African mythology

African mythology, while not as well-known as Greek or Norse, is equally fascinating and full of rich stories. This article explores various figures and deities from the mythologies of various African tribes and cultures, from the Dogon and Yoruba, through the Bushmen and Pygmies, to the peoples of Zaire. Readers will learn about creator gods, heroes, spirits, and demons, as well as how these figures influenced the daily and cultural lives of African communities.

African mythology

Dogon

Amma was the Supreme Being, the creator god of the universe and humanity. He was also considered the father of the Nommo twins, who were the progenitors of humanity and the creators of civilization. Amma is the object of worship, overseen by a special caste of sacrificial priests. Sometimes Amma was depicted as an egg, which existed at the beginning of the creation of the world and was the seed from which the cosmos arose.

Andumbulu - little red people, mythical pre-human tribe.

The Pale Fox – A trickster and cult hero in the mythology of the Dogon people of Mali. According to the Dogon creation myth, the creator god Amma forced the fox to bring both order and disorder to the world. The Pale Fox stole seeds from Amma and planted them in the earth that had been his mother. However, this was an act of incest, so the soil dried out and had to be cleansed. Therefore, Amma gave the humans the seeds that hadn't been stolen, and they sowed them themselves. Thus, agriculture began. The Pale Fox was banished from human society and took up residence in the forest. Wherever he went, people followed him, sowing seeds in new fields. Thus, human civilization spread throughout the world. The pawprints left in the sand by the Pale Fox are used for divination. This is said to be his way of communicating with the world.

Ginu - spirits that live under large trees and in animals.

Jurugu - the rebellious child of Amma who committed incest with her own mother, the earth.

Lebé - the ancestor, the first of the Dogon

Nommo – The creator spirit according to the Dogon people of Mali. The myth holds that in the beginning there existed a heavenly being called Amma, an egg that was the seed of the universe. Amma quivered seven times and then burst open, revealing the first Nommo, the creator spirit. He then revealed female twins and, in succession, four more pairs of Nommo. The Nommo created heaven and earth, day and night, the seasons, and human society. Responsible for transmitting the divine word to earth and heaven. They gave humanity laws and taught agriculture and cults.

Nyama – in Dogon beliefs, a force permeating nature, both living and inanimate matter. Among other peoples, this role is played by mungu, mulungu, etc.

Yeban - spirits with a large head and short limbs, living in the lower world, the entrance to which led through caves.

Yoruba Adya Ganti - in Yoruba mythology, a deity and Great Sorcerer, guardian of the cult, grandfather of Shango.

Aganju - god of the uninhabited land, father of Orangana, husband of Yemaji.

Edszu - divine messenger.

Eshu – a trickster god in Yoruba religion. A cultural hero (he gave the Ifa oracle), but also a trickster and instigator of strife. He was described as a mobile being inhabiting the vestibules of houses, crossroads, marketplaces, and other places frequently visited by people. He is said to be present at every change or exchange. He is also a link between people and heaven. In Afro-Christian religions, he was identified with the devil. He was very popular in folklore and contemporary drama.

Jemodia, Jemaja - mother of Shango.

Obatala is the creator god in Yoruba belief. He is considered the ancestor and head of all deities, known as orishas. According to legend, he created the world in four days. Obatala embodies peace and harmony in the world.

Obatalla, Ibatalla - goddess of the earth.

Odudua - goddess of the earth.

Olokun - god of the sea.

Olufan - god of the sky.

Orunmila – god of oracles (Ifa) and salvation. An omniscient deity who reveals himself through oracles. He knows the languages of all creatures and people. He was revered as the patron of divination. He was considered the eldest son of Olorun.

Orisha - in the beliefs of the Yoruba (Nigeria), Orisha was the collective name of deities, the more important of which have cult centers with priests, there are groups of their followers, special hymns of praise are sung (so-called oriki), etc. The most popular Orishas include: Obatala - a god sent from heaven by Olorun to create the world, Orunmila - the god of the Ifa oracle, patron of divination, Ogun - the god of iron, blacksmithing, and also war, and a deity named Shango.

