INTRODUCTION
Traditional African belief is overwhelmingly monotheistic. There may be spirits and ancestors floating around, but there's only one God. Early missionaries made a complete pig's ear of their research in this respect and seem to have delighted in cataloging as many 'heathen' Gods as they could possibly get away with.
African Creator Gods seem to follow a distinctive pattern — they are all extremely dissatisfied with their creations. There is much shaking of heads, turning away in sorrow and avoidance of contact. The humans are left to fend for themselves. Attempts to regain contact with their God by building a heavenly ladder are the subject of many an unhappy legend. On the whole, African Gods don't like to be pestered, and humans have to learn to be content with their lot.
But while God sits in Heaven wringing his hands in despair, the ancestral spirits are very willing to take an active part in Earthly life. These are mostly into hunting and other practical subjects - with food, sex and booze as popular as always.
There is a remarkable innocence about the Gods of Africa. They seem naive and unworldly, believing the best of everyone and optimistically giving the benefit of the doubt to all and sundry. No wonder they are rudely disappointed when it turns out their badly-chosen favorites are up to no good.
Even communicating with their creation is full of problems. Vital messages of life and death are entrusted to whichever farmyard animal happens to be passing, and the resulting garble is likely to have profoundly unforeseen — and usually disastrous — consequences

REGIONS COVERED: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kilimanjaro, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Savannah, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Transvaal, Tunisia, Uganda, Upper Nile, Upper Zambesi, West Africa, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

SHANGO (African Storm God)

Nicely syncopated Spirit of Thunder, Drums and Dance

He was long ago elevated to the ORISHAS after a glorious career as fourth King and warrior hero of the Yoruba. Now he bangs the drum for his people and plays rolling rhythms on his storm clouds.
When thunder is heard, you should salute him by crying ‘Cabio Sile Shango’, or words to that effect.
SHANGO leads a full red-blooded life and likes to party. He is in great demand as a drummer and his dancing talents cause severe outbreaks of funkiness wherever perpetrated.
His special Feast Day is 4th of December and during this time he has a piper employed to play all the latest hits. His special number is six, and his favorite colors are red and white. He likes animals, particularly dogs. He also favors roosters and turtles, although we think these are more for eating than companionship. If you invite him to a feast you will need to stock up on bananas, apples, cornmeal, okra, red wine and rum.
Very much the ladies man, SHANGO does have a relationship with OYA which can at times get pretty tempestuous. He does not get on well with his brother OGUN and is not averse to a good punch-up. But on the whole he’s a great God to have on your side as he is loyal, protective and — as far as we’re concerned — extremely groovy

SHANGO FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : SHANGO
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : CHANGO, XANGO
Area or people : Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin
Location : Africa
Gender : Male
Type : deity
In charge of : Storms
God of : Storms
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index : 121376


BUMBA


Mighty Creator God of Vomit
From the Bushongo in the Congo comes BUMBA, the African Creator God of Vomit. Yes, vomit.
In the beginning, all was dark. Then out of the darkness came BUMBA, a giant pale-skinned figure. He was not feeling well. In fact he had not been feeling well for millions of years. He was lonely, and the unbearable solitude was making him ill.
Troubled by a ballooning bellyache, he staggered, moaned and vomited up the Sun. Light burst forth into the Universe — and he choked out the Moon. The stars came next and then, with a tremendous effort, he threw up the planet Earth. We do live in a very sick world.
This nauseating display was brought to a triumphant conclusion when, as an encore, he vomited forth nine animals, an assortment of humans, and a pile of diced carrots.
exhausted from his labors, he sat and watched as the nine creatures multiplied. After a while, they had evolved into every living thing on Earth. Which just shows that Creationism and Evolution are both right.
Apart from a pesky critter named TSETSE-BUMBA, all his creatures were friendly and respectful. His loneliness abated and finally he was content.
Then BUMBA’s three sons appeared. NYONYE-NGANA, CHONGANDA and CHEDI-BUMBA added the finishing touches and thus the world was made. BUMBA spoke kindly to his human creations before ascending to Heaven, never to be seen again. So far as we know, his stomach has never troubled him since.

