The Codex

A growing encyclopedia of African mythological figures, deities, spirits, and cultural concepts.

100 entries

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A

15 entries
Mythology· Spirit

Abiku

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria, Benin)
Mythology· Spirit

Adze

West Africa·Ewe (Ghana, Togo, Benin)
Mythology· Deity

Aganju

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Cuba and Brazil
Mythology· Deity

Aido-Hwedo

West Africa·Fon (Benin); diaspora to Haiti as Ayida-Weddo
Mythology· Deity

Aje

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Cuba
Mythology· Deity

Akonadi

West Africa·Ga (Ghana)
Mythology· Deity

Akuj

East Africa·Turkana (Kenya, Ethiopia)
Mythology· Deity

Ala

West Africa·Igbo (Nigeria)
Mythology· Deity

Amadioha

West Africa·Igbo (Nigeria)
Mythology· Deity

Anansa

West Africa·Efik (Calabar, Nigeria)
Mythology· Deity

Anansi

West Africa·Akan
Mythology· Deity

Anyanwu

West Africa·Igbo (Nigeria)
Mythology· Deity

Asase Ya

West Africa·Akan (Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire)
Mythology· Deity

Asis

East Africa·Kalenjin (Kenya); related Nilotic peoples
Mythology· Deity

Ayelala

West Africa·Yoruba, particularly Ilaje and Ijaw-Apoi communities (Nigeria)

B

5 entries
Mythology· Deity

Baron Samedi

Diaspora·Haitian Vodou; head of the Ghede family of loa
Mythology· General

Bayajida

West Africa·Hausa (Nigeria); Daura kingdom and the Hausa Bakwai
Mythology· Deity

Bia

West Africa·Akan (Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire)
Mythology· Spirit

Bultungin

West Africa·Kanuri and other peoples of the Lake Chad basin (Nigeria, Niger, Chad)
Mythology· Spirit

Bush Baby

West Africa·Various tribes across West Africa (Nigeria)

C

5 entries
Mythology· Deity

Cagn

Southern Africa·San (Bushmen of southern Africa)
Mythology· Spirit

Chaneques

Diaspora·Veracruz, Mexico (Mesoamerican with Afro-diaspora links)
Tradition· Ritual

Chisungu

Southern Africa·Bemba (Zambia)
Mythology· Deity

Chukwu

West Africa·Igbo (Nigeria)
Mythology· Deity

Cwezi

East Africa·Bunyoro-Kitara (Uganda, eastern DRC, western Tanzania, Rwanda)

D

4 entries
Memory· General

Dahomey Amazons

West Africa·Fon (Kingdom of Dahomey, Benin)
Mythology· Deity

Damballa

Diaspora·Haitian Vodou; Fon (Benin) origin as Dan
Mythology· Deity

Dan

West Africa·Fon (Benin), Ewe (Togo)
Tradition· Ritual

Durbar Festival

West Africa·Hausa-Fulani emirates (Northern Nigeria, Niger)

E

7 entries
Tradition· Ritual

Ekpe Masquerade

West Africa·Efik, Ekoi, Igbo (southeastern Nigeria, Cameroon)
Mythology· Deity

Ekwensu

West Africa·Igbo (Nigeria)
Mythology· Deity

Engai

East Africa·Maasai (Kenya, Tanzania)
Mythology· Deity

Erzulie

Diaspora·Haitian Vodou; Fon (Dahomean) origin
Mythology· Deity

Esu

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria, Benin)
Tradition· Ritual

Eyo Festival

West Africa·Lagos Island (Yoruba, Nigeria)
Mythology· Deity

Ezili Dantor

Diaspora·Haitian Vodou; Petwo / Kongo origin

G

1 entry
Mythology· Spirit

Grootslang

Southern Africa·Khoisan and Afrikaner folklore (South Africa)

H

2 entries
Mythology· Deity

Heitsi-Eibib

Southern Africa·Khoekhoe (Khoisan-speaking peoples of southern Africa)
Mythology· Deity

Heviosso

West Africa·Fon (Benin), Ewe (Togo)

I

7 entries
Mythology· Deity

Ibeji

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Brazil (Ibeji) and Cuba (Jimaguas)
Mythology· Deity

Idemmili

West Africa·Igbo (Anambra State, Nigeria)
Tradition· Ritual

Igogo Festival

West Africa·Owo Yoruba (Ondo State, Nigeria)
Tradition· Ritual

Igue Festival

West Africa·Edo / Benin Kingdom (Nigeria)
Mythology· Spirit

Impundulu

Southern Africa·Southern Africa (Xhosa, Zulu, Pondo traditions)
Mythology· Spirit

Inkanyamba

Southern Africa·Zulu and Xhosa (South Africa)
Mythology· Deity

Iya Mapo

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria)

K

2 entries
Tradition· Ritual

Kayo-Kayo Festival

West Africa·Epe Yoruba (Lagos State, Nigeria)
Mythology· General

Kintu

East Africa·Buganda Kingdom (Uganda)

L

1 entry
Mythology· Deity

Legba

West Africa·Fon (Benin), Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Haiti (Papa Legba), Cuba (Eleggua), Brazil (Exu)