Osh - god of the Moon.

Oya - lagoon, wife of Shango.

Shango, Shango – god of storms and lightning. A civilizing god and great sorcerer. He taught people bronze casting, the great art of the Yoruba. Also an important god in Brazilian macumba. He was renowned for his magical abilities and his valor. He ruled harshly, which led to his overthrow, after which he supposedly hanged himself from a tree. He then ascended to heaven and became the god of rain and thunder. Depictions depict him riding a two-headed bull, a symbol of lightning. His wife, Oja, was a lake that, after Shango's death, became the Niger River.

Shankpanna - god of chickenpox.

Bambara

Faro - one of the demiurges, lord of past and future waters, giver of life, speech, laws, and religion. Guardian of order in the universe, civilizing god; one of the two primordial creator spirits who, according to the Bambara people of West Africa, arose at the beginning of creation. When the twin creative forces (Gla and Dya) emerged from nothingness (Fu), Faro shaped the sky, while the spirit Pemba shaped the earth. Then they established the four fundamental directions of the compass. Life appeared on earth, so Faro descended to earth and gave birth to twins in the desert. Then the first grass grew, the first waters gushed forth, and in them appeared the first fish, which led Faro and his children to the sea. Once there, Faro brought all aquatic creatures into being. Faro created every object and creature on earth and gave them all their names. He introduced night and day, the seasons, and established order among living beings. He defined all the medicinal and ceremonial uses of plants. He also established order among mankind, giving them names and designating tribes and races. Then he returned to heaven.

Fu - in the mythology of the Bambara people of West Africa, Fu is the primordial void. The creation of the world is said to have begun with the emergence of Gla from Fu.

Gla - "The Wise One." The first thing that, according to the creation myth of the Bambara people of West Africa, emerged from Fu, the primordial void. Gal was the primordial creative force. It was said to emit the "Voice of the Void," from which its twin, Dya, emerged. From Gla and Dya sprang moist matter, like cold rust, which hardened into icy, gleaming objects that in turn filled the primordial void. The twin beings roamed their vast realm, causing a fiery wind to melt the icy bodies. In this melting, all things, silent and invisible, gained potential power. Gla and Dya withdrew their energy within themselves, and everything solidified again. Then they melted everything once more. After two further meltings, Gla established the movement that is the soul of the universe. At the same time, the contact of the two twin beings caused a cosmic explosion, during which hard, vibrating matter was precipitated. As a result of its vibrations, the symbols and names of things not yet created emerged, one after another, each of which, in its proper place, began to gently vibrate within itself. Gla then created the "foot of humanity," a symbol of human consciousness.

Pemba - one of the demiurges to whom the world owes its first order, defeated by Pharaoh.

Sumangolo - an old man who sailed across all the waters of the world.

Fans

Legba - the trickster god, divine messenger.

Meber - the creator who made man from clay, in the beginning was a lizard placed by the creator in the water, and on the eighth day the man came to the shore and said to the creator: thank you!

Nzalan - angry spirit.

Nkwa - one of the figures of the creator god.

Nzame – one of the trinity, along with Meber and Nkwa. In the beginning, Nzame created the sky and earth and claimed the heavens for himself. Then he created the sun, moon, stars, animals, and plants. Meber and Nkwa made an elephant the leader of the animals, and together with Nzame, they created a man similar to themselves. One gave the man strength, the second power, and the third beauty, and they named him Fan – meaning strength. Then they rose to the mountain where they lived. The man left behind became proud and stopped worshipping Nzame. Then he summoned Nzalan – lightning and heavenly fire engulfed the forest, and everything turned to ash. Fan did not die, but it is unknown what he turned into. Then the three gods placed new earth on the coal layer, and a tree grew, from whose leaves (depending on where they fell) came land and water animals. Then they made the man Sekume again and turned his head so that he would see death. Nzame instructed Sekume to create a woman from the tree, who was named Mbongwe. Sekume and Mbongwe were composed of the body of Gnoul, inhabited by an inner part called Nsissim. Nsissim causes shadow and makes Gnoul live; it is this shadow that departs when a person dies. Nsissim resides in the eye. Sekume and Mbongwe had three sons: Nkure, the malicious one, Sekale, the one who doesn't think, and Mefere, the good one. Mefere is the father of the Fan tribe. God imprisoned Fan, the first man, underground, but the evil Fan long carved the rock and emerged, doing all sorts of evil to mankind. Evil people, upon hearing the death bird Ngofio, become thin and die. Nzame imprisoned them in Otolan, where poverty and misfortune await them.

