The book of Gods,Goddessess,Heroes and other Characters of Mythology In broad terms mythology is composed of traditional stories about gods, kings, and heroes. Myths often tell about the creation of the world (and about its destruction as well), about the creation of men, and, also, they provide lessons on a moral code by which to live. They were attempts to provide rationale to natural events and to human emotion. Mythological stories generally were passed on orally from generation to succeeding generation. Each tale, embellished and "corrupted" through the re-tellings, was probably a reasoned explanation of the facts as seen by unsophisticated and uneducated eyes. Most scholars today divide the subject into three categories: pure myth (primitive science and primitive religion), heroic saga (primitive history), and folklore (fictional stories). Mythological Characters WorldWide African Mythological Characters NOTE 1: Almost all African peoples believed in a supreme god who created the universe and all within it; this belief pre-dated the infiltration of the Christian or Islamic religions. This does not mean they believed in a monotheistic faith, for this supreme god had many under-gods. This deity was personalized in their individual mythologies, usually as a bi-sexual or non-sexual being, father and mother of all creatures and creator of every detail of earth. Abassi (Nigeria) Efik tribe's creator of the world. Abuk The first woman, according to the Dinka people of Africa. She is the patron goddess of women and gardens. Her emblem is a little snake. Adu Ogyinae (Ashanti) The first man. He was the leader of the seven men, some women, a dog and a leopard who were the first beings to come to the surface of the earth from holes in the ground. Agé (Dahomean) Worshipped by hunters; in charge of uninhabited bush and the animals therein. Agwe In Benin, she is the mother of the sea. She is affectionate and nurturing to humans who honor her. Aida Wedo In Benin and Haiti she is the snake companion to Damballah-Wedo, the most popular god, who is also in snake form. Aje Yoruba goddess of wealth in all its forms. Ajok Chief god of the Sudanese Lotuko. Akonadi An oracle goddess of justice in Ghana. Akongo Chief deity of the Ngombe in the Congo. Akuj Chief deity of the Akuj in the Congo. Ala Earth mother of the Ibo tribe in Nigeria. She is creator of the living, queen of the dead, and goddess of fertility. Amma (Dogon) The supreme god who created the sun and moon. He tried to mate with the female earth but his passage was barred by a red termite hill. This had to be cut away before he could successfully mate with the earth. This myth is supposedly the justification for female circumcision, which is practiced by the Dogon as well as other peoples of Africa. Anansi Trickster spider of West Africa, considered the creator's chief official, and a hero of many tales. Asase Yaa Ghanian creator of humanity, and wife of Nyame. She was also the mother of the gods. Ashiakle Ghanian (Africa) goddess of wealth, and of the sea. Ayaba (Dahomean) Sister of Loko; goddess of the hearth. Aziri The goddess of possessions. Baatsi (Zaire) The first man, made by the Creator out of clay, which he covered with skin and filled with blood. Then was made a woman, name unknown, with whom Baatsi was commanded to make children. Bayanni (Yoruba) Sister of Shango. She was sacrificed to make her younger brother, Shango, a stronger god. Bele Alua (Ghana) A tree goddess. Bomo Rambi (Zimbabwe) A moon goddess. Buk (Sudan) Goddess of rivers and streams, and the source of life. Mother of Deng, Candit, and Nyaliep. Buku God/Goddess of the sky in West Africa. Bunzi (Zaire) A rain goddess, depicted as a rainbow-colored snake. She took over her mother's duties as rain goddess when her mother was killed. Cagn (Mantis) (Bushmen of Africa) The creator, who with his wife, Coti, made everything. They had two sons: Cogaz and Gewi. Candit (Sudan) Goddess of streams. Dan (Fon) God of unity. He was the son of the twins Lisa and Mahu. Deng (Dinka) God of rain, whose club is lightning. The divine ancestor of the Dinka peoples. Domfe (Kurumba) The god of rain and wind. Dongo (Songhoi) God of thunder. Edinkira (Africa) A tree goddess. Efé (Pygmy) The first man. Egungun-oya (Africa) Another form of the Yoruba goddess of divination. Eka Abassi (Africa) The creator of life. Her son, and consort, was Obumo, god of thunder and rain. Enekpe (Africa) Goddess of the family and guardian of destiny. One story relates that when she saw that her tribe was losing a battle, she offered herself as a