An initial interest in understanding the surviving traditions relating to the pan-celtic
divinity Lugh in his Irish guise, and some personal aquaintance with West Africa
suggested this comparative study. I soon found that the institution of the Akan
traditional chieftaincy, still functioning as integral to the socio-religious identity of the
modern Akan people of Ghana, provided illuminating insights into the paradigmatic
role of Lugh in relation to early Irish sacral kingship. Although early mediaeval
Ireland and 19th and 20th century Gold Coast, now Ghana, are divided both in
historical time and geographical space, other similarities in the "Universe of meaning"
proper to each culture emerged during the study of their own specific 'encounters
with Christianity'. Chap.l first introduces Lugh through the Irish tale Cath Maige
Tuired, and then the Akan, both in their historical and geographical context and,
tentatively, through varied clues, within their world of meaning and selfunderstanding.
Chap.2 has two parts: Early Encounters with Christianity among the
Irish and the Akan and Encounter as Confrontation Chap.3 is a comparative study of
the Sacral ruler in 4 parts: covering (a) the relationship of kinship to kingship; (b) the
sacral ruler in theory and in action; (c) the myth/ritual conveying, enacting, and
authenticating the union with the 'transcendent power' informing sacral rule,
(centering on Baile in Scciil the other main Lugh source)' and (d) The Festival of
Lughnasa and Akan Odwira, each celebrating both Harvest and the centripetal
function of kingship. Chap.4 explores and compares the presence and importance of
the Female Principle for both, and Chap. 5 collates the main conclusions of the study.
Although Early Irish society was essentially aristocratic and the Akan a gerontocracy,
the parallels are remarkable. The material in Chap.2 reveals the tension experienced by
both peoples between a recognition of being on "familiar ground" as the
judaic/christian scriptures were opened up, and the inevitable confrontation between
the demands of the "new faith" and ancient ritual patterns and allegiances, the latter
becoming acute in relation to the traditional sacral rulers.. The manifold similarities
discovered during research for Chap.3 are mutually illuminating, suggesting
conclusions which go beyond the remit of this particular comparative study. Chap.4
shows the essential presence of the 'female principle' in the religio-social experience
and history (especially in relation to the sacral kingship and its authority) of the
matrilineal Akan, and the early Irish, the one mainly imaged as mother and the other
mainly as bride/wife. In the consciousness of both, she is the Spirit of the Earth, and a
source of wisdom and guardian of truth. There are some signs that the marginalisation
of female power, both cosmic and terrestrial, may have preceded, as well as
accompanying, the encounter with Christianity in both cultures