Bushmen and Pygmies

Dxui – the creator being of the San (Bushmen) people of southwest Africa. One version of the myth tells how on the first and second days of creation, after sunrise, Dxui was a flower and at night a man. On the third day, he was a tree with fruit, and after sunset, a man again. The next day, he became a tree with fruit hidden among the thorns. When the first woman appeared, she tried to pick the fruit. The tree disappeared, and the woman fell to the ground, crying, and died. Dxui then became a fly, water, a flower, a bird, and then a snare maker and bird eater. Soon, he became a human again, but other people hunted him. He became a large bird and flew back to his parents. When his father recognized him, Dxui became a human again. After his death, Dxui became a lizard, which is said to be the oldest animal in the world.

Gaolna - Hishe, Huwe - a hero with superhuman powers, created the earth, the storm and the sun - that is, death, the moon, the stars and the wind and moved them.

Gauwasi - spirits of the dead serving the great and small god, also their messengers.

Gawi - "little god", lives in heaven.

Gu/e, Gule - created his wife and children and the forces of O/a. He can live anywhere. Creator of the earth and humanity. God - civilizer, taught people to make weapons to obtain food and cure diseases, and established rules of food taboo.

Khmwum - the creator god, guardian of the forest, dreamed of by the Pygmies in the form of an elephant.

Fang - a wild god, untamed, leading the life of a hunter.

Limdimi - a forest spirit that gathers selected people for secret séances.

Mupe and Uti - the first people, ancestors of the Pygmies.

Ngombe - creator god.

Toks - in Pygmy mythology, a spirit that controls a hurricane and a cave of the spirits of the dead.

Tore - god of death.

Forest - the creator god.

Other gods of African mythology

Boa - the creator god and rain god of Sara.

Bumba - the creator god of the Bushongo.

Chang'o - goddess, "likes" sweets.

Jok - in the mythical beliefs of the Shilluk (Sudan), Jok is the Supreme Being, the creator of the universe and all people. Jok dwells alternately in heaven and the land of the dead. In the cult, he plays no significant role; the object of divine veneration for Jok in Shilluk beliefs is Nyikang, considered a descendant of Jok and the progenitor of the royal line.

Gu – According to the traditions of the Fon people of Benin, Gu was a divine blacksmith, a culture hero, and the son of the twin creator deities Mawu and Lisa. Lisa, the male twin, took Gu to Earth and entrusted him with the task of helping mankind. He taught humans the art of ironmaking and toolmaking so they could cultivate the land, build houses, and make clothing.

Gulu - the king of heaven in Ganda.

Ifa – the West African god of order and restraint, who was sent to Earth to teach mankind the secrets of medical knowledge and prophecy. Ifa often appears in myths as the companion and opposite of the trickster god Eshu, who seeks to disrupt the proper order of things. Before embarking on any endeavor, it is customary to offer sacrifices to the god Ifa, but the first bite of the offering always belongs to the god Eshu to ensure a successful outcome. Ifa is said to have established the oracle of his name, a system of divination that is widespread in Africa.

Kinte – king of the Ganda tribe in ancient times. According to legend, he was a messenger from heaven who came to transform the lives of the people and teach them numerous skills.

Mboom, according to the Kuba people of Zaire, was a creator god and one of the first two gods. Mboom and his divine companion, Ngaan, created a world that was dark and covered with water. Each became king of half the earth, but one day they fell out and abandoned the world. Ngaan went underwater, and Mboom went to the sky. There, he vomited up the sun, moon, and stars. The sun dried up the earth, and the land appeared. Mboom then vomited up animals and humans to inhabit the land. The first human being was Woot, the royal ancestor of the Kuba people.

