Through history, it has been discovered that Africans, before getting into contact with the Europeans knew about God. Not only did they have a name for him, but they believed in him and other lesser gods, many of which existed before the introduction of Christianity into Africa.
Here are 6 popular African lesser gods, popularly known as deities who have been worshipped before Christianity found its way to the continent.
1. Ala – Igbo, Nigeria
Also known as ani, ana & ale in numerous dialects, she is a female god that represents the earth, fertility, creativity and morality. She is the most respected god in Igboland.
She is considered the wife of Amadioha, the skygod and commands authority in Igbo land. The symbol of ala is a python & crescent moon She is the protector of women and children and sacrifices are offered to her if someone breaks a taboo or is seeking fertility of the womb or soil for a great harvest. During the annual yam festival, she is honoured and remembered.
It is believed that if she is angry, she not only convinces her husband to deprive the people of rain but also causes natural disasters.
2. Agé-Fon – Benin
Agé is a Fon god of mystery and the son of the creator goddess Mawu-Lisa. This deity dates as far back as the Dahomey Empire. Agé was given the power and responsibility to protect and guide hunters during days and nights in the wilderness. He often refilled his energy and power from his mother and is believed to take the form of a young man in a hunters apparel guiding hunters.
During the days of wars and battles, Agé was called upon to protect and give strength to the warriors, leading them on which paths to take. Agé is honoured by sacrificing fleshy parts of the game caught by hunters.
3. Modjaji – South Africa
In South Africa, Modjaji is the rain goddess whose spirit resides in the body of a young woman who must be queen. Mujaji’s themes are balance, restoration, weather, cleansing and fertility. Her symbols are rainwater. Mujaji is an African rain Goddess who exudes gently with fertility, or fiercely with cleansing, depending on the need.
For the Balobedu people, the Rain Queen is a very important figure. There are several stories that account for how the rain goddess began to take up physical form. The Rain goddess has existed for as long as can be remembered.
However, in the 16th century, it is believed that her spirit decided to dwell in a woman: Dzugundini, the princess of the Balebedu Kingdom who was impregnated by her own father, the King. Modjaji has the power to start or stop the rain.
4. Kibuka – Uganda
For the Buganda Empire that has existed as early as the 9th century until the 14th century, Kibuku is a deity that has been with the people long before the Europeans arrived on the continent. Kibuka is the Ugandan diety or lesser god of war.
According to oral history, the Bugandan army had suffered several defeats and the king, in a state of worry met with the almighty God, Mukasa. At their meeting, the king requested that Mukasa gave them assistance for war. Mukasa offered to help by offering his younger brother Kibuka as the deity.
Before any war, the warriors always sang, danced and offered sacrifices in honour of Kibuka before going off to battle. It is believed that Kibuka went ahead of warriors clearing their paths and directing them
5. Nana Buluku – West Africa/Caribbean
Nana-Buluku is a creator god. Sometimes Nana-Buluku was described as being a female, grandmother figure, and in others as a genderless creator god. Nana-Buluku realized that all of creation could not be supported and might tip over. To prevent this, her pet serpent, Da, curled up under the earth by biting its own tail to form a cushion to keep the earth in place.
Nana-Buluku created the ocean to keep Da cool, and tasked monkeys to keep it fed with iron bars. Eventually, that iron will run out and Da will become so hungry, it will eat itself until there is nothing left and the earth will tip over.
Among the Fon and Ewe in Ghana, she is known as Nana Bukuulu and Nana Bukuu; and Nana Kuruku among the Yoruba of Nigeria. The Igbos of Nigeria refer to her as the Olisabuluwa. The Akans of Ghana call her Nana Buruku.
Among these societies, she is still actively worshipped as the mother goddess. She is an ancient goddess appearing in the image of an old woman and is believed to be the creator of the world. She is not only the most revered deity but also the genesis of any form of worship and religion in West Africa.
6. Adroa – Central Africa
Adroa is the god of death with two characters: good and evil. Because of his duality, his body is split into two. One half is short and black which represents evil while the other half is tall and white and depicts goodness.
Adroa appears to people in whatever form best fits a situation. Usually half-bodied with one eye, one arm and leg, he often appears to people before they die.
Among the Lugbara people of Uganda and Congo, Adroa is also the creator of heaven and earth and sees everything that the living do.
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