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Myth

Everything related to African mythology.

Myth

The Mythology Of The Efik People

This is an article that explores the rich mythology of the Efik people as well as their culture and tradition. It gives a narrative of their creation story, deity, mythical creatures, providing deep knowledge into their beliefs and values.

Myth

The Bultungin (Were-hyena)

This is a story about one of the most powerful mythological creatures in Africa.

Myth

The Tribe that Worships Twins

The story is about the Yoruba people in Southwestern Nigeria who revere twins as magical beings representing fertility and prosperity. Twins are associated with an Orisa named Ibeji, and the Yoruba tradition includes creating a replica if one twin passes away. Twins are named Taiwo and Kehinde, with Kehinde considered the firstborn in the spiritual world. The Yoruba society celebrates twins as a source of great joy and good fortune, and some towns, like Igbo-Ora, are known for an unusually high number of twin births.

Myth

The Role of Spirits and Ancestral Spirits in Igbo Mythology: Guardians of Tradition and Identity

The essay explores the belief in spirits and ancestral spirits in Igbo mythology, highlighting their roles and interactions with the living. It emphasizes the enduring significance of these spiritual entities in Igbo culture, fostering a sense of connection, guidance, and unity within the community.

Myth

Obatala: The Creator and Wisdom Keeper in Yoruba Mythology

The article is about the Yorùbá God, Obatala, his influence, role, origin.

Myth

The Mythical Journey of Oya: An Exploration of African Mythology

This essay explores the mythological journey of Oya, analyzing her significance, defining characteristics and cultural influences.

Myth

Yoruba Orishas: Embracing the Uniqueness and Confronting Misunderstandings in a Changing Religious Landscape

The uniqueness of Yoruba orishas lies in their multifaceted nature, moral teachings, and connection to nature and human experiences. However, due to the influence of Abrahamic religions, they have been misunderstood, misinterpreted, and demonized. Recognizing and appreciating their complexity is vital for intercultural understanding and preserving Yoruba cultural heritage. Embracing religious diversity and interfaith dialogue can foster a more inclusive and respectful society, enabling a genuine appreciation of Yoruba spirituality.

Myth

Olodumare: The Supreme Creator in Nigerian Mythology

Nigeria's rich cultural heritage includes myths, legends, and folklore. The Yoruba myth of creation, "Olodumare and the Seven Orishas," reflects Yoruba cosmology, philosophy, and cultural values, emphasizing cooperation, diversity, and community. It portrays Olodumare as the supreme god and the Seven Orishas as intermediaries between humans and the divine. This myth provides insight into Yoruba traditions and beliefs, highlighting their reverence for creativity, wisdom, and protection.

Myth

Deities in igboland: From myth to culture

The origin of the Igbo people is rooted in their culture and religion, which involve the worship of deities like Chukwu, Ala, Chi, Amadioha, Ikenga, Idemmili, Ekwensu, and Anyanwu. These deities play important roles in their lives and rituals. Despite the adoption of Christianity, the worship of deities still persists in Igbo culture, shaping their beliefs and practices. Popular festivals are held to honor these gods, such as the New Yam Festival dedicated to Ahiajoku and Ala. Christianity may dominate, but the reverence for deities remains in the Igbo tradition.

Myth

Anansi: A Metaphor for Wisdom in African Myth

Anansi, a trickster figure from Ghanian mythology is often depicted as a spider who uses his intelligence and cunning to outsmart his opponents and achieve his goals.

Myth

The Symbolism of Spirits and Ghosts in African Folklore

African folklore is rich with stories of spirits and demons. These supernatural beings are said to inhabit various aspects of the natural world and can take many different forms.

Myth

From Myth to Identity: The Habe Maguzawa Myth and the Formation of Kano City's Cultural Landscape

Kano city, located in northern Nigeria, is one of the oldest and most significant cities in the country's history. Its socio-cultural identity has been shaped by a variety of factors, including its history, traditions, and myths.

Myth

Rain Makers in Africa: The Art and Practice of Controlling the Elements

Africa has a rich history of spiritual and cultural beliefs, with a central focus on the elements of nature. One of the most intriguing practices is that of the Rain Maker, a person with the ability to control the weather and bring forth rain in times of drought.

