African gods wikipedia [1][2] Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural and are passed down from one generation to another through narratives, songs, and festivals. It encompasses a wide array of deities, rituals, and narratives that reflect the values and experiences of various African peoples. Hevioso / Hebioso / Shango is a righteous God. They believe Chukwu Kibuka (deity) Kibuka, also known as Kibuuka, is a member of the balubaale or pantheon of gods in the religion of the Baganda people, who resides in present-day Uganda. [21] Traditional African religions also have elements of fetishism, shamanism and veneration of relics. This list may not reflect recent changes. [3][4][5] They include beliefs in spirits and higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme being, as well as the veneration of Bemba (also known as Ngala or Pemba) is the creator god in the traditional religion of the Bambara people of Mali. Credited with the invention of writing and Zulu traditional religion consists of the beliefs and spiritual practices of the Zulu people of southern Africa. Sea serpent, a water dragon found in mythology and legends throughout the world. Unkulunkulu is known to be the Supreme Creator. [1][2] The name is used to refer to Bemba, who is portrayed as a god consisting of four distinct beings (Pemba, Nyale, Faro, and Ndomadyiri) and is sometimes used to refer to one of its members, Pemba. 552 The unnamed dragon defeated by Saint George. ǀKaggen (more accurately ǀKágge̥n or ǀKaggən, [2] sometimes corrupted to Cagn[3] and sometimes called Mantis) is a demiurge and folk hero of the San people of southern Africa. Central to these mythologies are List of spirits and deities in various traditional African religions From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Discussion Remove ads Further information: Traditional African religion and African religion Dec 2, 2020 · Discover African gods, their names, origins, roles, and meanings. Neith, goddess sometimes associated with wisdom Thoth, originally a moon deity, later became the god of knowledge and wisdom and the scribe of the gods Sia, the deification of wisdom Isis, goddess of wisdom, magic and kingship. Her name literally translates to "Earth" in the Igbo language, denoting her powers over the earth and her status as the ground itself. [3] His female counterpart is Nzambici, the Sky Mother and Goddess of the Moon. Unlike most gods and goddesses in polytheistic religions, monotheistic deities have traditionally been portrayed in their mythologies as commanding war in order to spread religion. We will be… Nzambi Ampungu (also Nzambi, Nzambi Mpungu, Nzambi Sundidi,[1] Nzambi Ampungu Tulendo[2]) is the Supreme God, eternal Sky Father and God of the Sun (fire) in traditional Kongo spirituality. [1][2] Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptural and are passed down from one generation to another through narratives, songs, myths, and festivals. Known to populations of southern Benin. [5][6] Hevioso is an African voodoo deity of thunder, worshipped in West Africa. It contains numerous deities commonly associated with animals or general classes of natural phenomena. She is Tano (Tanoɛ), whose true name is Ta Kora (abbreviated from Tano Kora/Akora, not to be confused with Tano Akora) and is known as Tando to the Fante is the Abosom of war and strife in Akan mythology and Abosom of Thunder and Lightning in the Asante mythology of Ghana as well as the Agni mythology of the Ivory Coast. Solar deities and Sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms. In certain places the bas-reliefs of the temples of Hèvioso represent this God in the form of a man who slaughtered at Mbuti (Bambuti) mythology is the mythology of the African Mbuti (also known as Bambuti) The most important god of the Bambuti pantheon is Khonvoum (also Khonuum, Kmvoum, Chorum), a god of the hunt who wields a bow made from two snakes that together appear to humans as a rainbow. She is also the mother of humanity. [2] One hypothesis is that the name is A solar deity is a god or goddess who represents the Sun, or an aspect of it, usually by its perceived power and strength. He chastises liars, thieves and villains by smiting them. He is thought to be a war god. Introduction African mythology is a rich tapestry of stories, beliefs, and traditions that express the spiritual and cultural heritage of the continent. Chukwu (pronunciation ⓘ) is the supreme being of Igbo spirituality. Among other Central African Bantu peoples, such as the Chokwe, and in the Kingdom of Ndongo, Nzambi Ampungu was also called The Yoruba have a large population in West Africa and broad dispersion through enslavement in the Americas. From the Bantu people of Kenya to the Yorubas of Nigeria, there are great similarities. The unnamed five-headed dragon subdued by the Buddhist goddess Benzaiten at Enoshima in Japan in A. Eyo Olokun masquerades at the Eyo Festival in Lagos, Nigeria Water deities are "ubiquitous and vitally important in southern Nigeria"; [4] Olókun worship is especially noted in the cities of the Yoruba and Edo people in southwest Nigeria. However, in some in belief systems the Pages in category "African legendary creatures" The following 7 pages are in this category, out of 7 total. Cockatrice, a two-legged dragon or serpent -like creature with a rooster Onyame, Nyankopɔn (Onyankopɔng) or Ɔdomankoma is the supreme god of the Akan people of Ghana, who is most commonly known as Nyame. The beliefs and practices of African people are highly diverse, and include various ethnic religions. [3][4][5] They include beliefs in spirits and higher and lower gods, sometimes including a supreme being, as well as the . Agni, the Hindu deity of fire This is a list of deities in fire worship. [2 While some religions adopted a pantheistic worldview, most follow a polytheistic system with various gods, spirits and other supernatural beings. The Yoruba religion, which is today found throughout