WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AFRICAN GODS

 African Mythology and West African Mythology

Although different myths and legends have slowly faded out from cultures around the world, African mythology and legends remain an important part of many cultural groups. Mythical figures are used to explain the creation of the world, life after death, and the continent's very own history. 

As European colonizers and Christian missionaries began to inhabit Africa, cultural groups like the Bantu people migrated to other regions of Africa. As they migrated and settled in new homelands, they created myths and legends to tell the story of the history of their people. These oral traditions were passed from generation to generation and were often narrated by a designated storyteller called a ''griot''.

The oral traditions told by the griots often included powerful deities and gods, spirits, ancestors, and rulers and heroes. Deities and gods represented the religious beliefs of the group. As Christianity became an influence in Africa, many regions blended historical African deities and gods with Christian beliefs. 

People believed that spirits possess powers that can be used for good or evil and are often associated with environmental and geographical features like thunder and mountains. They believed ancestors are human spirits that exist after death and are still worshipped by their people. 

Rulers and heroes are sometimes transformed into minor deities, as they are seen as people who have done great things for their communities and upheld values that are important to the group.List of African Gods and Goddesses: Names and Significance

The Yoruba, Dogon, and Kuba peoples of Africa worshipped many deities or orishas. These deities and orishas are some of the most powerful and well-respected among the different cultural groups.

Each culture has a different creator god or goddess, which explains the creation of humans and the lands. These deities and orishas rule over various elements and are part of cultural beliefs for example;

AJE SHALUGA

Among the Yoruba people, Ajé Shaluga is the orisha of money and treasures. Ajé Shaluga can present in both male and female form to their followers. Ajé Shaluga is responsible for providing fair wages to their people for work activities and money to cover the needs of Yoruba families. Although they are a minor orisha, Aje Shaluga has a vast following as they are associated with happiness and joy, stability, prosperity, and spiritual wealth. Offer of flowers, fresh fruit, pigeons, and necklaces made of coins and shells are given to Aje Shaluga.

 

BABALU AYE

Babalú Ayé is recognized among the Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin as the ''Healer God''. Babalú Ayé helps heals humans against infections and epidemics which are sometimes caused by his spirit cousin Sakpata, who is known as the plague god. Babalú Ayé is represented as walking on crutches and completely covered to hide his diseased skin. He is also commonly seen having two dogs to help sniff out infections. Followers of Babalú Ayé offer him things like white wine and grains.

 

BUMBA

Bumba, also known as Mbombo, is the creator god of the Kuba people in Central Africa. According to the Kuba people, Bumba vomited into the universe and produced the sun which dried up the water on Earth creating land. Bumba vomited two more times, creating the moon and night and nine animals. 

The nine animals produced more species to live on Earth, and eventually, humans came into creation. Bumba is represented as a giant, white-colored figure that has been ill for millions of years, which explains the use of vomit to create life on Earth.

 

ESHU 

Eshu is commonly known among the Yoruba people of Nigeria as the trickster god who serves as a messenger between heaven and earth. Eshu is said to be a protective and benevolent spirit who needs to receive constant appeasement in order out fulfill his assigned functions. 

Although Eshu serves Ifa, the chief god, in some myths, Eshu often plays tricks on Ifa with one being tricking Ifa out of the secrets of divination and another telling a story of Eshu stealing a yam from the high gods

 

NANA BULUKU

Nana Buluku is primarily found in the Fon religion but is also known among the Yoruba people. Although Nana Buluku did not have a direct role in creation, she is referred to as the supreme goddess and represents motherhood. 

According to Fon mythology, Nana Buluku played an important in the creation of the world as she gave birth to twins Mawu (African moon goddess) and Lisa (African sun god), who joined forces to create the world. Among the Yoruba people, Nana Buluku is regarded as the grandmother of the orishas and represents the ancestral memory of their ethnicity.

 

OBA

Oba is the Yoruba goddess of the river. She is believed to be the daughter of Yemaya and the first wife of Shango. According to Yoruba mythology, Oba gave Shango her ear to eat, which eventually leads to their separation. Distraught, Oba became the Oba River which intersects with the Osun River, named for another wife of Shango. Since the river flows through Iwo, the people of Iwo are often referred to as the children of the Oba River.

 

OBATALA

Known as the sweetest god for their compassion towards humans, Obatala is considered the ''Child of God'' due to their father being the powerful Olorun. Obatala does not identify as male or female. They are described as androgynous. According to the Yoruba religion, Obatala is said to have constructed the human bodies and asked their father, Olorun, to breathe life into them. 

Because of their genderless identity, Obatala is a god for all and values fairness, forgiveness, and compassion. Obatala also values forgiveness and compassion as they once made a mistake and neglected their duties. Obatala was tasked with creating the world but got distracted at a party and could not fulfill their duties. Their brother, Oduduwa, created the world instead.