NIGERIAN HISTORY: The Forgotten Gods of Igbo Culture
There are more than 100 gods, both small and big, in Igbo Culture, but for some reason, most people don't know anything about them, except probably for one.
I think colonialism and the entrance of Christianity are to blame because they made us forget our roots as Africans. But that's a narrative we must work hard to change.
Out of the over 100 gods we have, I will be talking about the nine strongest and most popular Igbo gods (Alusi)
1) Ala:
..also known as ani, ana & ale in numerous dialects, is a female god representing the earth, fertility, creativity, and morality. She is the most respected god in Igboland.
She is considered the wife of Amadioha, the skygod, and commands authority in Igbo land. The symbol of the ala is a python & crescent moon
2) Amadioha:
This is the most popular god in Igboland, and he is the god of thunder & lightning. He is the strongest of all.
He is considered a gentleman among the deities and the cruelest when annoyed.
Amadioha represents the collective will of the people. A white ram represents him, and his color is red. He is still one of the most feared gods in Igbo land to this day.
His shrine can be found in rivers state, Nigeria.
3) Ikenga:
This is the god of strength and war, as its name means "place of strength." It is a horned deity and is one of the most powerful and respected gods in Igboland.
The Ikenga can is given a title to men of good reputation, wealth, and integrity.
4) Agwu Nsi:
This is the god of health and divination. This god is one of the basic theological concepts used to explain good and evil, health and sickness, poverty, and wealth in Igbo land.
Belief in the deity was widespread, with most villages having some agwu priests, who also doubled as physicians in the land.
5) Igwekala:
This is the name of a famous god, which visited every four years as a masquerade around the December period.
It is a feared and respected deity in Igbo land, as no one can come close to it once it enters the community.
Its shrine can be found in Umunoha, a town in Imo state near the city of Owerri.
6) Anyanwu:
This is the goddess of the sun. As is done in almost all ancient religions and traditions, there is always a deity in respect of the sun.
It is revered as the goddess that promotes productivity, hard work, and the overall positive well-being of the people.
The Igbo kept this deity in high esteem. That's why many households took the name to be their surname.
7) Njoku Ji
This is the guardian deity of yam in Igboland. (Yes, yams 😂)
In many parts of Igbo land, people did rituals in honor of the goddess of yams, known as ifejioku.
She is prayed to for productivity during the farming season.
Children who were dedicated to this goddess were called Njoku and were expected to be prosperous in life
8) Idemmili:
The goddess of the ocean & the seas. It is believed to have found the Idemmili community in Anambra state.
Its shrine can be found in that community and is one of the oldest shrines in Igbo land.
It is a secret shine & the worship of pythons (eke) goes on there. Hence the killing of pythons in that area is forbidden.
9) Ogbunabali:
I don't think this list will be complete without a god of death.
Meaning "the one that kills at night," he is known as the death deity.
His victims are said to be criminals and those who have committed abominations in the land, and he is known to kill violently.
There is more information on their rituals, mode of participation and rules guiding each of these gods that we can’t talk about.
By the way, we Africans need to embrace our cultures even if we can't practice them. We should learn our history to tell it without adulteration to the world and to new generations to come.
Ps. I have started a series on Yoruba Mythology and culture, and you can check out my first article in the series titled; "Orishas of the Yoruba Religion." Read it here
