2. A Little Intro to Afican Mythology
This video sets a nice mood to begin a
powerpoint, so please enjoy!
3. Background
• Myths and legends have developed over
thousands of years in Africa
• Heavily influenced by mass migration
• Myths, legends, and history passed through
speech
• First written mythology appeared in 1800's
4. Deities
• Most African religions have many gods
• Recognize one as the supreme god or all-
powerful creator
• Deity differs between regions
5. List of Deities
Deity People/Region Role
Ala Ibo/Nigeria Mother Goddess
Amma Dogon/Mali Supreme God
Cagn Bushmen/ SW Africa Creator God
Eshu Yoruba/Nigeria Trickster & Messenger God
Katonda Buganda/ E Africa Creator God; King of Universe
Kibuka Buganda/ E Africa War God
Leza Bantu/ Central & S Africa Creator & Sky God
Mujaji Lovedu/ S Africa Rain Goddess
Nyame Ashanti & Akan/ Ghana Creator God ( Sun & Moon)
Ogun Yoruba/ W Africa God of War & Iron
Olorun Yoruba/ W Africa Sky God & Supreme Deity
6. The Beginning: the Nigerian
Creation Myth
• As every culture has it's own
notion of creation, this
Nigerian myth represents the
African ideas of creation
• Describes the creation of the
world by the Creation God,
Arámfè's children
o Key Players
§ Orísha
§ Odúwa
§ Arámfè
7. Big Idea / Conflict in "The
Beginning"
• Arámfè, the creator of the
world, tells his sons to go out
and create a new race, and
make sure they are
productive and taken care of.
• Odúwa steals the bag of
housing all Man's future
Wisdom from Orísha.
• All of the Wisdom at once
causes war and strife among
the humans
8. Comparison to Prometheus
The Beginning
• Odúwa unknowingly
cripples mankind
with what he
thought would be a
blessing when he
throws the bag of
wisdom to
humankind
Prometheus
Epimetheus opens
Pandora's Box thinking
it would be a gift for all
of mankind, when it
really was a pile of
wretched emotions he
released unto the
human race.
9. Informative and Funny Video
The Below Video is a great synopsis of "The
Beginning" and is pretty entertaining
10. The War of the Gods
• As a continuation to the idea of creation in Nigerian
mythology, this myth represents the conflict between
the gods as a result of Odúwa's theft
• Describes the war started by Orísha and Odúwa as well
as the effects of other gods on the conflict
o Key Players
§ Orísha
§ Odúwa
§ Arámfè
§ Ogun
11. Main Conflict in "The War of the
Gods"
• Orísha requests that Odúwa return the bag of wisdom and
arts so that he can bestow it upon mankind
• Outraged, Odúwa denies and war breaks out between the
gods
• Arámfè tries to stop the conflict but fails
• After years of war, Ogun, the god of war and iron asked his
king, Odúwa, to stop fighting and give Orísha the bag since
the soldiers were weary from battle and great agony was
about
• Odúwa again refused and
enraged, turns himself into
a stone and takes the bag
with him as he sinks deep
into the soil
12. Comparison to How the Monkey
became God
The War of the Gods
• Orísha is given the
bag of wisdom to
teach to mankind.
Odúwa steals it
feeling he rightfully
deserves the bag,
which causes a war
between many
gods.
How the Monkey
Became God
Sun Hou-tzŭ fights with
Yü Huang over the
rights to Heavens
throne, and all the
wonders of immortality
and power over other
that comes with it.
Both
Stuggles
for
power
in
the
form
of
property
13. Modern Events in Nigeria
The Article linked below is a great example of
african Culture being carried through even
through to modern times. African cultures
have used sculpture as a medium for ideas
for centuries, and the article describes how,
even now, Nigerians represent their country
with similar works to their ancient
precursors
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?
int_sec=2&int_new=62385#.UYhZqWOnbD1
14. General African Mythology
SlideShare
We focussed mainly on Nigerian Lore, so this
SlideShare will offer an alternate
perspective on African Mythology
http://www.slideshare.net/ariel44/african-mythology-
presentation-924084
15. Works cited
"African Mythology." African Mythology. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2013.
African Myths and Legends. Perf. Margarita Baez. YouTube. BBC, 10 Aug. 2012. Web.
06 May 2013.
"Nigerias Ben Enwanu Holds a "mirror" to African Art at Bonahms Sale in
London."ArtDaily.org. Ignacio Viallarreal, n.d. Web. 6 May 2013.
Rank, J.. "African Mythology." Myths and Legends of the World. Advameg, Inc., n.d.
Web. 6 May 2013. <http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/A-Am/African-Mythology.html>.
Wyndham, John. "I-III." Myths of Ífè. London: n.p., 1921. 12-34. Print.
The Nigerian Creation Myth. Dir. Chandler Casey. Perf. Nicolas Sieger and Chandler
Casey. YouTube. Tornography Presents, 28 Sept. 2011. Web. 06 May 2013
