Igbo Mythology Directory

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.

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.”

1. Mami Wata/Nwanyi Mmiri

I mentioned this earlier, right, that Igbos did not have one central recognized Arushi, like the Greeks who had Poseidon, Hades, etc. However, each Arushi’s power is born from a concept so they may share traits but have different names depending on the part of Igbo land you are in.

You’ll find that villages who stay close to river areas tend to have a water goddess, they may call her different names, but the concept is pretty much the same. Som modern Mbari portraits of her show her with a tail, but i believe that might have some western influence. I believe she can turn to a fish but is usually in human form. At least that’s the form she comes on Land with.  She is usually naked with corals and beads wrapped around her body and a python curled around her waist and nestled between her breasts.

Her messenger is the python.

Most areas that worship Nwanyi Mmiri, like Idemili, have a strick law to never kill a python. If a python is killed, maybe by accident, it must be given a seven-day burial. Other parts of Igbo land that river the python sees them as their ancestors, hence the same rule applies.

Related Fablingverse Story: Nwanyi Mmiri: Burn Down That Shrine

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

Eke Nnukwu

This is a stuff of legends, a snake the width of two men standing on each other and the length of a hundred men. No one has ever seen it and lived to tell the story. It’s said to be the right-hand man of Nwanyi Mmiri in parts that worship her.

In other parts, mostly those with caves, it’s said to reside in caves and underground, some have claimed to see its giant shed skin. But who knows, it could just be a scary story told by mothers to keep their children from running off and exploring danger.

Related Fablingverse Story: Nwanyi Mmiri: Burn Down That Shrine

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.