A Geneology of Inanna

Who are those ancient "Women of the Night" and how do we identify them today?

There is a relationship between the Sumerian name “Inanna,” and the Ghanaian title “Nana” which is reserved for venerated kings and queens in Ghana who may even be land administrators in Akan society. 

Many Jamaicans and Black Americans from the southern US call their grandmothers—who are usually the most venerated matriarchs of their families—“Nanna.”

The fact that “I-nanna” of Sumer “Nana” of Ghana and “Nanna” of the Black Diaspora, are all titles for highly venerated women is very eye opening when considered next to other examples of Black cultural morphology over vasts epochs of time.

Ancient Sumer was absorbed by Akkad, and then finally, Babylon. As a result of outside influences the people whom the Greeks called “Mesopotamians” got further away from their African roots. Sometime around 2200 B.C.E. ancient Iraq was invaded by Indo-Europeans.

These invaders came from places like the northernmost part of what is now Iran, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The previous inhabitants of ancient Iraq fled into the landmass that European map makers decided among themselves was “Africa.” 

In concept, it’s very much like Black New Yorkers fleeing to Georgia because the influx of whites into Black New York ghettos drove the rent prices up to unsustainable proportions for many residents. Even though you live in Georgia today, you’re still a New Yorker for life, though.

Other Black “Mesopotamians” remained in Iraq and mixed in with the new invaders. This created a new people from distinct changes in the culture.

The priestesses of Inanna were replaced by the priestesses of Ishtar. In the late Babylonian period the Ishtar devotees were what many historians of the Near East call “sacred prostitutes.” 

They were arranged into 3 different classes of perky poontang pushers. All were known as “Women of the Night” but for carnal reasons. They did their work at night.

The priestesses of Inanna were also “Women of the Night” but it was mainly because they possessed the Sight Beyond Sight to spiritually see what is in the dark where the moon is a guiding light.

What is there to be found in the dark? It is The Treasures of Darkness referenced in Isaiah 45:3:

“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

Sometimes life requires us to fall to our lowest depths to obtain it, but when we do, we shine like no other luminary can. The True Women of the Night are those who lost their state of grace and are now in the process of reclaiming what they thought was lost, but was only forgotten.