African Gods You Should Know

Africans have always believed in spirits and were spiritual even before they lost their continent to Europe and Arabia. They believed in a Supreme Being, who created everything on earth. Every ethnic or lingual group has its own concept of ‘God’.
Here are some African gods you should know about.

1.Modjadji
Queen Modjadji or the Rain Queen is South Africa’s goddess of rain. Its spirit lives in the body of a young woman, who is considered the queen of Balobedu.
The Rain Queen is believed to have special powers, including the ability to control the clouds and rainfall.
There are lots of stories relating to the creation and history of rain queens. One of these stories is that of an old chief, in the 16th century, who was told by his ancestors to impregnate his daughter, Dzugundini, so that she would acquire rainmaking skills. In another version, a man called Mokoto had a vision that he had to marry his daughter to create a matrilineal dynasty. She gave birth to the first Rain Queen, known as Modjadji, which means, ‘ruler of the day’.

2. Inkosazana

Also known as Nomkhubuluwana, Inkosazana is a Zulu goddess. She is revered as the ‘mermaid.’ She is a shape shifter, although she often appears as a mermaid since she is said to dwell in water.
Inkosazana is specifically associated with agriculture and fertility. She protects both young and old and appears only to the ‘pure in heart.’ Inkosazana is said to appear in mucky waters as well as misty clouds and is preoccupied with matters relating to female virgins.

3. Sango
Sango, the god of thunder, is a deity in Yoruba religion, who is powerful and is known for his powerful double axe that he uses in striking an offender down with lighting and thunder. Thunderstorms announce his presence.
Sango is considered to be one of the most powerful rulers that Yorubaland has ever produced and he is also regarded as the most powerful god in Africa. He is the god of vengeance, social order and protection.

4. Kibuka
Kibuka, also known as Kibuuka, is a member of the Balubaale or Pantheon of gods in the religion of Baganda people of Uganda. He is the son of the trickster, Ananse who lived on earth as the Patron god of the Asanti and is thought to be a war god.

Kibuka is the younger brother of Mukasa, the god of prosperity and harvest. He often provides advice to Baganda kings during times of war, diseases, as well as, other catastrophic events.

5. Adroa

Adroa is the supreme god or spirit of the Lugbara community in Uganda and Congo, who was known as Adroa ‘ba o’bapiri, which means ‘God the creator of men’. Adroa was said to have created the first man, Gborogboro, and the first woman, Meme and they were also twins.

He has two characteristics of good and evil and due to his duality, Adroa’s body is divided into two. Adroa will manifest himself to people in any form that fits the situation at hand; it is also believed that this god appears to individuals before they die.

6. Nana Buluku

Nana Buluku is a prominent deity famous in the West African traditional religion of the Fon and the Ewe people and also most West African nations. She also has different names in various tribes; she is called the Nana Bukuu among the Yoruba people and the Olisabuluwa among Igbo people.

She is worshipped as the mother goddess. In Dahomey mythology, Nana Buluku is the mother supreme creator who gave birth to the moon spirit Mawu, the sun spirit Lisa, and the entire universe. After giving birth to these, she retired and left the matters of the world to Mawu-Lisa.