sacrifice to save her people, and was buried alive on the battlefield; her tribe was saved. Eseasar (Africa) An earth goddess married to the sky god, Ebore. Eshu (Fon/Yoruba) The divine messenger, master of all languages, who acts as intermediary between men and all divinities and between gods and gods. Esu (Yoruba) God of watchfulness. Fa The god of divination. Faran (Songhay) A great hero who battled the river spirit Zin-kibaru. Fatouma (Mali) She was born in a village near a lake that was inhabited by a virgin-devouring dragon who each year claimed a village virgin as payment for the use of the lake's waters. The day came when Fatouma was the only eligible virgin remaining so she was left on the shore for the dragon to eat. Along came a hero named Hammadi who slew the dragon, married Fatouma, and lived happily ever after with her. Gleti (Benin) Moon goddess. She is the mother of all the stars (Gletivi). An eclipse is said to be caused by the shadow of the her husband when he comes to "visit". Gonzuole (Liberia) The first woman. Without a mate she gave birth to many beautiful daughters; they lived together in a village without men for many years. Eventually some men nearby trapped them all and Gonzuole, fearing for her daughters' safety, agreed to give them in marriage to the men. Gû (Fon) The god of metal. A metal sword is still called by this name. Gua God of agriculture, blacksmiths, and thunder in West Africa. Gulu (Dinka) The creator god. (Buganda) King of heaven. Gunab Hottentot god of evil. Hêbiesso The god of thunder. Iku God of death in Nigeria. Ilankaka (Nkundo) The sun goddess of the Nkundo of central Zaire was trapped by a man who was hunting during the night. She begged to be released and promised him much wealth for doing so, but the only wealth he wanted was her, and so she agreed to marry him. Soon pregnant, she refused to eat anything but forest rats. Because it was known that a man had to provide for any whim of a pregnant woman, the man was kept very busy trapping for her. One night, however, she awakened to realize she was no longer pregnant. Shocked, she discovered the baby had slipped out of the womb and was already eating meat. He grew up to be the hero Itonde, who captured the heart of the Elephant Girl Mbombe. Imana Chief god of the Banyarwanda people of Ruanda. Iruwa Sun god in Kenya. Juok (Shilluk) The creator of all men on earth; Europeans from white clay, Arabs from reddish-brown clay, and Africans from black earth. Khonvum Chief god of the Pygmies. Kibuka (Dinka/Buganda) God of war and storms. Kintu (Dinka) The first man and founder of the Dinka peoples. The Masai peoples have this myth: In the beginning there was only one man on earth, Kintu. The daughter of heaven saw him and fell in love with him, and persuaded her father to let them marry. Her marriage dowry consisted of all the domestic animals and all of the useful plants. Lebé (Dogon) The ancestor from whom the Dogon descended. Lêgba (Dahomean) The god of crossroads and the messenger of the gods. He understood all languages and so was also interpreter for the gods. Leza (Central Africa) The creator, or supreme, god. Libanza Chief god of the Upotos of the Congo. Lituolone (Bantu) A mythic hero a la Hercules or Ulysses. Loko (Dahomean) The god of medicine. Maina (Luyia) The ancestor of the people. Mambo (Lovedu) The ancestor of these people. Marwe (Chaga) A folktale heroine. Massim Biambe (Congo) The creator, an omnipotent immaterial god. Mawu-Lisa (Leza) (Dahomean/Fon) Either an androgynous (double-sexed) being or male and female twins. The first deity. Mawu, the female (part?) is associated with the moon, fertility, motherhood and joy. Lisa, the male (part?) is associated with the sun, strength, labor and heat. This god (gods?) gave birth to all the other gods. Mboze (Zaire) Mother of the Woyo people, and mother of Bunzi. When her husband found out he was not the father of Bunzi, he killed Mboze. Mebeli (Congo) The female god. See Phebele below. Minepa (Macoua) The god of evil. Moombi (Kikuyu) Creator. Wife to Gikuyu with whom she bore nine daughters. Mukasa (Buganda) An oracle, considered a beneficent god for he demanded no sacrifices. Muluku (Macoua) The supreme being. Mulungu (East Africa) The creator, or supreme god. Mwambu (Luyia) The first man. Nambi (Buganda) The first woman. Nana Buluku (Fon) The primordial mother. Nanan-Bouclou Ewe tribe god of herbs and medicine. Nenaunir (Masai) God of storms and, as a demon, a spirit of evil. Ng ai (Masai) The creator of the universe. Nyambé (Western Tropics) The creator/supreme god.