Med Secoli. 2001 ; 13(3): 493-508.

[Male sexuality and pathologies in the traditional medicine of Akan (Ghana): a discussion about kooko]

Schirripa P.

UniversitÃ di Perugia, I. pinoschirripa@tiscali.it

The paper discusses a pathology, known in Ghana with the name of kooko. According to Akan medicine, the disease is a symptom of a social and cosmic disorder, the consequence of a divine punishment. Kooko is a red protuberance, index of a very serious disease, appearing all over the body, in the brain, ears, uterus, anus or penis. In the last case, kooko causes increasing sexual weakness.