Friday, August 24, 2007

The Gods and Godesses of Africa



Head of god Imseti from canopic jar of
King Tanutamani
Nubian
Napatan Period
, 664-653 B.C.
Sudan, Nubia, (el-Kurru)






Most African cultures, if not all, believe in a Supreme Creator in one form or another. A God behind the Gods, a Supreme God who created everything. The Creator is thought to have once lived on Earth, but left it for His Kingdom in the Sky because of human infractions. Because he was no longer in direct contact with the people, Lesser Gods were created directly from His power to do certain jobs that were given to them. These Lesser Gods are the Gods of Earth, The Rains, Water, The Winds, Fire, etc. The Deities are capable of answering human prayers by use of their own power and can intercede on man's behalf with the Creator Himself. Although The Supreme Creator is usually referred to by him etc. it is beyond sex, being both male and female. It has no form and is thought of in an abstract way. It is available to any human, regardless of their position. A breath of Its Divine Being is within all animate and inanimate things.
It is known as Mulungu (East Africa), Leza (Central Africa), Nyambe (West Tropics), Nyame (Ghana), the Molder, Giver of Breath and Souls, God of Destiny, One Who Exists of Himself, God of Pity and Comfort, the Inexplicable, Ancient of Days, the One Who Bends Even Kings, the One You Meet Everywhere, etc.
Among many tribes, the creation of the Earth took four days. The fifth day was reserved for worshipping the Orisha Nla (Chief of the Deities), who actually created the Earth with the instruction and aid of the Supreme Creator. The Orisha Nla was also given the task of creating bodies out of clay. When this was complete the Supreme Creator secretly placed the spark of life within the forms. These newly created humans were then placed on the Earth to live.


The Gods and Goddesses
Adroa Other Names: "God in the sky", God on Earth", Creator God, River God. Location: The Lugbara of Zaire and Uganda. Description: He is pictured as tall and white with only half of his body visible. Rules Over: Social order, law, death.



