This is a list of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

n spirits as well as

deities A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greater ...

found within the

traditional African religions The traditional beliefs and practices of African people are highly diverse beliefs that include various ethnic religions.Encyclopedia of African Religion (Sage, 2009) Molefi Kete Asante Generally, these traditions are oral rather than scriptura ...

. It also covers spirits as well as deities found within the

Afro-American religion African diaspora religions are a number of related Pagan beliefs that developed in the Americas in various nations of the Caribbean, Latin America and the Southern United States. They derive from Pagan traditional African religions with some influ ...

s—which is mostly derived from traditional African religions. Additionally, prominent mythic figures including heroes and

legendary creatures A legendary creature (also mythical or mythological creature) is a type of fictional entity, typically a hybrid, that has not been proven and that is described in folklore (including myths and legends), but may be featured in historical account ...

may also be included in this list.

Akan Akan may refer to: People and languages Akan people, an ethnic group in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire Akan language, a language spoken by the Akan people Kwa languages, a language group which includes Akan Central Tano languages, a language group ...

*Abu-Mehsu * Amokye *

Anansi Anansi ( ; literally translates to ''spider'') is an Akan folktale character and the Akan God of Stories, Wisdom, Knowledge, and possibly creation. The form of a spider is the most common depiction of Anansi. He is also, sometimes considered t ...

Asase Ya Asase Ya/Afua (or Asase Yaa, Asaase Yaa, Asaase Afua, Asaase Efua) is the goddess of fertility, love, procreation, peace, truth and the dry and lush earth of the Akan of Ghana and Ivory Coast. She is also Mother of the Dead known as Mother Earth ...

*Aso *Bia *Bobowissi *Bosomtwe *Intikuma *Katarwiri * Kwase Benefo *Kweku Tsin * Nyame *

Owuo Owuo is the god of Death in the Asante and Akan mythology of West Ghana and the Krachi peoples of East Ghana and Togo. He is represented with the Adinkra symbol of a ladder. It is said that he was created by Odomankoma (could also be spelt Od ...

* Tano

Alur

* Jok Odudu

Bambara

Bemba Bemba may refer to: * Bemba language (Chibemba), a Bantu language spoken in Zambia * Bemba people (AbaBemba), an ethnic group of central Africa * Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former vice-President of the Democratic Republic of Congo * A Caribbean drum, ...

Chiwara A Chiwara (also Chi wara, Ci Wara, or Tyi Wara; bm, ciwara; french: tchiwara) is a ritual object representing an antelope, used by the Bambara ethnic group in Mali. The Chiwara initiation society uses Chiwara masks, as well as dances and ritua ...

*Duga *Faro *Kontron *Muso Koroni *Ndomadyiri * Ninimini *Sanen *Suruku *Teliko

Baganda The Ganda people, or Baganda (endonym: ''Baganda''; singular ''Muganda''), are a Bantu ethnic group native to Buganda, a subnational kingdom within Uganda. Traditionally composed of 52 clans (although since a 1993 survey, only 46 are official ...

* Katonda *

Ggulu Ggulu is a character in the Gandan creation myth. He is the creator of all things in heaven. The legend In the legend, two of Ggulu's daughters discover Kintu, the first human being according to Gandan myth. When Kintu declines to follow the daugh ...

* Kibuka *Kitaka *Kiwanuka * Mukasa *Musisi * Nambi *

Warumbe Walumbe is a character in the Ganda creation myth, The Legend of Kintu. He is the son of Ggulu and the brother of Nambi. His name is translated from Lugandan as "disease" or "death" and he is responsible for death on Earth according to Gandan myt ...

*Wanema * Wanga

Bahumono The Bahumono (Ehumono, Kohumono) people are the ethnic group in Nigeria located primarily in the Abi local government area of Cross River State. They are the largest ethnic group in the region. They speak the Kohumono language. History The E ...

*Owazi

Boloki

Libanza Libanza is a legendary figure in Boloki and Upoto mythologies. In Boloki mythology, Libanza is a heroic character who is depicted as the first man, while in Upoto mythology, Libanza is a supreme god worshipped for creating the universe. In Bolok ...

* Njambe

Dahomey The Kingdom of Dahomey () was a West African kingdom located within present-day Benin that existed from approximately 1600 until 1904. Dahomey developed on the Abomey Plateau amongst the Fon people in the early 17th century and became a region ...

* Agé *Ayaba *Da *

Gbadu Gbadu is a god in the Dahomey mythology of the Fon people, who are now based in Benin, Nigeria, and Togo. She is one of Mawu-Lisa’s daughters, and just like her parents, consists of both a female and male aspect though she is mostly referred to wi ...

