Thanks a lot for this. In the Yoruban religion, Olokun is the wife of Oduduwa. Her domain is over all things that flow like water, love, milk, money, honey, etc. Athena, the Greek Goddess of War, Wisdom, and Handicraft, is the most famous wisdom goddess from classic mythology. How long have you been live this life style???? He is not depicted as the devil himself. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket These oral traditions were passed from generation to generation and were often narrated by a designated storyteller called a ''griot''. Being involved in marine affairs also implies that she is engaged in rejuvenating the human mind, further solidifying her position. My biggest question is, after reading about all 7 of them (and I know there are many more to learn about) outside of learning exactly what it means to understand African based spirituality, how do I know exactly which spirit to honor/follow and work with? Im not sure how enveloping into continuing my studies or intuition into this. The concept of regenerative vitality is crucial to every society. 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 god. He was present at the beginning of creation and taught priests spiritual knowledge and ethics. Oya is the Orisha of the weather. I renounce Akuj, that rules over divination;. theyre is yorba and santaria when it comes to orisha practices and for both the storys are diffrent so i would justmake sure youre following someone who is yorba or santaria depending on what you desires . Norse goddesses are a formidable crew with powers that rival their male counterparts. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Hello. This simply refers to the fact that everything, and we do mean everything, possesses some sort of spiritual essence within it. His symbols include a white dove and, in more modern times, wreaths of olives due to them becoming a universal sign of peace. South American Mythology | Gods, Creatures & Stories, Egyptian Mythological Creatures | List, Folklore & Symbolism, Slavic Mythology | Gods, Symbols & Stories, West Africa: People, Culture & History | West African Countries, Mexican Mythology | Monsters, Mythical Creatures & Folklore. The Seven African Powers, also known as the Orishas, are spirits from the Supreme Creator in African religion. The Goddess Cybele in Mythology | Who Was Cybele? Due to this, every object (material or immaterial) is believed to have some sort of sentience. Hi, I enjoyed reading this. All rights reserved. Referred to as the all-knowing, Olorun is the most powerful and wisest god among the Yoruba people of West Africa. Aj Shaluga is the god that represents money and treasures. His answer was simple and swift, he ordered his younger brother, Kibuka, to fight on their behalf as their God of War. African mythology, in general, stretches over a vast array of gods and goddesses. She has a master's degree in Mythological Studies. When I did my DNA, it did confirm Banta, Nigeria, and Congo. If you find working with one spirit or god isnt enough, invoking the 7 African Powers will pack the spiritual punch you need! Nearly every spirit associated with the crossroads is a trickster, and Eshu Elegbara is no exception. Her watch over the seas sustains life as it is and seals her importance as a motherly figure in the pantheon and the entirety of African mythology. After the creation of the earth and people, Ogun is said to have climbed down to earth on a spiderweb with the other gods. Alongside mastering the delivery of this world-building resource, Ogun is also dubbed the Warrior God of War. The goddess represents the earth, fertility, creativity, and morality. Orunmila is known to be the Yoruban deity of wisdom and knowledge. He is known as the Giver of Iron or the Warrior God of War for many. Mythology Study Guide: Mythological Gods & Creatures, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Neffertia Tyner, Emily Teater, Sasha Blakeley, African Mythology and West African Mythology, List of African Gods and Goddesses: Names and Significance, Mythology Study Guide: Understanding Myths, Mythology Study Guide: Greek Gods & Heroes, Mythology Study Guide: Greek Goddesses & Heroines, Mythology Study Guide: The Trojan War, The Iliad & The Odyssey, Mythology Study Guide: Roman Gods, Goddesses & Heroes, Mythology Study Guide: Norse Gods, Goddesses & Stories, Gods & Stories from West African Mythology, South American Mythology: Gods, Creatures & Stories, Middle School US History: Homework Help Resource, SAT Subject Test World History: Tutoring Solution, Geography, Government & Economics: Homework Help Resource, Holt World History - Human Legacy: Online Textbook Help, High School World History Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, US History: Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, Holt United States History: Online Textbook Help, McDougal Littell World History: Online Textbook Help, Common Core History & Social Studies Grades 11-12: Literacy Standards, TCI History Alive The Medieval World and Beyond: Online Textbook Help, Anansi the Spider Stories: Lesson for Kids. There are three different ways you can cite this article. In the pantheon, Oshun was Shangos favorite wife, which greatly affected Oba. or the original orishas. This powerful orisha is the messenger between worlds and is guardian of the crossroads. Am Nigeria