The children of Onyame are called abosom (obosom sing.). This word is subjected to different conflicting interpretations with no definite satisfactory resolution. The problem arises with the different interpretations given by Europeans and African scholars. The Europeans maintain that the word bosom is derived from two words, one bo which means stone and the other som which means to serve or worship. Africans scholars take exception to this due to the fact that in the past Europeans trivialized their spiritual practices as pagan idolatry and interpret their religion as stone worshipers. On the other hand African scholars maintained that the words bo meant to create, something precious, and som was as stated above to serve or worship. When specific abosom, and places names are broken down, like Bɔɔ Yaw, Oboɔ Kwasi, or Oboɔkyerewa and Tanɔ oboase and Boyem we see that in all these name references to something associated with stones. I contend that this reference has a dual if not multilevel meanings at the same timesince stone is a symbol of permanency, something that will last forever. The ancient Egyptians believe in a benben stone that rose up from the abyss at the beginning of creation their pyramid represents this stone on earth, mainly the capstone. The abosom like Asuobonten sat on a stone which was taken from the Tanɔ river. Ɔboɔkyerewa was found sitting on a stone, Ta kora is known as the obosom who resided in a rock. All these stone relics are something sacred, but they themselves are not the obosom. The Akan know stones are not abosom but serves as a domain for calling, feeding, and pouring libations to the abosom.
Ɔbosommerafoɔ are a obosom that functions like ɔbrafɔ. Ɔbrafɔ comes from the words bra which means to bring or to come and fƆ a root for person. They are members of a court who punish evil doers who violates the law.
In serious court matters oaths were taken by calling the name of obosommerafoɔ. Rattray gave an example in his work Ashante laws and constitution. Fre abosom asumasi ne asumasi di nse se asem a ye be bias wo nokware na wo be ka (call upon the abosom so and so and so and so and swear that you will speak the truth about matters concerning which we shall ask you) the subject replies in kind saying Abosom asumasi ne asumasi.
Then the ɔkyeame call upon the abosom…Abosom asumasi ne asumasi, akoa i na obedi adanse, se die onim wanka, na otwa m’ nkontompo, ya nwonku no (abosom so and so, this subject will bear witness; if he does not speak that which he knows, or if he tells lies, then you must kill him).