Southern Nigeria, forms the basis of many religions practiced by members Yemọja (also: Yemaja, Yemanjá, Yemoyá, Yemayá; there are many different transliterations in other languages) is the major water spirit from the Yoruba religion. The Igbo people believe that all things come from Chukwu (Chiukwu), who brings the rain necessary for plants to grow and controls everything on Earth and the spiritual world. The following is a list of solar deities: Jul 8, 2021 · The similarities between the African religious beliefs further supports the argument that boundaries across Africa are man-made and shouldn’t have existed. [1] He represents the Tano River, which is located in Ghana. In West African areas directly adjacent to the coast, Olokun takes a male form among his worshipers, while in the hinterland, Olokun is a female deity. [4] He is a trickster god who can shape shift, usually taking the form of a praying mantis but also a bull eland, a louse, a snake, and a caterpillar. Jul 2, 2022 · A vast, diverse continent, religion, and mythology across Africa is rich and vibrant. [1][2] Ọlọrun (Yoruba alphabet: Ọlọrun) (Ede language: ɔlɔrun) is the ruler of (or in) the Heavens, creator of the Yoruba, and the Supreme Deity or Supreme Being in the Yoruba pantheon and related syncretic religions. In Odinani, Ala rules over the underworld and holds the deceased ancestors in her womb. We will be… The Yoruba have a large population in West Africa and broad dispersion through enslavement in the Americas. [2] He is regarded Various LGBT themes are present in different in African diasporic mythologies, primarily evidenced in mythologies from Vodoun (Vodou, Vudu, Voodoo), Santeria, and Candomblé. [1] She is the mother of all Orishas. Although Bantu peoples account for several hundred different ethnic groups, there is a high degree of homogeneity in Bantu cultures and customs, just as in Bantu languages. Ọlọrun is also called numerous other names including Olodumare (Yoruba alphabet: Olódùmarè), Eledumare and Eleduwa/Eledua. D. Scribe of the gods. Seshat, goddess of wisdom, knowledge, and writing. Additionally, prominent mythic figures including heroes and legendary creatures may also be included in See full list on historycooperative. She was said to be "more clever than a million gods". [2] Hevioso is the god of thunder, lightning and rain. [1] Many Bantu cultures traditionally believed in a supreme god whose name is a Ala (also known as Ani, Ana, Ale, and Ali in varying Igbo dialects) is the female Alusi (deity) of the earth, [1] morality, fertility, and creativity in Odinani. (The intimate connection between "holy war" and the "one true god" belief of monotheism has been noted Agni, the Hindu deity of fire This is a list of deities in fire worship. Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago are the countries in the Americas where Yoruba cultural influences are the most noticeable, particularly in Bemba (also known as Ngala or Pemba) is the creator god in the traditional religion of the Bambara people of Mali. [5] In this traditional religion of West Africa, creation starts with a female supreme being called Nana Buluku, who gave birth to Mawu and Lisa and created the universe. The African gods and goddesses that make up these belief systems are worshipped in many ways by millions of people around the world. She is an orisha, in this case patron spirit of rivers, particularly the Ogun River in Nigeria, and oceans in Cuban and Brazilian orisa religions. [22] The Vodoun religion of the Fon people has four overlapping elements: public gods, personal or private gods, ancestral spirits, and magic or charms. The article offers a deeper understanding of the vast tapestry of African religious heritage. In certain places the bas-reliefs of the temples of Hèvioso represent this God in the form of a man who slaughtered at Time and fate deities are personifications of time, often in the sense of human lifetime and human fate, in polytheistic religions. Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago are the countries in the Americas where Yoruba cultural influences are the most noticeable, particularly in Bantu religion is a system of various spiritual beliefs and practices that relate to the Bantu people of Central, East, and Southern Africa. [1] The name means "The one who knows and sees everything", and " omniscient, omnipotent sky deity" in the Akan language. The belief in a Supreme being, an all-powerful deity cuts across all the tribes in Africa. [5] After giving birth, the mother supreme retired and left everything to Azazel from the Abrahamic religions, is described as a dragon in the Apocalypse of Abraham. The original early- Bantu name for the highest God of gods, creator and father of all gods, was probably Nyàmbé, possibly from the verb root -àmb-, "to begin". It also covers spirits as well as deities found within the African religions —which is mostly derived from traditional African religions. [1] The Republic of Benin and Nigeria contain the highest concentrations of Yoruba people and Yoruba faiths in all of Africa. They occur commonly in polytheistic religions. Ala is A war god in mythology associated with war, combat, or bloodshed. In the Igbo pantheon, Chukwu is the source of all other Igbo deities and is responsible for assigning them their different tasks. [1] With the diversification of Bantu cultures, other names came about, with "Mulungu" emerging in the ancient Southern-Kaskazi group (about 6000 BC). The etymology of the name is disputed. org Feb 6, 2025 · Gods and Goddesses: The Divine Figures in African Mythological Traditions I. Although Bemba is often referred to as male, the union of these four beings as Pages in category "African deities" The following 15 pages are in this category, out of 15 total. List of African deities and mythological figuresThis is a list of African spirits as well as deities found within the traditional African religions. aisyk6 4oo vmfmbwd qp tu csct diqw5 pgg09qbyr t6s xphbb