BUMBA FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : BUMBA
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : MBOMBO, MBONGO
Area or people : Bushongo people of the Congo
Location : Africa
Gender : Male
Type : deity
In charge of : Creating
God of : Creation
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GREAT, really beneficial
Popularity index : 72641



OBATALA (African Purity God)
Also known as OBÀTÁLÁ, OBATALÁ, OLUFON, ORISALA, ORISHALA, ORISHA-NLA, ORISHA-POPO, ORISANLA, OSHANLA
White Cloth God and drunken creator of the human race
He is a high-ranking spirit among the ORISHAS, but in the old days he did like a drink or two. Not a good thing when you have a holy mission to perform.
His father, the supreme sky god OLORUN, gave him the mighty task of building the Earth. Unfortunately, on his way to perform this important job, OBATALA ‘accidentally’ gatecrashed a Godparty and spent the rest of the evening roaring drunk on palm wine.
Meanwhile, little sibling ODUDUWA spotted an opportunity. Why should big brother get all the fame and glory? So he stole the holy building materials and did a little planet-constructing behind his back. As you can see if you look around you, he did a pretty good job.
Chief architect and supreme deity OLORUN was so pleased with ODUDUWA’s efforts that he promoted him to God of the Earth. The drunken sop OBATALA was ridiculed, chastised and punished with a tedious punishment — he was put to work making men and women.
If you ever wondered why humans aren’t quite as perfect as they should be, here’s the answer: our Holy Maker was drunk at the time. Since that day, every deformity or disability to afflict mankind has been blamed on his fumbling alcoholic fingers.
OBATALA eventually learned the error of his ways and went very firmly on the wagon. OLORUN accepted his apologies and gave him dominion over the mortals he’d created. But only the heads. (You may think your head belongs to you, but it doesn’t. It is only on loan. In reality it belongs to an immortal ex-alcoholic demi-deity from Africa.)
With an amazing transformation he reinvented himself as the Great White God, a shining figure in resplendent white cloth. Far from encouraging alcoholic excess and bleary-eyed drunken confusion, he now promotes purity, clean living and clarity of thought. We just hope those impressive gleaming robes do not conceal a hip flask.
As top spiritual entity of the ORISHAS with roles covering fertility, childbirth and fortune, he is now enthusiastically venerated all over the world, from Africa to Brazil. He has even been remixed by Catholicism, which is always keen to borrow other people’s gods — especially ones so shiny and white as him.
OBATALA’s wife is YEMAYA. What a roller-coaster marriage she’s had.
OBATALA FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : OBATALA
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : OBÀTÁLÁ, OBATALÁ, OLUFON, ORISALA, ORISHALA, ORISHA-NLA, ORISHA-POPO, ORISANLA, OSHANLA
Area or people : Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin
Location : Africa
Gender : Male
Type : deity
In charge of : Purification
God of : Purity
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index : 64704


ORISHAS

African Multi-talented Spirits
Also known as ORISAS, ORIXAS, ORISA, ORIXA, ORISHA
Famous Yoruba spirits of almost everything
These are highly important beings of an esteemed nature. ORISHAS are not quite gods — think of them as a spirit cocktail with a slice of saint and a tiny dash of divinity for flavor.
At the last count there seem to be at least 1,700, from the highly obscure to the extremely infamous. Some ORISHAS are worshipped as gods in their own right and they include top names such as BABALU-AYE, ELEGUA, OBATALA, OCHOSI, OGUN, OYA, SHANGO and YEMAYA.
There was a time when they conducted a power struggle against OLORUN and tried to persuade him to abdicate for sixteen years. Unwilling to give up control of the Universe to lesser deities, he offered them a trial period of sixteen days.
Within eight days the whole Universe had ground to a halt. They consulted the oracle ORUNMILA who could give no answer. So they had to eat humble pie, confess they didn’t have a clue about running Universes and ask for pardon.
Being a really great sort of God, OLORUN was nice as pie about it, and soon returned the world to order. The ORISHAS became his humble but devoted servants for evermore.
If there is a moral to this story we suppose it is: ‘Sometimes it is more cruel to be kind.’
The ORISHAS are now highly thought of and are worshipped in places as far away as the West Indies. See our entry on ORICHAS for the Caribbean slant.
ORISHAS FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : ORISHAS
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : ORISAS, ORIXAS, ORISA, ORIXA, ORISHA
Area or people : Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin
Location : Africa
Gender : Both male and female
Type : spiritual being
In charge of : Many Things
God of : Many Things
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index : 64622