Gleti Gleti is a moon goddess of the Fon people from the Kingdom of Dahomey, situated in what is now Benin. In Dahomey mythology, she is the mother of all the stars. An eclipse is caused by the shadow of the moon's husband crossing her face. See also * ...

*Gu * Lisa *Loko *

Mawu Mawu-Lisa (alternately: Mahu) is a creator goddess, associated with the Sun and Moon in Dahomey mythology. In some myths, she is the wife of the male god Lisa. Mahu and Lisa are the children of Nana Buluku, and are the parents of Xevioso. Af ...

Nana Buluku Nana Buluku, also known as Nana Buruku, Nana Buku or Nanan-bouclou, is the female supreme being in the West African traditional religion of the Fon people (Benin, Dahomey) and the Ewe people (Togo). She is one of the most influential deities in We ...

*Salosteles *

Sakpata Ṣọ̀pọ̀na (or Shapona) is the god of smallpox in the Yoruba religion. The Yoruba people took their traditions about Shapona to the New World when they were transported in the slave trade. He has become known as Babalú-Ayé, among many ot ...

* Xevioso *Zinsi *Zinsu

Dinka The Dinka people ( din, Jiɛ̈ɛ̈ŋ) are a Nilotic ethnic group native to South Sudan with a sizable diaspora population abroad. The Dinka mostly live along the Nile, from Jonglei to Renk, in the region of Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile (two out ...

* Abuk * Aiwel * Deng * Kejok * Nhialic

Efik

* Abassi *Atai

Fang A fang is a long, pointed tooth. In mammals, a fang is a modified maxillary tooth, used for biting and tearing flesh. In snakes, it is a specialized tooth that is associated with a venom gland (see snake venom). Spiders also have external fa ...

* Mebege *

Nzame Nzame is the supreme Creator deity, creator god featured in the mythologies of the Fang people of Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Cameroon. The name is used to refer to a trinity of deities, which included Nzame, Mebere and Nkwa and is also used in re ...

Fulani The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people ( ff, Fulɓe, ; french: Peul, links=no; ha, Fulani or Hilani; pt, Fula, links=no; wo, Pël; bm, Fulaw) are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. ...

*Baa-Wamnde *Bâgoumâwel *Bocoonde *Buytoorin *Celi *Dandi *Dumunna *Foroforondu *Ga *Gorko-mawɗo *Guéno *Haɓɓana-koel *Hammadi *Kaidara *Kiikala *Koumbasara *Koumen *Lewru *Naagara *Naange *Ndurbeele *Neɗɗo *Neɗɗo-mawɗo *Njeddo Dewal *Nounfayiri *Rongo *Silé Sadio *Sitti *Tongo *Tooke *Tyanaba

Gikuyu

* Ngai

Hausa Hausa may refer to: * Hausa people, an ethnic group of West Africa * Hausa language, spoken in West Africa * Hausa Kingdoms, a historical collection of Hausa city-states * Hausa (horse) or Dongola horse, an African breed of riding horse See also ...

* Bayajida * Gizo

Igbo

* Aha Njoku * Ala *

Amadioha Amadioha is the Arusi or Agbara of thunder and lightning of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. He is amongst the most popular of Igbo deities and in some parts of Igboland, he is referred to as Amadiora, Kamalu (which is short for ''Kalu ...

* Agwu *

Anyanwu Anyanwu (''anyaanwū'', meaning "eye of the sun" in Igbo) is an Igbo solar deity and a surname given to people of the Igbo people of Nigeria. Anyanwu is also the name given to a major character in the Octavia E. Butler's ''Patternist series ...

* Ekwensu *

Ikenga Ikenga ( Igbo literal meaning "strength of movement") is a horned Alusi found among the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria. It is one of the most powerful symbols of the Igbo people and the most common cultural artifact. Ikenga is mostly main ...

*Nmuo Mmiri or Nne Mmiri. *

Ogbunabali Ogbunabali ( ig, Ogbúnàbàlị̀, lit= ekills at night) is the traditional Igbo death deity. His name is considered to be a literal description of his character as he is said to kill his victims in the night, these usually being criminals or tho ...

Ijo

* Ozidi * Woyengi

Kissi

* Kuino

Khoikhoi Khoekhoen (singular Khoekhoe) (or Khoikhoi in the former orthography; formerly also '' Hottentots''"Hottentot, n. and adj." ''OED Online'', Oxford University Press, March 2018, www.oed.com/view/Entry/88829. Accessed 13 May 2018. Citing G. S. ...

