Name ▲▼ | Origin ▲▼ | Description ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Goddess name "Oya" | West Africa | Oya made the first element from which the universe exists. She is one of the three river goddesses and personificates the river Niger. West Africa |
Goddess name "Oya" | Yoruba / Nigeria, West Africa | River goddess. The consort of the god SHANGO, she is the guardian deity of the river Niger. Also a goddess of storms and thunder. Her sacred animal is the buffalo and her presence is symbolized by its horns.... |
God name "Pemba" | Africa | God Africa(west) |
God name "Pemba (great thing)" | Bambara / Mande / Mali, West Africa | Creator god. He was created out of the empty or Fu and his first task was to form the egg of the world. He descended to earth as an acacia seed (Acacia albida) which first grew to a mighty tree and then died. From the wood Pemba generated human souls and a female being whom he impregnated to engender all human and animal life. His brother is the god FARO, creator of the river Niger.... |
Deities name "Sa" | Kono / eastern Guinea, West Africa | Chthonic creator god. One of a pair of creator deities, with ALATANGANA. Sa inhabited the primeval swamps before the sky or the light existed and before there were any living things on earth. He had a daughter who eloped with Alatangana and bore fourteen children, three pairs of black and four pairs of white, all of whom spoke different languages and to whom Sa gave the tools of survival.... |
God name "Sajara" | Songhai / eastern Mali, West Africa | Rainbow god. Perceived as a Rainbow-colored snake and symbolized by a tree where white rams are sacrificed and hung. The animals' blood is sprinkled on the tree. The ritual is accompanied... |
God name "Sakumo" | Gan / Accra region, Ghana, West Africa | God of war. The guardian deity of the Gan tribe.... |
God name "Sarigo" | Yoruba / Nigeria, West Africa | God of thunder. His sacred animal is the ram whose bellowing is likened to the noise of thunder. Attributes include an ax which is worn on the head and bears six eyes.... |
God name "Shaikpaia" | Yoruba / Nigeria, West Africa | Plague god. The son of SHANGO, he is credited with having once been a god of war who invaded the country (as a disease). He is particularly identified with smallpox. His symbol is the sesame plant which takes the form of a taboo and brings disease to those who take it into their house. A festival is held in September to propitiate Shankpana with sacrifices of animals and fruit.... |
God name "Shango" | Yoruba / Nigeria, West Africa | Chthonic storm god. As an earth deity he was once a mortal man, the king of Oyo, who transformed himself into an immortal. According to tradition, during his life he breathed tongues of fire. He then ascended into the sky by climbing a golden chain and became the god of thunder and lightning. He is also god of justice, punishing thieves and liars. His consorts include OYA, Oshun and Oba. Cult followers of Shango are believed to be able to make lightning strike an adversary. In shrines to Shango, the image of the god is adorned with a ram's head. Also SANGO.... |
Deities name "So" | Ewe / Hua / Togo / southeastern Ghana, West Africa | weather god. An emanation of the combined personae of the deities SOGBLEN and SODZA.... |
God name "Sodza" | Ewe / Togo, West Africa | sky god. Propitiated with yams and the sacrifice of a white sheep in an annual festival and his priests pray to him weekly to send Rain. The priests wear white robes.... |
God name "Sogblen" | Ewe / Hua / Togo / southeastern Ghana, West Africa | Messenger god. Considered to relay the prayers of devotees to the great gods and to return with blessings or punishment. Generally benevolent, bringing the boon of fertile crops and children. He is propitiated with the sacrifice of a white sheep in an annual festival.... |
God name "Sogbo" | Fon / Benin, West Africa | storm god. The sibling of the gods LISA and MAWU, he controls thunder and lightning and is a god of fire and Rain.... |
God name "Soko" | Nupe / Nigeria, West Africa | sky god. The name refers specifically to the dark sky at the beginning of the Rainy season which stimulates the growth of crops.... |
God name "Soului" | Hua / southeastern Ghana, West Africa | vegetation god. A benevolent deity who can bestow wealth as well as good harvests. He is also god of Medicine and of the sounds of music. His devotees wear white and daub white chalk on their faces. His symbol is the cowrie shell.... |
God name "Soului Hua" | Africa | Benevolent vegetation god also in charge of Medicine and music Africa(west) |
God name "Suku" | Ovimbundu / central Angola, West Africa | Creator god. He created the sky, the rivers and mountains, and the people on earth.... |