ELEGUA African Trickster God
Trickster God of Crossroads, Beginnings and Opportunities
He’s the guardian of the Crossroads of Life. Whenever there are decisions to be made, he provides opportunities and second chances. If you’re lucky. As a Trickster God, the childlike ELEGUA can sometimes make things even more complicated. At a whim he can turn a simple choice into a vast conundrum of paradox.
He’s also messenger to the higher Gods, particularly OLORUN, and he does like to be noticed. He’s partial to cigars and rum, but he is very good with children. His day is Monday — so you can start the week well under his ministrations. His color coding is red and black.
ELEGUA FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : ELEGUA
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : None known
Area or people : Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin
Location : Africa
Gender : Male
Type : deity
In charge of : Mayhem
God of : Trickster, Mischief, Mayhem
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : OKAY, not bad
Popularity index : 54510


ESHU Also known as ESU
Trickster God of Opportunity, Communication and Instant Messaging
The tremendously popular ESHU directs traffic along the Road of Life from his abode at the Crossroads of Fortune. If you’re faced with an important choice or a powerful opportunity, ESHU can offer advice to help swing things your way. A super-speedy go-between, he can carry complaints to the Gods, questions to the spirit world, and messages to any living thing.
With his connections, ESHU can be a powerful ally. But he’s also a Trickster God with a sense of humor and will often throw a spanner in the works to keep life interesting. This could explain why we don’t always get what we want. Be careful — this master of crossroads is also a master of cross-purposes. The perfect deity for the internet age.
ESHU FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : ESHU
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : ESU
Area or people : Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin
Location : Africa
Gender : Male
Type : deity
In charge of : Mayhem
God of : Trickster, Mischief, Mayhem
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index : 54013


OLORUN Also known as OLÒRÚN, OLURUN, OLODUMARE, OLOFI
Top Sky God of Peace, Justice and the Yoruba way
He’s the great king of the Universe and the glorious pinnacle of Yoruba mythology. Like the Christian JEHOVAH he is also a three-in-one trinity god — comprising OLORUN the Lord of Heaven, OLODUMARE, the Ultimate Creator and OLOFI the Messenger. Excellent value.
In OLODUMARE mode he’s surprisingly good at passing the buck. His wonderful blueprints for planet Earth were amazingly ambitious. But he prudently decided to delegate the job to someone else. It wouldn’t do for the Master of All to get his hands dirty.
So he summoned his son OBATALA, greatest of the ORISHAS, handed over the Chicken of Creation and told him to get on with it.
This led to all kinds of embarrassing complications before life as we know it was achieved. See OBATALA’s entry for the whole story.
As supreme deity, OLORUN’s fame has spread as far afield as the Caribbean. But rumors persist that he’s secretly leading a secret double life as windy YANSAN. You can’t trust everything you hear. Perhaps we should ask his trusty messenger ELEGUA.
OLORUN FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : OLORUN
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : OLÒRÚN, OLURUN, OLODUMARE, OLOFI
Area or people : Yoruba people of Nigeria and Benin
Location : Africa
Gender : Male
Type : deity
In charge of : Everything
God of : Supreme, Everything
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index : 46138


ABASSI
On the suggestion of his wife ATAI, ABASSI invented the first humans and somewhat nervously introduced them into the wild.
As he feared, the first couple quickly discovered sex, and pretty soon were doing their own creating. This created a terrible over-population problem, and made ABASSI feel rather insecure. So ATAI gave humanity two gifts, Argument and Death, to keep the numbers under control.
ABASSI FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : ABASSI
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : None known
Area or people : Efik people of Nigeria
Location : Africa
Gender : Male
Type : deity
In charge of : Creating
God of : Creation
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index : 45076


YEMAYA Also known as YEMANJA, YEMONJA, YEMAYAH, YEMOWO, YEMOJA, YEMOWO, YEMBO, IAMANJIE

The Mother of Water and Childbirth
Her stylish blue and crystal skirts billow in wave-like motions. One of the ORISHAS, she is a sensuous, slow-moving figure, just like the water she represents. Very calm and soothing for birthing situations. But she has a curious aversion to salt — so she will float over the ocean but not in it.
YEMAYA is also a Moon Goddess and the number seven has special significance for her.
We don’t like to gossip, but her husband OBATALA has a shady past — he created mankind under less than reputable circumstances. Still, that’s all water under the bridge now.
YEMAYA FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : YEMAYA
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : YEMANJA, YEMONJA, YEMAYAH, YEMOWO, YEMOJA, YEMOWO, YEMBO, IAMANJIE
Area or people : Yoruba, Nigeria
Location : Africa
Gender : Female
Type : deity
In charge of : Birth
God of : Childbirth
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index : 44225

