Most African cultures believe in a Supreme Creator of all things, whether in a specific monotheistic form or one close to it. There are as many gods as there are tribes, which has added to the richness of cultures in Africa. Although some gods are believed to be supreme and to possess similar attributes (e.g., Olodumare, Chukwu, Nuer, Juok, Nyame and Roog), there are numerous others known for specific acts or works.
Practitioners of these traditional religions believe in a supreme creator, spirits, veneration of the dead, use of voodoo and traditional African medicine, carrying out obligations of the communal aspect of life.
Below is a list of some of the names of deities. Africa holds many hidden things and wise sayings, one of the most important hidden things of old, the Name of God: So NiNi na NiNi.
That being said, and you know what Name to use and call upon, lets go through the names of deities (angels and such) you should not even make mention of in your prayers or everyday speech. It truly is surprising how many of these deities are present in everyday speech, beit english or arabic, hebrew or even Xhosa (Ex. 23,13, Jos.
When this was complete the Supreme Creator secretly placed the spark of life within the forms. These newly created humans were then placed on the Earth to live.
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Beit the descriptions fit somewhat with the descriptions given in the Wisdom Books of the Bible, the names have obviously been changed, but the relationship has survived. The whole scene is borrowed, is what I am trying to say.
Here are some African deities or rulers over different time and space zones found around the world and Africa:
Supreme Beings and Creator Gods
- Chukwu: A portmanteau of the Igbo words “chi” (“spiritual being”) and “ukwu” (“great in size”). Chukwu is the supreme being of Igbo spirituality. In the Igbo pantheon, Chukwu is the source of all other Igbo deities and is responsible for assigning them their different tasks. The Igbo people believe that all things come from Chukwu.
- Mukuru: The Supreme Creator (God) of the Himba and Herero people of Namibia. The deceased ancestors of the Himba and Herero are subservient to him, acting as intermediaries.
- Mlondolozi (Nkulunkulu): A common name of the creator deity in a number of Bantu languages and cultures over East, Central and Southern Africa.
- Mwari: Also known as Musikavanhu, Musiki, Tenzi and Ishe, is the Supreme Creator deity according to Shona traditional religion. It is believed that Mwari is the author of all things and all life and all is in him.
- Nana Buluku: The female supreme being in the West African traditional religion of the Fon people (Benin, Dahomey) and the Ewe people (Togo). She is the most influential deity in West African theology, one shared by many ethnic groups other than the Fon people, albeit with variations.
- Ngai: The monolithic Supreme God in the spirituality of the Kamba and Kikuyu people of Kenya. Ngai is creator of the universe and all in it. Regarded as the omnipotent God, the Kikuyu worshiped Ngai facing the Mt.
- Nhialic: The supreme creator God featured in Dinka traditional theology, whose people now dwell in South Sudan. As a separate entity, Nhialic is a supreme creator God who dwells in the skies.
- Nyame (Onyankopon): The God of the Akan people of Ghana.
- Nzambi: The God of the Bacongo people of Angola. Identified with the sun, Nzambi is self-existent, almighty, and ‘knows all’.
- Olodumare (Ọlọ́run): One of the manifestations of the Supreme Creator God in Yoruba religion.
- Olofi (Olofin): The name given to one of the three manifestations of the Supreme God in the Yoruba religion. Olofi is the ruler of the Earth. Ọlọrun is the ruler of the Heavens.
- Osalobua: The name for God in the Edo language. The word osalobua encompasses a large number of divine principles - including the divine state of being merciful, timeless, goodness, justice, sublimity, and supreme.
- Achamán: He is the supreme god of the Guanches on the island of Tenerife. He is the creator of fire, air and land. It is believed that all creatures derived their living from him.
Here is a compilation of some other African deities:
- Alekwu: A potent god popular among the Idoma people of Northern Nigeria. He is popular for maintaining social order, protection, settlement of disputes, et cetera. A major feature of Alekwu is the ability to hunt down and kill his deterrent in 7 to 21 days. He is greatly feared for his ability to punish both offender and accomplice, if the crime is not reported and atonement made in seven days.
- Sango: The Orisha god of thunder. He is powerful and his modality includes striking an offender down with lightning and thunder. If the offence includes a theft, such item is placed on the offender’s chest after he is struck down. Sango is regarded as the most powerful god in Africa and one of the most popular gods around the world. He is the god of vengeance, protection, social order and more. His symbol is a double headed-axe.
- Inkosazana (Nomkhubuluwana): The Zulu god referred to as the ‘mermaid.’ The South Africans believe that she manifests herself in other forms such as animals but she dwells in water. Inkosazana is the goddess of fertility and agriculture; she protects both young and old and appears only to the pure in heart. She is said to appear in murky waters as well as misty clouds. She comes in dreams and carries out healings for the sick and troubled.
- Ngai: The god of creation according to the Kikuyus. He dwells on popular mountains in Africa and is believed to be present in other entities like rain, wind, sun, moon and stars, among others. They believe that he resides in fig trees too, where sacrifices are made to him at different times for different purposes, facing the Mount Kenya.
- Sho’risdal: A compassionate Berber goddess whose symbol is that of one looking down with palms open out to others. She is portrayed as the ‘The Mother of Bounty.’ She married Vyinsul, the god of death which is ironic because she is the god of life. It is believed that her moods define the seasons - winter, autumn, spring and summer.
- Heka: One of the foremost gods of ancient Egypt. He is known for his ability to heal and perform magic.
- Mamlambo: Among the Zulus and South Africans, this goddess is believed to be the god of rivers. She is structured like a giant snake and resides in water. She is said to have the power to give wealth but equally bring about great misfortunes. She is said to consume the face and brains of her victims.
- Mawu-Lisa: A twin god believed to be both male and female, the children of Nana Buluku, this god is the Moon (Mawu) and Sun (Lisa) god. S/He is believed to be in charge of the world order.
Here is a table summarizing some of the key deities mentioned:
| Deity | Culture | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chukwu | Igbo | Supreme being, source of all Igbo deities |
| Olodumare | Yoruba | One of the manifestations of the Supreme Creator God |
| Mwari | Shona | Supreme Creator deity, author of all things |
| Ngai | Kikuyu, Kamba | Supreme God, creator of the universe |
| Nana Buluku | Fon, Ewe | Female supreme being, influential deity |
| Sango | Yoruba | God of thunder, vengeance, and social order |
If you are curious to know about African gods and mythology that has inspired an array of storytelling, check out our compilation of ten powerful gods across Africa.
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There you have it, a compilation of African deities or rulers over different time and space zones found around the world and Africa.
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