Before the advent of colonialism and the vicarious arrival of the new religions on the African continent, the African deities helped shape the integral part of the African culture and life revolved around them. Though there has been a tremendous decline, In the worship and allegiance to these deities over time, their contributions to the construction of the African history and identity cannot be overlooked. On today's episode of Feed Your Mind, we will list some of these deities and the vital roles they played in the formation of the African cultural identity.
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Number 1 on our list is Obatala from the Yoruba mythology. He is the primordial god of the sky and the heavens. He is known as the father of the gods, one of the oldest orishes, and the creator of mankind. According to the Yoruba mythology, he was tasked with creating the earth.
but was overtaken by his younger brother due to drunkenness. He was later told to create man instead as punishment. Obatala is depicted as a symbol of strength, purity, wisdom, peace, and compassion. Number 2 on our list is the god of time. Ikainga, one of the oldest primordial gods, Popular among the Igbo tribe of eastern Nigeria, he is identified as a two-faced god, of which one part of the face looks at the past, while the second face looks at the present and future.
According to the Igbo mythology, Ikainga is described as a good spirit that is attributed with every successful endeavors in a man's life. Number 3 on our list is the god of war, Kebuka. Popular with the Bangada tribe of Uganda, according to legend, he was sent by his brother to aid the king of Nekobinj in times of war. He possessed exceptional superhuman strength, stamina and endurance, and would often disguise himself as a dark cloud raining spears on his enemies. Number 4 on our list is Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead and the afterlife, depicted as a masculine man, with the head of a black jackal.
According to them, Anubis was responsible for judging the hearts of the dead, and deciding whether they can pass into eternal bliss or eternal suffering. 5 on our list is the river goddess Abina, also referred to as Abinabudu. She was wildly worshipped among the Ifuta tribe in the central region of Ghana, and is said to be a caring and a protective deity, mostly to her worshippers.
According to them, Abina is commonly associated with wealth and riches. Number 6 on our list is Shango. Shango is known from the West African mythology Particularly among the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, he is the son of Yemeja, the mother goddess, and is one of the most popular and revered deities, both in Africa and Brazil.
He is the god of vengeance, protection, and also the god of thunder and lightning. His symbol is a double-headed axe. Number 7 on our list today is Osun.
She is the river goddess associated with purity, sexuality, and fertility, and is known for taking care of the needs of her people. According to the Yoruba mythology, Osun is the wife of Shango. Number 8 on our list is Aja.
One of the primordial goddesses of the Yoruba mythology, she was known as one of the orishas, a spirit of the forest. According to them, Aja holds the secrets of the healing herbs that she passed on to her children. to her followers who still practice her craft to this day. Number 9 on our list is Unkalunkaloo, commonly known among the Southern African Zulu tribe.
According to them, Unkalunkaloo is the highest god and also the creator of humanity. He is the source and symbol of power, knowledge and wisdom. Number 10 on our list is Amadioha. Popular among the Igbo tribe of eastern Nigeria, he is the supreme god of justice and equity and is known to command and control lightning bolt and thunder at his will. His symbol is a white ram.
Number 11 on our list is Oya. She was the primordial goddess of wind, death, storm, lightning, violence, and rebirth. Oya was referred to as the Mother of the Nine and Queen of the Niger River. She was known to have given birth to nine stillborn children.
And according to legend, Oya got rid of the plague of infertility and barrenness by making a sacrifice from clothes mixed with the colors of the rainbow. Number 12 on our list is the sun god of the Egyptian mythology, Amon-Ra. He is the king and father of the gods, and was worshipped both in Egypt and other parts of North Africa. He is said to be the raw representation of the power of the sun.
And according to legend, Ra was charged with the primary responsibility of eliminating the Apophis, an evil serpent god who was bent on devouring the sun. Ra Ra was to face this entity every single night for all eternity. Number 13 on our list is the god of war, iron, and metal, Agun. He comes from the Yoruba mythology and is associated with creativity, war, truth, and justice.
According to them, a gun has the ability to kill and also bring life. He is also known for his rage and short temper and if left unchecked, can lead to destruction and chaos. Number 14 on our list for today is Nanabaluku. She is the primordial goddess of creation and is popular among the Fon tribe in West Africa.
According to them, Nana Baluku is the mother goddess who gave birth to the moon spirit and named it Mawu. She also gave birth to the sun spirit and named it Lisa. She then went ahead to create the universe, and when she was done, she retired and left the world in the hands of Mawu and Lisa.
Number 15, and final deity on our list for today, is Allah. Also referred to as, Anna, El, Ali and Ani. According to the Igbo mythology, Alla is the goddess of the earth, morality, fertility, creativity, and death.
She is described as the sole ruler of the underworld, and according to legend, she was known to hold the souls of the dead in her womb. If you enjoyed this video, make sure you click on the subscribe button, like, and share, and other to get notified for more amazing videos like this. Thanks.