M

12 entries
Mythology· Spirit

Madam Koi Koi

West Africa·Nigerian boarding school folklore
Mythology· Spirit

Mami Wata

West Africa·West-African
Mythology· Spirit

Mamlambo

Southern Africa·Zulu (South Africa)
Mythology· Deity

Mawu-Lisa

West Africa·Fon (Benin), Ewe (Togo, Ghana)
Mythology· Deity

Mbaba Mwana Waresa

Southern Africa·Zulu (South Africa)
Mythology· Deity

Mbombo

Central Africa·Boshongo (Kuba) people (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Mythology· Deity

Mbuya Nehanda

Southern Africa·Shona (Zimbabwe)
Mythology· Spirit

Mbwiri

Central Africa·Fang (Gabon, Cameroon)
Mythology· Deity

Modjadji

Southern Africa·Lovedu (Balobedu) of South Africa
Mythology· Spirit

Mokele-Mbembe

Central Africa·Congo Basin (Central Africa)
Mythology· Deity

Mwari

Southern Africa·Shona (Zimbabwe, Mozambique)
Mythology· General

Mwindo

Central Africa·Nyanga (Democratic Republic of Congo)

N

9 entries
Mythology· General

Nambi

East Africa·Buganda (Uganda)
Mythology· Deity

Nana Buluku

West Africa·Fon (Benin); Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Brazil and Cuba
Tradition· Ritual

New Yam Festival

West Africa·Igbo (Nigeria); related yam-honouring festivals across West Africa
Mythology· Deity

Ngai

East Africa·Kikuyu, Kamba, and Embu (Kenya)
Mythology· Deity

Ngewo

West Africa·Mende (Sierra Leone, Liberia)
Mythology· Deity

Nyale

West Africa·Bambara / Mande (Mali)
Mythology· Deity

Nyame

West Africa·Akan (Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire)
Mythology· Deity

Nyami Nyami

Southern Africa·Zambezi River Valley (Zambia, Zimbabwe); Tonga people
Mythology· Deity

Nzambici

Central Africa·Kongo (DRC, Republic of Congo, Angola)

O

13 entries
Mythology· Deity

Obatala

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Brazil (Oxalá) and Cuba (Obatalá)
Mythology· General

Oduduwa

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria, Benin)
Mythology· Spirit

Ogbanje

West Africa·Igbo (Nigeria)
Mythology· Deity

Ogbunabali

West Africa·Igbo (Nigeria)
Mythology· Deity

Ogou

Diaspora·Haitian Vodou; Yoruba origin as Ogun
Tradition· Ritual

Ojude Oba

West Africa·Ijebu Yoruba (Nigeria)
Mythology· Deity

Olodumare

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria, Benin); diaspora to Brazil and Cuba
Mythology· Deity

Olokun

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria); Edo / Benin Kingdom (Nigeria); diaspora to Cuba and Brazil
Tradition· Ritual

Oro Masquerade

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria, Benin)
Mythology· Deity

Orunmila

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria, Benin); diaspora to Cuba (Orula) and Brazil
Mythology· Deity

Osanyin

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Cuba (Osain) and Brazil
Mythology· Deity

Osun

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria, Benin)
Mythology· Deity

Oya

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Brazil (Iansã) and Cuba (Oyá)

P

1 entry
Mythology· General

Princess Inikpi

West Africa·Igala (Nigeria)

Q

3 entries
Mythology· General

Queen Amina

West Africa·Hausa (Zazzau Sultanate, Nigeria)
Memory· General

Queen Iden

West Africa·Edo / Benin Kingdom (Nigeria)
Mythology· General

Queen Moremi

West Africa·Yoruba (Ile-Ife, Nigeria)

S

4 entries
Mythology· Deity

Sakpata

West Africa·Fon (Benin), Ewe (Togo)
Mythology· Deity

Sango

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Brazil (Xangô), Cuba (Changó), and Trinidad
Mythology· Spirit

Sarkin Ruwa

West Africa·Hausa (Nigeria, Niger)
Mythology· Deity

Sopona

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Brazil and Cuba as Omolu/Babalú-Ayé

T

2 entries
Mythology· Deity

Tano

West Africa·Akan (Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire)
Mythology· Spirit

Tokoloshe

Southern Africa·Zulu & Xhosa (South Africa)

U

2 entries
Mythology· Deity

uMvelinqangi

Southern Africa·Zulu (South Africa)
Mythology· Deity

Unkulunkulu

Southern Africa·Zulu (South Africa)

W

3 entries
Mythology· Deity

Wak

East Africa·Oromo, Somali, and related Cushitic peoples (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia)
Mythology· Deity

Walumbe

East Africa·Buganda (Uganda)
Mythology· Deity

Wulbari

West Africa·Krachi and other Guang peoples (Ghana, Togo)

Y

2 entries
Memory· General

Yaa Asantewaa

West Africa·Ashanti (Ghana)
Mythology· Deity

Yemoja

West Africa·Yoruba (Nigeria); diaspora to Brazil (Iemanjá), Cuba (Yemayá), and Haiti

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