Ngaan – according to the beliefs of the Kuba people of Zaire, one of the first two gods. Ngaan and his divine companion, Mboom, created a world that was dark and covered with water. Each became king of half the earth, but one day they fell out and abandoned the world. Ngaan went underwater, while Mboom went to the sky. There, he vomited up the sun, moon, and stars. The sun dried up the earth, and the land appeared. Mboom then vomited up animals and humans to inhabit the land. The first human being was Woot, the royal ancestor of the Kuba people.

Ngame - African moon goddess, next to her was usually depicted a hunchbacked flute player who was the herald of the African queen mother, who is said to have descended from Ngame.

Nimba - the incarnation of the Baga fertility goddess.

Njame – in the beliefs of the Ashanti (tribes inhabiting the area of present-day Ghana), Njame was the Supreme Being, creator of the universe and humanity. A mother goddess. In Njame's cult, he replaced a deity who appeared somewhat earlier – the mother goddess of the Moon, also named Njame. There are temples dedicated to Njame, served by special priests. Until recently, every family maintaining the tradition offered sacrifices to him at the home altar.

Oronjang - Orygan - the divine father of Shango.

Suku - the creator god of the Owimbundu.

Tilo - the creator god of Bathong.

Zin - Songhai deities of earth and water. Evil and good invisible beings ruling the forces of nature.

Zoa - the mythical founder of Songhai.

Ghosts, monsters, animals

Bintu – according to the mythology of the Western Sahara region, this was a divine antelope. The first blacksmith in heaven fashioned a hoe from Bintu's skull and descended to earth with it to teach humanity the art of agriculture. Celestial antelopes are often associated with the discovery of agriculture in the African Sahara.

Chaminuka - the spirit incarnated in the rainmaker Tsuro of Mashona.

Chinawezi – in southern and central Africa, this was the name given to the primordial cosmic serpent, common in African mythology. In the beginning, Chinawezi (also known as Chinaweji), the mother of all things, shared the world with her husband, Nkuba (meaning "Thunderbolt"). Nkuba settled in the sky with the celestial bodies, and his urine became life-giving rain. Chinawezi ruled the earth and the waters. It was said that when lightning thundered, she responded by causing the rivers to overflow. Eventually, Chinawezi gave birth to a daughter, Nawezi, and a son, Konde. These offspring married and had three children.

The mantis is an insect that often appears in mythology as a playful and cunning hero. Both roles are evident in the origin myth of fire according to the Khoisan people of southwest Africa. Initially, fire was held by an ostrich under its wing. The mantis persuaded the ostrich to reach for the fruit growing at the top of a tall plum tree. When the ostrich spread its wings to maintain balance, the mantis stole the fire. The Khoisan people also hold that it was the mantis who first gave names to all things.

Minia – a cosmic serpent in North African mythology. A widespread legend in the Sahara and Sahel holds that Minia was the first creature created by the divine creator. This serpent's head reached heaven, and its tail plunged into the waters beneath the earth. Its body was divided into seven sections. God used these sections to shape the world and create all life.

N'gungundu - in the beliefs of the Zairian tribes, demons trying to find a habitat in the hearts of children.

Tolo - in Zairian beliefs, demons who try to find a habitat in the hearts of children.

Other characters

Abuk—the first woman, who, according to the Dinka people of southern Sudan, was responsible for the appearance of death and disease on earth. Initially, the Great God allowed Garang, the first man, and Abuk, his wife, to sow one grain of millet a day, which satisfied all their needs. But one day, driven by greed, Abuk decided to sow more. In doing so, she stubbed the Great God's toe, angering him so much that he distanced himself from humanity and severed the cord connecting heaven and earth. Since then, humans have been forced to work hard to obtain food and are exposed to disease and death.