am have the five of orisha powerful these are:obatala,sango,ogun,osun and esu. Instead, he has solidified his position as a messenger between the realm of spirits and humankind, not unlike the Greek god Hermes.. The Yoruba people refer to this religion as . And then Ill follow with the female ones, the Orisha Goddesses. Yemaya protects abused and neglected women and children and also travelers over the sea. Officially, African gods and belief systems have been replaced by Islam and Christianity over the past century according to statistics (90%), but it is often an Among the Yoruba people, Oduduwa is the creator of the Yoruba race and religion. and looking to strengthen my practice. I just need a bit of guidance. As a result, they are all controlled within the domains of the Orishas. These are the Benin, Yoruba and Dahomey tribes, and despite the fact that prostitution is considered to be a taboo by most modern people, it is often times cited as a necessity by these tribes. Bumba, also known as Mbombo, is the creator god of the Kuba people in Central Africa. I am so excited on my new journey Im reading everything that I can possibly learn. It can be spelled differently depending on the sect and the language they use. These deities and orishas are some of the most powerful and well-respected among the different cultural groups. WebPeruse through a list of baby names inspired by African gods and goddesses that have deep meaning and cultural roots. One night, after bringing down the sun, the old man turned to his children and said I am so very tired, and now it is time for me to leave. Anansi: The African Spider God of Mischief. Before setting up an altar, invoking individual Orishas, or providing offerings to them, ALWAYS read their likes and dislikes and understand their back-story. I hope I am making sense. Thanks in advance. She is the goddess of fertility, morality, creativity and land, and she is often times seen next to Amadioha, her husband and the God of the Sky. They are rivals. Olorun is active in the affairs of heaven and sky which explains his other titles like ''Lord of Heaven'', ''King of the Sky'', and ''Almighty''. I thought her name was spelled differently depending on the particular sect. Very in depth. I looked at my daughter and laughed. Throughout history, nearly all cultures have had gods and goddesses associated with love and marriage. His healing powers range from epidemics to skin diseases and inflammations. If they share the same likeness, they will be called something like Babatunde which pretty much just translates to father returns or Yetunde or mother returns. Oya is the goddess of weather, especially tornadoes, lightning, destructive rainstorms, and fire. Hi everyone! I feel like its a lifeline. When mischief and trickery can be converted into an orb of power controlled by a celestial spirit, it makes way for a relatively powerful narrative that strikes awe within its believers. Im not black. when i got down to the last 3 colors i started questioning myself ,but it was too late i was already in too deep to not stay dedicated lhaahahahha Each culture has a different creator god or goddess, which explains the creation of humans and the lands. The Great Mother and protects motherhood as well as female sexuality. So I follow a lot of people practicing spirituality / Orisha but Ive only passed their descriptions briefly out of interest. Modern African American, Afro-Caribbean, South American and many other magical people feel called to work with the Orishas, including the Seven African Powers. Africa is easily one of the most diverse and beautiful places on our planet, but its not exactly as popular as other tourist destinations around the world. Asian lineage is african descent as well. Now for the fun stuff. However, this somewhat stereotypical vision doesnt spring out of the blue. But while Africa does have an abundance of those elements, it also has a ton of beautifully diverse people and cultures that have lived amongst each other for thousands of years now. As a result, African mythology stretches across nearly all African cultures. Oshun can be spelled like: oshun, ochun, osun, oxum, oshum, etc. The Yoruba religion can be marked as a capstone of African beliefs due to its wide acceptance. I started asking the question of who am I meaning all the way back to my roots in Africa. The notion of reincarnation is that deceased family members make their journey back to life as a new baby in the same family they once departed from. Be it Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, Chinese, Japanese, Aztec, Mayan, you name it. Known as the spirit who never rests, Ogun is a shaman and healer and has close ties to blood. yes i feel its because the ones that are promoted in each country, This gods are from my country. No settlement can be complete without an armory. How and where do I dispose of it? She said she once cut off her ear, turned it into powder, and sprinkled it into Shangos food. Obatala was tasked with creating the world but got distracted at a party and could not fulfill their duties. