Woyengi and Ogboinba: The Ijaw Creation Story

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December 29, 2024

The Ijaw tribe (Ijo, Izon) is one of the oldest tribes in Nigeria. They are also one of the most populous tribes inhabiting the Niger Delta. They are one of the eight largest ethnic groups in Nigeria.

They can be found in Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, and some parts of Akwa Ibom state. Some of them can still be found at far as Gabon and Sierra Leone as fishermen. According to ancient retellings, the Ijaw people trace their ancestry to ancient Oru. The Oru people were a nomadic tribe who moved from place to place in search of better fishing spots, which is still a major part of their economy till date. It is not clear what time the Oru people settled in the Niger Delta, but it is known that the language has existed for over 5000 years.

Everything about the Ijaws is intertwined with water be it their dance steps, food, and even masquerades. Because of their relationship with rivers and water in general, the Ijaw economic, cultural, social, and religious lives are defined and influenced by water.

The Ijaws have an elaborate traditional religious practice which centers on the veneration of their ancestors and water spirits, known as Owuamapu, which are very popular in their worship. They also practice Igbadai, a form of divination in which an individual who recently died is interrogated to ascertain the cause of their death. The Ijaws believe that water spirits have strengths and shortcomings just like humans, and that humans reside among these water spirits before being born. Their masquerades usually take the form of these water spirits and fish like creatures.

Various Ijaw groups have the names they call God. Ijaws in the Eastern Niger Delta call God

Ayiba, or Tamuno. Ijaws in the Central and Western Niger Delta call God Woyin or Woyengi and Tamara. The Ijaws in Western Niger Delta, referred to God as being feminine, which is the reason for the name Woyengi or Woyingi which means “our mother.” To the Ijaws, God is not just a creator but also a procreator just the same way a woman is able to bring life to the world.

Creation Story of the Ijaw People

According to the Ijaw creation myth, Woyengi the Great Mother and Creator emerged from the sky where people did not exist, in a bolt of lightning. Sitting on a huge chair, and a huge table in front of her, with dirt on the table, and a creation stone under her feet, she took the dirt on the table to make humans. The humans she made had no gender and life in them, so she embraced them one by one and breathed life into them, and they came alive. Woyengi gave them the option of choosing their gender and the manner of life each would like to live on earth. Each human asked for different things. Some asked for wealth, others short life, some children. Whatever they each asked, Woyengi bestowed on them. Then she asked them one by one the manner of death they would return to her. And out of the diseases afflicting the earth, they each chose a disease. To all these wishes Woyeingi said, ‘So be it’.

Woyengi led the newly created men and women to two streams flowing to where the humans would inhabit. One of the streams was muddy, the other clean. Those who asked for children, wealth and other wordly possessions were led through the muddy river, while those who didn’t asked for such were taken through the clean river.

Among the newly created humans were two women. One asked for rich and famous children, and the other Ogboinba asked for powers that had no equal in the world. Ogboinba and the other woman were born in the same town and became close as sisters. Playing, eating and sharing their secrets with each other. From a very young age, Ogboinba proved to be an extraordinary child. She understood the languages of animals, birds, insects and even plants. She could heal ailments and and even made prophecies that came true. In time, her name spread like wild fire.

When the two friends came of age, they got married and as Ogboinba’s friend requested from Woyengi, she gave birth to many children . As for Ogboinba, her powers and fame grew with each passing day, but she was not satisfied. Despite the level of her mystic powers and fame, Ogboinba longed to have a child of her own. She finally came up with a plan.

She decided to journey back to Woyengi and request for her destiny to be changed. To aid her journey, she took only her most mystic powers and most powerful medicines. She then bade her friend goodbye and headed out on her journey. With a bag filled with charms and medicines slung over her shoulder, she set off on a journey to her creator.

She set off on a wide road that led that led to a large sea. Between her and the sea was a forest where the King of the forest Isembi lived. When she arrived at the forest, Isembi recognised her and called out to her. He offered her to come to his home to rest a bit and she agreed. King Isebi and his wife entered Ogboinba to a wonderful feast of food and drinks. When he asked her destination, she explained to him her predicament and her decision to return to Woyengi to request for her destiny to be changed.

“It is impossible to see Woyengi while one is alive. I’ll advise you return home.” Isembi advised. But Ogboinba had made up her mind and it wasn’t to be changed by the king of the forest. She left Isembi’s home on her journey to the sea, but returned back to challenge Isemba. Isemba felt insulted to be challenged by a woman but finally accepted his request. He went to his medicine hut and took his most powerful powers. Ogboinba declined attacking Isembi first, he attacked her and all of her powers disappeared. She repeated her incantations and her powers returned to her. She recited her incantations again and all of Isembi’s powers disappeared to her and Isembi died. After a lot of crying and begging from his wife, Ogboinba took pity on her and brought Isembi back to life, but she refused to give him his medicines back, then she left to continue her journey.

Soon, Ogboinba left the forest behind her and arrived at the town of Egbe close to the seashore. While passing, she heard her name. It was Egbe, the king of the town and the sea shore. He offered to entertain her which she obliged. And just like Isembi, she refused his advice, challenged him to a duel, won and left with his charms and medicines.

In time, Ogboinba got to a mighty sea. A sea no living person had ever crossed. The sea was so vast with high waves breaking on the shore and roaring loudly such that it put fear in her heart. But she stilled her fear and ventured into the water. It quickly rose to her feet and then her ankles. Ogboinba discovered she could not move herself. The water continue to rise an soon it was up to her chest, gradually swallowing her. Out of fear when it got to her chin, she screamed out her incantations and as she did, the sea began to recede until it became dry land. She walked through, and when she got to the other side of the sea, she commanded it back to its original place.

Ogboinba’s journey continued. Just the way she encountered Isembi and Egbe on her way, she continued encountering powerful beings; humans, animals and gods. But she defeated all of them with ease and added their powers to hers. Other beings she encountered are the Tortoise, the god Ada, the god Yasi, and the Cock.

Soon she reached the domain of Woyengi and hid by the roots of the large Iroko tree. She saw men and women appear in pairs from the side of the field. The women carrying brooms swept the field while the men carrying bags collected the dirt (manilas/money) into their bags. When they were done, they disappeared back into the sides of the field. Suddenly, she saw the sky darken and then a table descended on the field followed by a chair and a creation stone. Then she saw lighting and thunder, after which Woyengi came down and sat on the chair, placing her feet on the creation stone. Some quantity of earth descended on the table and Woyengi went through her usual process of creating humans. Just when Woyengi was about to ascend back to the sky, Ogboinba came out of her hiding place and challenged her to a contest of powers.

Woyengi not surprised about seeing Ogboinba in her, admitted seeing Ogboinba leave her house and overcome all living things and gods on her way and also hiding behind the Iroko tree. Raging with anger at Ogboinba’s insolence at challenging her creator and the source of all her powers, Woyengi commanded all the powers Ogboinba took from everyone to return back to their owners. Overcome by fear, Ogboinba fled in panic and fear from the presence of Woyengi and hid in the eyes of a pregnant woman she met on the way. Realising where Ogboinba was hiding, Woyengi let her be, because she had previously made a commandment to humans warning against killing a pregnant woman. According to the Ijaws, Ogboinba is still in hiding not only in the eyes of all pregnant women but in the eyes of men and women as well. They believe the person that looks out at you when you look into someone’s eyes is Ogboinba.