Keyword: Igbo Mythology Directory, Arushi, Central Gods, Chinaeke, Ani, Family Structure, Igbo Myth Beings
I do a lot of research into Igbo Mythologies, I read Journals, listen to Folk Music, and Read Books written in Igbo, like proverbs and other short stories, despite not being able to speak Igbo myself. Don’t worry, I’m Igbo, born and bred in Nigeria, my brain just learned English and went, well, that’s a wrap folks, this language thing is too hard.
Although I have to admit, I am amazing. It shocks me that I can tell you what’s written in Igbo but can’t pronounce it well to save my life. Maybe I’m just a shy speaker, or easily get annoyed by all the annoying people who correct my pronunciation like some stuck-up aristocrats.
Either way, in the course of my research, I realised that a lot of people who visit my website do so in search of Igbo stories and mythologies, and while you may be able to read one of my stories and get an idea of an Igbo myth, it will be really helpful if I simply created this post as pillar content where i’ll drop a quick summary of Each Myth.
This is eventually going to become one of the longest lists on the internet. You can press Ctrl ‘f’ to get around quicker.
If you’d like to contribute anything to the list, send an email, and if it’s verifiable, I’ll add it as well as add your name to the list of contributors.
I’ll also include Links to stories that correspond to the Myth I’m sharing.
Okay, I’ve Spoken Enough. Let’s Get Started.
Table of Contents
Central Gods
Chukwu/Chinaeke
The Goddess before Chinaeke
Ani
Arushi
Before we continue here, you should know. Igbos don’t have one central deity, like Amadioha; he may be called Agu in a different part of Igboland. Also, Arushis are activated once a group settles on a land.
When you get to a land with people, they may already have a god of that land, and you may join them in worship, however, in the early dies, igbos arrived on empty land and the first son, or oldest man in the group would carve an idol and break it or something, sometimes they poured blood on it, basically to activate it so that it can guide them into occupying the land safely. Tell them about the terrains, the abominations, the plants, basically, to help them.
This process of activating an arushi is why some Igbos will say, “When an arushi starts acting up they would show it the three it was carved from and remind it that they can unactivate it just as much as they activated it.”
- Mami Water
Mythical Beings
Agadi Nwanyi:
Relating Fablingverse Short Story: Agadi Nwanyi na Asi Asiri (The Gossiping Old Woman) – An Igbo Mythology on The First Dibia
The Black Smiths of Awka
Eri
Spirits and Masquerades
Ntuoku
Eke Nnukwu
Omenani
Ofo na Ogu
Tufiakwa – Abominations
Rights of Inheritance
Marriage
Family Structure
Igbo Proverbs With Mythology
Someday, this may become the longest post on the internet, so stay tuned.