TITLE:
Autism, Spirit, and Destiny: An Akan Priestess’s Teachings on Non-Speaking Children
AUTHORS:
Geoffrey Johnson
KEYWORDS:
Neurodiversity, African Spirituality, Akan Cosmology, Autism, Spirituality, Narrative Repair
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.14 No.7,
July
14,
2026
ABSTRACT: Autism research rarely examines how African spiritual traditions interpret autistic traits or support family well-being. This phenomenological study explores the interpretive perspectives of an Akan high priestess regarding autism, with particular attention to nonspeaking autistic children. Drawing on an in-depth interview and in vivo coding, the analysis highlights how the priestess understands autism through Akan cosmology, ancestral purpose, and spiritual attunement. Her teachings emphasize the sacredness of autistic children, the intuitive wisdom of non-speaking communication, and the importance of rituals, communal care, and spiritual alignment. These insights offer culturally grounded considerations for counselors working with families who welcome spiritual meaningmaking. The findings suggest that integrating culturally relevant spiritual frameworks may enhance relational attunement, reduce stigma, and expand therapeutic possibilities for autistic children and their caregivers.