Anansi was an African folk hero and trickster (meaning a trickster, a rogue) who frequently appears in the myths and folklore of the Akan people (who inhabited the area of present-day Ghana). Anansi was most often depicted as a spider. He was renowned for his wisdom and cunning.

Chibinda Ilunga was a prince of the Luba-Lunda people in present-day southeastern Zaire and southeastern Angola. Chibinda Ilunga was the grandson of Mbidi Kiluwe, ancestor of the Luba kings. His face was said to be white and gleaming like the moon. He left the Luba kingdom after the king, jealous of his hunting prowess, insulted him by claiming that Chibinda Ilunga had never fought in war. One day, he met Lueji in the forest. Lueji was the queen of Lunda and granddaughter of the primordial serpent Chinawezi. She asked the charming foreigner to stay with her. After some time, they married, and Lueji informed the Lunda elders that she was leaving her position and that Chibinda Ilunga would henceforth rule in her palace. After presenting her husband with a bracelet symbolizing power, Lueji experienced an unusually long menstrual period. The constant flow of blood from her meant she would never be able to bear children. Eventually, Chibinda Ilunga was given a wife by Lueja, named Kamonga, who was fertile.

Chitimukulu was the first king of the Bemba people in Zambia. According to the Bemba origin myth, Chitimukulu and his two brothers attempted to build a tall tower in their parents' royal village. However, the tower collapsed, killing many people, and the father sentenced his sons to death. However, three brothers managed to escape to present-day Zambia. It was here that Chitimukulu founded the Bemba kingdom

Elegba - the name given by the people of Benin to a popular trickster character in West Africa, known among the Yoruba tribes as the trickster Eszu.

Garang – according to the beliefs of the Dinka people of southern Sudan, Garang was the first man. He was the husband of Abuk, the first woman who brought disease and death to the earth. Initially, the Great God allowed Garang and Abuk to sow one grain of millet a day, which satisfied all their needs. But one day, driven by greed, Abuk decided to sow more. In doing so, she stubbed the Great God's toe, angering him so much that he distanced himself from humanity and severed the cord connecting heaven and earth.

Kalala Ilunga – a semi-historical heroic king in the mythology of the Luba people of Zaire. A prince named Mbidi Kiluwe once traveled west to hunt in the land of Nkongolo, belonging to the great Rainbow King. Nkongolo was very hospitable and allowed Mbidi to sleep with his twin sisters, Bulanda and Mabela. Both sisters became pregnant. Bulanda gave birth to a son named Kalala Ilunga, and Mabela gave birth to a boy and a girl. Nkongolo recognized Kalala as his son, but after a quarrel between them, Mbidi let Kalala go. Kalala became the best dancer and runner in the kingdom, so Nkongolo's jealous son decided to kill him. He ordered a hidden pit filled with sharpened poles to be prepared beneath the dance ground and invited Kalala to compete in the dance. Kahia, who played the drum for Kalala, warned him of the danger, and Kalala fled across the Lualaba River to his real father's land, pursued by Nkongolo and his men. Mbidi gave him a warm welcome and provided him with an army to defeat Nkongolo, who fled west with Bulanda and Mabela to Mount Kaii. But his sisters betrayed his hiding place to Kalala's men, who beheaded him. Kalala Ilunga became king and founded the second Luba Empire, which encompasses present-day southeastern Zaire.

Kigwa – the ancestor of the kings of Rwanda. The supreme lord of heaven, Piorun Nkuba, had a barren wife. One day, she killed one of her husband's cows and hid its heart in a vessel. For nine months, she carefully nourished the heart with milk until it transformed into a male infant. This son, named Kigwa, grew up in heaven and eventually fell to earth. He had a son, Gihanga, who invented the first metal tools and weapons and became the first king of Rwanda.

Kintu – According to the Ganda people of Uganda, Kintu was an ancient hero, founder of the royal dynasty of Buganda. Kintu, a foreigner, journeyed to heaven in search of a wife. The Supreme God gave him his daughter Nambi in marriage and ordered Kintu to hasten on her return journey, lest her brother Walumbe ("Death") come with them. They set off immediately, but Nambi remembered she hadn't brought any grain to feed her chickens. Despite Kintu's pleas, she insisted he let her return for it, and when she returned to her husband, Death followed close behind. She accompanied them home and dwelt with them on earth. From then on, all people must face death.