Akuj Location: The Turkana of Kenya. Rules Over: Divination.
Ala Other Names: Ale, Ane. Location: The Ibo of Nigeria. Description: Extremely popular Goddess and Earth Mother. She is a Creator Goddess and Queen of the Dead. Rules Over: Community laws, morality, oaths, harvest.
Anayaroli Location: The Temne. Description: River demon. Rules Over: Wealth.
Asa Other Names: Father God, "the strong lord." Location: Akamba of Kenya. Rules Over: Mercy, help, surviving the impossible.
Asase Other Names: Yaa, Aberewa, Efua, "Old Woman Earth." Location: The Ashanti of West Africa. Description: Goddess of creation of humans and receiver of them at death. Rules Over: Cultivation, harvest.
Behanzin Location: West Africa. Description: Fish God.
Cagn Location: South Central Africa among the Bushman. Description: Creator God. Rules Over: Sorcery and Shape-Shifting.
Chiuta Other Names: Mulengi, Mwenco, Wamtatakuya Tumbuka. Description: Creator God, Rain God. Is self-created and omniscient. Rules Over: Rain, help, plant growth, food.
Chuku Other Names: Chineke. Location: The Ibo of East Nigeria. Description: "The first great cause", "Creator", Father of Ale, The Earth Goddess. Offerings and sacrifices were done for him in groves. Rules Over: Help, goodness.
Danh Location: Dahomey. Description: Snake God. Rainbow Snake shown with tail in his mouth. Rules Over: Wholeness, unity.
En-Kai Other Names: Parsai, Emayian. Location: Masai. Description: Sky God. Grass is used in rituals for him. Rules Over: Rain, vegetation, blessings.
Fa Location: Dahomey. Rules Over: Destiny.
Famian Location: Guinea. Rules Over: Protection, health, fertility.
Gauna Other Names: Gawa, Gawama. Location: Among the Bushmen.Description: Leads the spirits of the deceased. Rules Over: Disruption, harassment, death.
Ge Location: Dahomey. Description: Moon God.
Gu Location: The Fon of West Africa. Rules Over: War, smiths.
Guruhi Location: Gambia. Description: Evil God. Meteors are his sign. Rules Over: Power and death over enemies.
Heitsi-Eibib Location: The Hottentots. Description: Sorcerer God. Rules Over: Shape-shifting, magick.
Imana Other Names: Hategekimana, Hashakimana, Habyarimana, Ndagijimana, Bigirimana, "Almighty God." Location: The Banyarwands. Rules Over: Power, goodness, children, planning.
Ison Other Names: Eka Obasi, Obasi Nsi, Ibibio, Ekoi. Location: West Africa. Description: Tortoise-shelled Goddess. Rules Over: Fertility of the Earth.
Jok Other Names: Jok Odudu, Alur. Location: Uganda and Zaire. Description: Black goats were to be sacrificed to him when rain was needed. Rules Over: Rain.
Juok Other Names: Shilluk, Supreme God. Location: White Nile. Description: Created all men on Earth.
Kaka-Guia Other Names: Nyami. Location: The Volta areas. Description: He brought souls to the Supreme God.
Katonda Other Names: Lissoddene, Kagingo, Ssewannaku, Lugaba, Ssebintu, Nnyiniggulu, Namuginga, Ssewaunaku, Gguluddene, Namugereka. Location: The Ganda of East Africa. Descriptiojn: Creator God. Rules Over: Help, Judgment, aid when the odds are against you, control over spirits, divination, oracles.
Kwoth Location: The Nuer of South Sudan. Description: Great Spirit God. Rules Over: Nature, help, compassion, judgement.
Leza Location: Dahomey.Description: Chameleon God/dess. Rules Over: Protection, divination.
Mbaba Mwana Waresa Location: The Zulu of Natal. Description: Goddess of what she rules over. Rules Over: Rainbows, rain, crops, cultivation, beer.
Mawu Location: Dahomey. Description: Supreme Goddess, creator of all things. Mawu is worshipped by The Fon of Benin in West Africa as a Moon Goddess and creatrix of everything.
Mukuru Location: Macouas of Zambesi, Banayis. Description: Supreme God, creator of everything. Rules Over: Agriculture, architecture, the harvest.
Mungo Location: Giryama of Kenya. Description: Rain God. Rules Over: Rain.
`Nenaunir Other Names: The Rainbow Snake. Location: Masai of Kenya.Description: An Evil Storm God who was linked to the rainbow. Resided in the clouds and was a dreaded spirit. Rules Over: Storms.
`Ngai Location: Masai. Description: Creator God. Rules Over: Life and Death.
Ngami Description: Moon Goddess.
Njambi Location: Lele. Description: Creator God. Rules Over: Protection, justice, help, forests, fertility.
Nyambe Location: Koko of Nigeria. Description: God. Rules Over: Restoring Life.
Nyambi Other Names: Nyambe. Location: The Barotse of Upper Zambesi. Description: Gread God. Creator of everything.
Nyame Location: The Twi of West Africa. Description: Great God who prepared the soul to be reborn on the physical plane and gave out its fate. Rules Over: Fate.
Nyamia Ama Location: Senegal. Description: God of storms, rain and lightning. A sky god. Rules Over: Storms, rain, lightning.
Nzambi Location: The Bankongo of the Congo. Description: Great Goddess who created everything. She played the role of Justice and rewarded and punished according to the deeds of man. Rules Over: Justice.
Oba Description: Santeria river goddess.
Ochumare Location: Yoruba. Description: Santeria Goddess of the rainbow.
Oddudua Location: Yoruba. Description: Primary Mother Goddess.
Ogun Other Names: Ogoun. Location: The Nago and Yoruba of West Africa. Description: God of iron and warfare. Rules Over: Iron, warfare, removing difficulties, smoothing the path to a desired result, Justice, Smiths, Hunters, Barbers, Goldsmiths, Steel.
Olorun Other Names: Olofin-Orun, Olodumare. Location: Yoruba. Description: Sky God. Rules Over: Truth, control of the Elements, Forsight, Victory when the odds are against you, Destiny.
Pan Location: Agni. Description: Son of the Earth. Rules Over: Cultivation.
Rock-Sens Location: The Serer of Gambia. Description: Sky god, controlled the weather. Rules Over: Rain, Thunder, Lightning.
Rugaba Other Names: Ruhanga, Kazooba, Mukameiguru. Location: Ankore of Uganda. Description: Creator God, Sun God, Sky God. Rules Over: Life, healing, death, sickness, judgement.
Ruhanga Location: Banyoro. Description: Great God. Rules Over: Fertility, abundance, children, animals, harvest, health, sickness, death, judgement, rebirth.
Sakarabru Location: Agni of Guinea. Description: God who is strongest during the main phases of the Moon. Swift to punish wrongful deeds. Rules Over: Medicine, justice, retribution.
Shango Other Names: Schango. Location: Yoruba of Nigeria. Description: Carries a double-headed axe much like the nordic Thorr. Rules Over: Thunder, Storm, War, Magick.
Soko Location: Nupe of north Nigeria. Description: Creator God. Rules Over: Control of the Elements, Witchcraft, Communication with the Deceased.
Tilo Location: Mozambique. Description: Sky God. Rules Over: Sky, Thunder, Rain.
Unkulunkulu Other Names: Nkulnkulu. Location: The Amazulu and Ndebele of Zimbabwe. Description: Great God, Earth God. Rules Over: Fertility, organization, order.
Utixo Location: The Hottentots.Description: Sky God who speaks with a voice of thunder. Rules Over: Rain, Storms, Thunder, Harvest, Rebirth.
Wele Other Names: Khakaba, Isaywa. Location: Abaluyia, Bantu. Description: "The High One". Sky God, Creator God. Rules Over: Rain, storms, lightning, creation, prosperity, harvest, celestial phenomena.
Were Location: Luo of Kenya. Description: Great God, Father God, Creator God. Rules Over: Birth, Death, Nature, Judgement.
White Lady Location: Tassali of the Sahara. Description: Agricultural Goddess. Rules Over: Agriculture, fertility.
Xevioso Location: West Africa. Description: He used a thunder axe. Rules Over: Thunder, rain, fertility.
Ymoja Location: Yoruba. Description: River Goddess. Rules Over: Women, children.