CHUKU Creator God of the Ibo people
In the beginning CHUKU was floating in the sky pondering the Meaning of Life. In an inspired moment he created Ale. Stop. Before we go any further we must emphatically deny any association with the brewing industry. The Ale created by CHUKU was Mother Earth. Perhaps it may be better to use her alternative name ALA to avoid confusion.
With ALA being fabulously fertile, life and creation were off to a fine flourishing start. CHUKU was particularly delighted with his humans. In another inspired moment he decided that immortality would be a nice present for them. He decreed that any human dropping dead should be laid to rest on Mother Earth and covered with ashes. Resurrection would then swiftly occur.
Unfortunately, instead of popping down to earth or sending a quick email, CHUKU chose to spread the tremendous news by using a messenger sheep. Yes, a sheep. We don’t know why. Probably just woolly thinking.
Of course, the sheep muffed the message and put the word out that dead people should be burned to ashes and covered with Mother Earth. As a result, the human race missed out on immortality and the dead stay dead. We hope the sheep feels very sheepish about this.
CHUKU FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : CHUKU
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : None known
Area or people : Ibo people of Nigeria
Location : Africa
Gender : Male
Type : deity
In charge of : Creating
God of : Creation
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index : 13443


ALA Also known as ALE, ALLA, ANE
Earth Mother Goddess

A very popular deity, her specialist subjects are Fertility and Death. Thus she has a hand in the beginning of life and its end.
She was begotten by Sun God CHUKU and, finding him irresistibly sunny, became his wife.
ALA FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : ALA
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : ALE, ALLA, ANE
Area or people : Ibo people of Nigerian
Location : Africa
Gender : Female
Type : deity
In charge of : Fertility
God of : Fertility
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index : 17675

AHA-NJOKU
Goddess of Yams
She’s very sweet. As in sweet potato.
The staple diet of many peoples, yams are nutritious and delicious — and also a very interesting shape. Who can’t resist a yam?
As Goddess of such an important food, AHA-NJOKU offers the complete yam service: yam growth, yam harvesting, insurance for yam farmers, yam jam, wham-a-yam, yummy yams...
AHA-NJOKU FACTS AND FIGURES
Name : AHA-NJOKU
Pronunciation : Coming soon
Alternative names : AHO-NJOKU
Area or people : Ibo people of Nigeria
Location : Africa
Gender : Female
Type : deity
In charge of : Agriculture and Farming
God of : Agriculture, Farming
Celebration or Feast Day : Unknown at present
Good/Evil Rating : GOOD, quite approachable
Popularity index : 12415

http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/african-mythology.php

WhaddaCRAP is this?.

Tonydeeb:
WhaddaCRAP is this?.

Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha Hahaha

I wonder ooo

Tonydeeb:
WhaddaCRAP is this?.

still in mental slavery. I guess you prefer the Jewish version of philosophy. our ancestors would be ashamed wherever they are. we have failed them. no wonder you lick the asz of the white men. pay tribute to mecca and Jerusalem.

what a pity

Owliver:
still in mental slavery. I guess you prefer the Jewish version of philosophy. our ancestors would be ashamed wherever they are. we have failed them. no wonder you lick the asz of the white men. pay tribute to mecca and Jerusalem.

what a pity

You're such a mentally d*rang*d individual.
It's r*tards like you who end up instigating religious brouhaha all in the name of affiliation to gods whom cannot fight their battles on their own.
Grow some brains within that fat maggot-infested skull of yours!...WIMP.

Tonydeeb:


You're such a mentally d*rang*d individual.
It's r*tards like you who end up instigating religious brouhaha all in the name of affiliation to gods whom cannot fight their battles on their own.
Grow some brains within that fat maggot-infested skull of yours!...WIMP.

calm down am not religious. I actually thought you were. to me religion is only a philosophical theory to unanswered questions about humanity. even if we must take it seriously we shouldn't have dumped ours. my point.

Owliver:
calm down am not religious. I actually thought you were. to me religion is only a philosophical theory to unanswered questions about humanity. even if we must take it seriously we shouldn't have dumped ours. my point.

You incited that, my initial post was as innocuous as it could get!.
Try simmering down next time, not everyone shares your beliefs, philosophies and ideologies.
#Cheers.