Myth

The Man-Eating Tree of Madagascar: Myth or Fact?

In 1874,a German traveler, Karl Leche, sent a letter to newspapers across the United States and Europe. His letter gave vivid details of a tree he came across in Madagascar, an island on the east coast of Africa, and how that tree consumes humans, so much that the Mkodo tribe people made human sacrifices to said tree.

Myth

Òrìsà: The Forgotten Heroes

In any case, attention should be awarded to how we tell our stories so that they can garner the attention of incoming generations. If drastic actions are not taken, our cultural heritages and our pristine identities may not recover from this slippery slide and unguarded free fall into the bin of forgotten history.

Myth

The Tale of Anansi and Nothing

A folktale about 'Anansi', the legendary Ghanian god.

Myth

Sàngó and His Wives

Sàngó, also known as Changó or Xangô in Latin America; and as Jakuta or Badé is an Orisha, a deity in Yoruba religion. He is a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third Alaafin of the Oyo Kingdom prior to his posthumous deification.

Myth

Conversations with A Mermaid

An account of an encounter with a Mami-Wata aka Mermaid

Myth

Raffia On Fire

A retelling of the 'Queen Moremi' folktale about a legendary Yoruba queen.

Myth

The Ugandan Law Concerning Fortune-Tellers

The events in this folktale led to a new custom in Uganda in the old days; but now there is a new law, and no one may go to a witchdoctor at all, and if the police find a man telling fortunes they take him to prison. But still some people are naive enough to go in secret, and have their fortunes told, even though they know this story.

Myth

Death and The King

An entertaining fiction piece about masquerades.

Myth

The Myth of Bayajida

The Hausa myth of Bayajida accounts for the origin of the Hausa. As a wanderer, he came to a place currently called Borno. He was noted for his intelligence and bravery to the extent that the king gave him his daughter’s hand in marriage.

Myth

The Tale of a Mystery Mat

Growing up, I heard tales of the famous Bush Baby from the older boys in my village that attended the only boarding school in the whole of the district. Whenever they returned home for the holidays, they always had stories and adventures to tell the smaller boys who hoped to be like them someday.

Myth

Essay on The Deities of Efik Tradition: Ndem Efik Ebrutu

Efik history traces the origin of Ndem worship to their god’s basin (usan Abasi) which tradition says was a sacred companion of the Iboku people from their oriented home. All through their migrations and sojourn among known and unknown host communities, the Iboku people remained attached to their “usan Abasi” before which they presented requestsof all nature.

Myth

Àyànmò [Predestination]

This tale explores the concept of àyànmò (predestination).

Myth

Kachi's Odyssey - Of Myths and Mermaids (Literary Competition Winner 2021)

This fiction story is coined from a non-written tale of water beings, the unsure trait of treachery and wickedness they possess. And the possibility that a man could be sacred to Ngene.

Myth

Monyohe: A South African Folktale

The essence of this folktale does not only lie in its entertaining abilities, but in its educating dimensions as virtues are rewarded, truth is vindicated and vices are punished.

Myth

Jinns in Northern Nigeria

Jinns are simply spirits that were known to have been created by God himself according to the Islamic religion. Although they possess supernatural powers which are apparently not inclusive rights of human beings such as strength, invisibility, teleportation, trickery and transformation, Jinns are parallel to humans in an extra-terrestrial plane and, like humans, they possess the ability to eat, drink, and marry and the freewill to choose between good and evil.

Myth

Yèmọja

With the forced migration brought about by majorly the Atlantic slave trade, Yemoja possesses many names and is worshiped in different religions and forms across various regions by afro-descendants all over the world.

Myth

Olúrónbí

The folktale and nursery rhyme, Olúrónbí

Myth

Ori & Olajumoke - Nigerian Folktale

A recollection of the Ori & Olajumoke myth

Myth

Gipir and Labongo

A journey into the Acholi and Alur story - Ugandan Folklore

Myth

The Story of Kintu - Ugandan Folktale

The Ugandan folktale about Kintu, Uganda's first man and his meeting with Nambi.

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