* Gaunab *

Heitsi-eibib Heitsi-eibib, also known as Haiseb or Haitse-aibeb, is a mythic hero figure in the mythology of the Khoikhoi or Khoekhoe people, who originated in southwestern Africa. He is sometimes depicted as a trickster, and with Gaunab and Tsui’goab, is a ...

* Tsui'goab

Kongo

Bunzi Bunzi, in Kongo mythology (mainly in Woyo people), is a goddess of rain. She is the daughter of Mboze, the Great Mother. Bunzi appears as a multicolored serpent, and rewards those who worship her with an abundant harvest. Mboze took her own son ...

*Chicamassichinuinji *Dinganga * Funza *Funzi * Kalunga *Kimbazi *Kuitikuiti *Lubangala *Lusiemo *Lusunzi *Makanga *Ma Kiela *Ma Kiela * Mamba Muntu *Mbantilanda *Mbenza *Mboze *Mbumba *Moni-Mambu * Mpulu Bunzi *Ngonda *Ntangu *Na Ngutu * God of river Nzadi *Nzambici *

Nzambi a Mpungu Nzambi a Mpungu is the Kongolese name for a high creator god. The idea of such a god spread from Central Africa into other Kongo related religions. History He is mentioned as the name for God as early as the early sixteenth century by Portugues ...

*Nzazi * Nzumbi * Simbi dia Maza

Krachi

* Wulbari

Lotuko

* Ajok

Lugbara

* Adroa * Adroanzi

Maasai

* Neiterkob * Ngai

Mbundu

*Daughter of Sun and Moon *Daughters of Kalunga-Ngombé *Goddess of Moon *God of Sun * Kabundungulu * Kalunga-Ngombé *

Kimanaueze Kimanaueze, sometimes referred to as Na Kimanaueze or Na Kimanaueze Kia-Tumb’a Ndala, is a culture hero figure in Ambundu or Mbundu mythology whose people are mostly based in Angola at present. The name Kimanaueze can be used to refer to either t ...

* Kishi *kianda *Musisi *

Sudika-Mbambi Sudika-mbambi is a hero and son of Kimanaueze and is an Ambundu The Ambundu or Mbundu ( Mbundu: or , singular: (distinct from the Ovimbundu) are a Bantu people living in Angola's North-West, North of the river Kwanza. The Ambundu speak ...

Nuer

Kwoth Kuoth, also known as Kuoth Nhial, is in African mythology the supreme omnipresent god and creation god of the Nuer people of South Sudan and Gambela Region, Gambella. Legend Kwoth is known as the "Spirit of the Sky", and is thought to have reign ...

Nyanga

*Kahindo *Kasiyembe *Katee *Kentse *Kiruka *Kitundukutu *Kubikubi *Mbura *Mitandi *Mpaca *Mukiti *Muisa *Musoka *Mweri * Mwindo *Nkuba *Ntumba *Nyamurairi *Ongo *Yana

Lunda

* Zombi

Pygmy In anthropology, pygmy peoples are ethnic groups whose average height is unusually short. The term pygmyism is used to describe the phenotype of endemic short stature (as opposed to disproportionate dwarfism occurring in isolated cases in a pop ...

* Arebati *

Khonvoum Khonvoum is the supreme god and creator in the mythology of the Bambuti Pygmy people of central Africa. He is the "great hunter", god of the hunt, and carries a bow made of two snakes which appears to mortals as a rainbow. He rules the heavens and ...

Sawar

Jengu A jengu (plural miengu) is a water spirit in the traditional beliefs of the Sawa ethnic groups of Cameroon, particularly the Duala, Bakweri, Malimba, Batanga, Bakoko, Oroko people and related Sawa peoples. Among the Bakweri, the name is lien ...

Serer

* Roog * Koox *

Kopé Tiatie Cac Kopé Tiatie Cac (also Koh and Koope; in Ndut language, meaning ''god grandfather'' or ''god the grandfather'') is the Supreme Creator in the Serer religion. Ndiaye, Ousmane Sémou, "Diversité et unicité sérères : l’exemple de la région de T ...

Kokh Kox Kokh Kox (or Koh, as pronounced in Noon) is the creator god of the Noon people.Tastevin, C. (R.P.), "La religion des Nones", Études missionnaires, t. II, no 2, avril-juin : 81-100; t. II, no 3, juillet-sep : 176-187. (1933, 1934) The Noon are me ...

* Takhar

Shona

Mwari 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. The majority of this deity's fol ...

*Nyadenga *

Nyami Nyami The Nyami Nyami, otherwise known as the Zambezi River God or Zambezi Snake Spirit, is one of the most important gods of the Tonga people. Nyami Nyami is believed to protect the Tonga people and give them sustenance in difficult times. The Rive ...