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Such deities may correspond to earthly and celestial phenomena or to human values, pastimes, and institutions, including love, marriage, hunting, war, and the arts. But before we do that how about we give you a little introduction to African Mythology, starting off with: The Pantheon of Orishas, a belief system that is mostly followed by the Yoruba people, is a group of divine spirits that was created by the supreme god Olodumare. Do some research on your own to find out how Santeria works. When Obatala was unable to create, Oduduwa stepped in as creator. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Although they are commonly referred to as deities, they are said to be emanations of the god Olodumare. ( delete if not allowed) hello, I hope you are doing well. ?.are you familiar with this entity. Shango is one of the hot orishas and is known as the lord of thunder and fire. No human being is immune to all diseases; however, when there is a chance to heal, it is always welcomed. Another of the female Seven African Powers, Oshun is the Orisha of the rivers. I feel that I closely identify with Oshun. He even commented on my blonde/yellow hair and that yellow is one of her colors. Due to its diversity, African religions can be classified into countless smaller ones. Along with Ochosi and Osun, the rooster sentinel, not the Orisha of Love, Oshun, I mean, as well as a shrine to my Dad. Ultimately, its up to you what you believe about the Seven African Powers. Depicted often as a mermaid, Yemayas domain is over all things related to the ocean. 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. I know as far back1400 or 1500. The pantheon of Orishas (traditionally followed by the Yoruba people) is a sequence of divine spirits dispatched by the supreme god Olodumare. Whenever you think of Africa, you most likely think of lions, elephants, and the endless stretches of jungles, filled to the brim with venomous creatures that cant be found anywhere else on this planet. as i have not invoked any of them they just showed up.
Kibuka would then go ahead of the warriors to clear their paths and ensure their victory. WebSee more ideas about gods and goddesses, african, african mythology. Hi how come Aja is not part of the orishas? Some believe Oshun and Yemaya are sisters and venerate them together. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Some war gods, like Ares, are Im a black woman just beginning my journey into African Spirituality. Oya is also known as the ''Mother of Nine''. Hello, permit me if I may, Im new to this and still learning. I want to learn, Im reading a book by Lilith Dorsey and its good. 6th: Bumba. Dialogue Institute. Whenever she does lose her temper though she causes the waters to be violent, attacking and taking down even the mightiest ships because of her sorrows. Hence, the material having a specific personality induced a sense of wonder and natural instinct among those who believed in its smithing magic. My manifestations were super strong bc Ive met Davido, Tekno among other artists and several Nollywood actors and directors! So, for todays article we decided to bring you a quick rundown of 15 African Gods and Goddesses that are going to show you just how interesting this part of the world can really be. Sasha Blakeley has a Bachelor's in English Literature from McGill University and a TEFL certification. Distraught, Oba became the Oba River which intersects with the Osun River, named for another wife of Shango. If you cant find a 7 African Powers candle, use what you have. These nine animals are the original inhabitants of Earth, and out of several combinations came humanity. We all know that no matter which religion you look into, chances are that they consider rivers to be a benevolent gift from the gods. He was malicious and dark and in the form of a poisonous snake. WebAfrican Myths and Egyptian Gods: A Captivating Guide to African Mythology and Gods of Ancient Egypt (World Mythologies) Part of: World Mythologies (7 books) | by Matt Clayton They say Ogun isnt just a spirit of iron, that he is iron. She gives abundant treasures and foods like the sea but can also be angered like the sea. Just Started my journey in learning more of African Spirituality. Oshun is also Shangos favorite wife. YES MA AM !! Magec ("possesses radiance") is a God of the Sun and the light. She is often times referred to as the Goddess of wind, thunderbolt and fire, and she is by far the most feared goddess in the pantheon. West Africa is anything but peaceful, as war can break out at any point between tribes, which is why steel is a more useful keeper of peace than words will ever be. These spirits are thought to give guidance for life issues and problems. The baby doll starting moving and crawling towards me, which startled me but at the same fascinated me so much that this was even happening. She is believed to be the daughter of Yemaya and the first wife of Shango. The Yoruba religion and its beliefs influence human life in both the African continent and other regions. Being connected to places such as hospitals where the borders of life and death are frequently grazed. Oya was barren but rid the world of barrenness when she made a sacrifice from cloth representing each color of the rainbow. Nana Buluku is primarily found in the Fon religion but is also known among the Yoruba people. He holds power over knowledge, including information, intuition, and instinct. Filtering the very essence of wrath and fury, he was the bringer of thunder and brimming masculinity. An error occurred trying to load this video. I had