anthropologist Meera Venkatachalam notes that accusations of Adze possession were widespread and relentless, with many women bearing the brunt of these suspicions (Venkatachalam, 2015). Because, of course, when in doubt, blame the women!
Contemporary Relevance and Reinterpretation
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in African mythology, including the figure of the Adze. This renewed attention provides an opportunity to reclaim and reinterpret the Adze within its cultural context. However, it also carries the risk of further misinterpretation, particularly when these myths are viewed through a Western lens that prioritises familiar tropes over authentic cultural narratives (Zarka, 2020).
While there is little that can be done to fight the Adze, there are traditional beliefs that suggest ways to free someone from its possession. Some narratives propose that forcing the Adze out of its host and into a quasi-human form, where it can then be killed, is a possible but dangerous method. More commonly, especially post-Christian invasion, deliverance through vigorous prayer and exorcism has been seen as an effective way to combat the Adze (Atlas Obscura, 2021). These practices reflect the continued influence of syncretised beliefs in contemporary Ewe culture.
Conclusion
The Adze is a multifaceted entity that embodies the complexities of spiritual power, social dynamics, and cultural fears within Ewe society. It serves as a symbol of the dangers that arise from jealousy and envy, while also reflecting the community's concerns about health, wealth, and social harmony. Understanding the Adze requires a nuanced exploration of its roots in Ewe spirituality, its role in addressing social dynamics, and the impact of external interpretations that have shaped its portrayal in modern times.
References
Atlas Obscura (2021) The Adze: A Vampiric Monster From African Mythology. Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/monster-mythology-adze (Accessed: 31 July 2024).
Bunson, M. (1993) The Vampire Encyclopaedia. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks.
Levack, B. P. (2001) New Perspectives on Witchcraft, Magic, and Demonology: Witchcraft in the Modern World. London: Routledge.
Nde, H. (2020) Mythological Africans: The Role of Adze in Ewe Folklore. Available at: Mythological Africans (Accessed: 31 July 2024).
Spieth, J. (1906) Die Ewe-Stämme: Material zur Kunde des Ewe-Volkes in Deutsch-Togo. Berlin: Reimer.
Venkatachalam, M. (2015) Slavery, Memory and Religion in Southeastern Ghana, c. 1850–Present. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Zarka, E. (2020) Adze: The Shapeshifting Firefly from West Africa. Monstrum. Available at: Monstrum YouTube Channel (Accessed: 31 July 2024).