Lueji - the legendary queen of the Luanda people, descendant of the eternal serpent Chinawezi and wife of the hero Chibinda Ilunga.

Mbidi Kiluwe - prince, father of a hero named Kalala Ilunga.

Mweel - sister and wife of Woot, the mythical ancestor of the Kuba kings and the people of southeastern Zaire. Woot and Mweel had sexual intercourse, the fruit of which was Nyimi Lele, ancestor of the neighboring Lele people.

Mwetsi - "Moon." The first human, according to the creation mythology of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. The supreme god Mwari created Mwetsi, who initially lived beneath the waters. He then ascended to the earth to inhabit it, but the land was desert, so he began to lament. Mwari sent him his wife, the Morning Star, who gave birth to all the trees and plants on the earth. Mwetsi and the Pole Star built a house, made tools, and began to cultivate the land. After two years, Mwari took the Pole Star and replaced it with his second wife, the Evening Star, and warned Mwetsi of impending doom. That night, Mwetsi and the Evening Star had intercourse, and the woman gave birth to kittens, sheep, cattle, chickens, and antelopes, and then to boys and girls, who, in a single day, became adults. On the fourth day of their life together, the Evening Star warned Mwetsi that his life was in danger, but he continued to mate with her, resulting in the birth of lions, leopards, scorpions, and snakes. However, in the evening, she refused to make love and suggested that he have intercourse with his daughters. Mwetsi followed her advice and mated with his daughters, who gave birth to children the next day. These, too, grew up within a day. Thus, Mwetsi became king of a large nation. However, the Evening Star betrayed him with a snake and became barren. The snake bit Mwetsi, who fell ill from its venom. As Mwetsi's health declined, so did the land: the rains stopped, the rivers and lakes dried up, and death decimated the nation. To put an end to this, Mwetsi's children strangled him and elected a new king. This myth likely served to justify the ritual murder of Mambo, king of Monomotapa in medieval Zimbabwe. To ensure the country's continued prosperity, Mambo could not be allowed to die, so after four years of rule, he was murdered and a new king elected.

2

Nambi – according to the beliefs of the Ganda people of Uganda, a woman responsible for the appearance of death on earth. She was the daughter of the supreme god, who gave her in marriage to the hero Kintu, the founder of the royal dynasty of Buganda. Kintu, a foreigner, went to heaven in search of a wife. The Supreme God gave him his daughter Nambi in marriage and ordered Kintu to hasten on her return journey, lest her brother Walumbe ("Death") go with them. They set off immediately, but Nambi remembered that she had not brought grain to feed her chickens. Despite Kintu's pleas, she insisted that he allow her to return for it, and when she returned to her husband, Death followed close behind. She accompanied them home and lived with them on earth. From then on, all people must face death.

Nkongolo - "The Rainbow King." A despotic king from the mythology of the region encompassing the savannahs of Central Africa. Nkongolo had sexual relations with his two sisters, Mabela and Bulanda, indulged in drunkenness, and was cruel. He cut off the ears, noses, hands, and breasts of those who offended him. He was a passionate builder, so he ordered the construction of a tall tower from which he hoped to reach heaven and gain immortality. Unfortunately, the tower collapsed, killing many people. One day, a prince named Mbidi Kiluwe traveled west to hunt in Nkongolo's land. Nkongolo was very hospitable and allowed Mbidi to sleep with his twin sisters, Bulanda and Mabela. Both sisters became pregnant. Bulanda gave birth to a son named Kalala Ilunga, and Mabela gave birth to a boy and a girl. Nkongolo recognized Kalala as his son, but after a quarrel broke out between them, Mbidi let Kalala go. Kalala became the best dancer and runner in the kingdom, so Nkongolo's jealous son decided to kill him