Songhai

*Dongo *Faran Baru Koda *Faran Maka Bote *Fono *Harakoy Dikko *Irikoy *Kyirey *Manda Hausakoy *Moussa Gname *Moussa Nyawri *Nana Miriam *N'Debbi *Nyaberi *Zaberi

Sotho

Ditaolane Ditaolane, also known as Lituolone, is a hero in Sotho mythology. Legend Before Ditaolane was born, nearly all humans had been eaten by a monster called Kammapa. The only remaining human left was Ditaolane’s mother, who hid herself in a stabl ...

* Modimo

Tumbuka

* Chiuta

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

* Aganju * Aja * Babalu Aye *

Eshu Èṣù is an Òrìṣà/Irúnmọlẹ̀ in the ìṣẹ̀ṣe religion of the Yoruba people. Èṣù is a prominent primordial Divinity (a delegated Irúnmọlẹ̀ sent by the Olódùmarè) who descended from Ìkọ̀lé Ọ̀run, and the Chie ...

* Erinle *

Elegua Elegua ( Yoruba: Èṣù-Ẹlẹ́gbára, also spelled Eleggua; known as Eleguá in Latin America and Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands) is an Orisha, a deity of roads in the religions of Santería, Winti, Umbanda, Quimbanda, Holy Infant of A ...

Ibeji Ibeji (known as Ibejí, Ibeyí, or Jimaguas in Latin America) is the name of an Orisha representing a pair of twins in the Yoruba religion of the Yoruba people (originating from Yorubaland, an area in and around present-day Nigeria). In the di ...

* Nana * Oba * Obatala *

Ogun Ogun or Ogoun (Yoruba: Ògún, Portuguese: Ogum, Gu; also spelled Oggun or Ogou; known as Ogún or Ogum in Latin America) is a spirit that appears in several African religions. He attempted to seize the throne after the demise of Obatala, who ...

* Oko *

Olokun Olokun (Yoruba: Olókun) is an orisha spirit in Yoruba religion. Olokun is believed to be the parent of Aje, the orisha of great wealth and of the bottom of the ocean. Olokun is revered as the ruler of all bodies of water and for the authority ov ...

* Osanyin *

Oshun Ọṣun, is an orisha, a spirit, a deity, or a goddess that reflects one of the manifestations of the Yorùbá Supreme Being in the Ifá oral tradition and Yoruba-based religions of West Africa. She is one of the most popular and venerated ...

* Oshosi * Oshumare * Ori * Orunmila * Oya *

Shango Shango (Yoruba language: Ṣàngó, also known as Changó or Xangô in Latin America; and as Jakuta or Badé) is an Orisha, a deity in Yoruba religion. Genealogically speaking, Shango is a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third Alaafi ...

* Yemoja *

Osun Ọṣun, is an orisha, a spirit, a deity, or a goddess that reflects one of the manifestations of the Yorùbá Supreme Being in the Ifá oral tradition and Yoruba-based religions of West Africa. She is one of the most popular and venerated ...

Venda Venda () was a Bantustan in northern South Africa, which is fairly close to the South African border with Zimbabwe to the north, while to the south and east, it shared a long border with another black homeland, Gazankulu. It is now part of t ...

* Huveane * Tharu

Xhosa Xhosa may refer to: * Xhosa people, a nation, and ethnic group, who live in south-central and southeasterly region of South Africa * Xhosa language, one of the 11 official languages of South Africa, principally spoken by the Xhosa people See als ...

Qamata Qamata is the most prominent God In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford Univer ...

Zulu

* Hlakanyana * Inkosazana * Mbaba Mwana Waresa *

Unkulunkulu Unkulunkulu (/uɲɠulun'ɠulu/), often formatted as uNkulunkulu,Weir, Jennifer. "Whose Unkulunkulu?" ''Africa (pre-2011)'', vol. 75, no. 2, 2005, pp. 203-219''.'' is the Supreme Creator in the language of the Zulu people. Originally a "first ancest ...

Umvelinqangi UMvelinqangi is a Nguni word which translates to "the Most High" or "Divine Consciousness"; that is considered the source of all that has been, that is and all that ever will be. UMvelinqangi, contrary to widespread belief is not personified. Umv ...

* Uncama

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:African mythological figures Mythological figures Mythological figures Lists of deities Mythological figures Mythological figures

Akan Akan may refer to: People and languages *Akan people, an ethnic group in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire *Akan language, a language spoken by the Akan people *Kwa languages, a language group which includes Akan * Central Tano languages, a language group ...