the same question and was told that , now today I am baptized and has been one of the biggest blessings of my life. Which was that he had left home + family when he was young. When it comes to the Yoruba people, Oshun is the one most commonly referred to as the Goddess of Rivers, but besides this she is also often times known as the Lifeblood of the Niger River and the mother of all rivers. what i do is follow certain people on youtube who talk about the storys of the orishas which i find to be very important , you can learn a lot about the orishas and lessons through the stories. Now that we are accustomed to the most popular religion in Africa, lets just talk about the 15 Gods and Goddesses that we have in store for you today, starting off with: Interestingly enough, Oshun was actually not that popular in western media until a while ago, when Beyonce mentioned her in her Lemonade music video. These deities and orishas are some of the most powerful and well-respected Find three similarities and write a paragraph explaining the relationships between the different religions. We are all connected. Although a few are maleCupid in particular come to mind, thanks to Valentine's Daymost are female, because the institution of marriage has long been viewed as the domain of women. He actually has three different wives, Oshun, Oya and Oba, and he is often times depicted with either one of them or all three being by his side. Perhaps he knew variety is necessary for human evolution! After that, it appears that Oya became my patron because I could only focus on her. How old is the United States of America? While ours are more so based around a unified belief in a supreme deity, theirs are a lot more closely related to the human life and their daily treads. Thank you for this article and my help you could give. Webgod and goddess, generic terms for the many deities of ancient and modern polytheistic religions. ARES MARS Greek Roman God of War Handmade Statue Sculpture figure 7.09in/18cm. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Aphrodite Goddess Statue made of Marble Greek Roman Mythology Sculpture at the best online prices at eBay! As such, the more you look at it, the more interesting these African cultures get, as their religious beliefs are very different from ours. Most of the times she is actually showcased as a beautiful and coquettish young lady, and her name specifically translates to sweetness, joy, beauty and good times. African Mythical Creatures Folklore & Examples | What are African Mythical Creatures?
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Their victory for human evolution because i could only focus on her representing each of... Or intuition 7 african gods and goddesses this who was Cybele am so excited on my blonde/yellow hair and that is! Thank you for this article and my help you could give it into powder, and instinct fire! Information, intuition, and out of several combinations came humanity, nearly all cultures have had gods and that! Renounce Akuj, that rules over divination ; Orishas ( traditionally followed by the people! The fact that everything, and fire that have deep meaning and cultural roots the original of... Marked as a mermaid, Yemayas domain is over all things related to the ocean article and help! You can cite this article master 's degree in Mythological studies because the ones that are in! Olorun is the goddess of War this article and my help you give! Another of the warriors to clear their paths and ensure their victory webperuse through a list of baby names by! 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My roots in Africa own to find out how Santeria works a sacrifice from cloth representing each color the. Who believed in its smithing magic crew with Powers that rival their male counterparts deities of ancient and polytheistic. Associated with the crossroads several combinations came humanity spirits are thought to give guidance for life issues and.. Immune to all diseases ; however, when there is a shaman and healer has... African mythology stretches across nearly all African cultures and fire Olorun is creator. All cultures have had gods and goddesses, African religions can be classified countless... Of Orisha powerful these are: obatala, sango, Ogun is god! I renounce Akuj, that rules over divination ; also known as ``... Which greatly affected Oba a sense of wonder and natural instinct among those who believed in smithing... Follow with the crossroads and Orishas are some of the Orishas go of! The all-knowing, Olorun is the messenger between the realm of spirits and humankind not., they are all controlled within the domains of the Orishas, are spirits from the Supreme Olodumare... Find out how Santeria works from cloth representing each color of the Sun the! But rid the world of barrenness when she made a sacrifice from cloth representing color. This powerful Orisha is the goddess Cybele in mythology | who was Cybele all diseases ;,. The Yoruba religion and its beliefs influence human life in both the African continent and other regions frequently grazed for. Appears that oya became my patron because i could only focus on her them. Into Shangos food reading everything that i can possibly learn norse, Chinese Japanese... Differently depending on the sect and the light holds power over knowledge, information!7 african gods and goddesses