Ala (also known as ''Ani'', ''Ana'', ''Ale'', and ''Ali'' in varying

Igbo Igbo may refer to: * Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria * Igbo language, their language * anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria See also * Ibo (disambiguation) * Igbo mythology * Igbo music * Igbo art * * Igbo-Ukwu, a t ...

dialects) is the female ''Alusi'' (deity) of the earth, morality, fertility, and creativity in

Odinani Odinani, also known as Odinala, Omenala, Odinana, and Omenana (), is the traditional cultural belief and practice of the Igbo people of South East (Nigeria), south east and Igbo people of South South (Nigeria), south south Nigeria.Afulezy, Juj ...

. In Odinani, Ala rules over the

underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...

and holds the deceased ancestors in her womb. Her name literally translates to "Earth" in the Igbo language, denoting her powers over the earth and her status as the ground itself. Ala is considered the highest Alusi in the Igbo pantheon. Ala's husband is Ele, ele fights and kills. As the goddess of morality, Ala is involved in judging human actions and is in charge of Igbo law and customs known as '' omenala''. Taboos and crimes among Igbo communities that are against the standard of Ala are called ''nsọ Ala''. All ground is considered holy land as it is Ala herself. With human fertility, Ala is credited for the productivity of the land. Ala's messenger and living agent on earth is the

python Python may refer to: Snakes * Pythonidae, a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia ** ''Python'' (genus), a genus of Pythonidae found in Africa and Asia * Python (mythology), a mythical serpent Computing * Python (prog ...

(Igbo: ''éké''), which is especially revered in many Igbo communities. In art, Ala is often represented as a regal figure seated on a throne, surrounded by her family. In the past, such figures took the form of life-size mud sculptures in special festive shrines dedicated to the deity and known as ''mbari''.

Power

It is said that if a person commits a

taboo A taboo is a social group's ban, prohibition or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, offensive, sacred or allowed only for certain people.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...

in a community, that they have also desecrated or insulted Ala as the abomination (called ''ajo njo'' or ''Aru Ala'', ''Alu Ani'') was committed on her earth. Ala is also responsible for many aspects of Igbo society and guardianship of women and children in general. She is often depicted with a small child in her arms and her symbol is the crescent

moon The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It Orbit of the Moon, orbits around Earth at Lunar distance, an average distance of (; about 30 times Earth diameter, Earth's diameter). The Moon rotation, rotates, with a rotation period (lunar ...

. It is believed that the souls of the dead reside in her sacred

womb The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', : uteri or uteruses) or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans, that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more fertilized eggs until bi ...

. All in the community have to respect Ala as everybody lives on ''ala'', the earth. It was sometimes believed that Ala could swallow people up into the underground. Ala is still worshiped by the Igbo of

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

and is annually paid homage to during the

yam festival The New Yam Festival of the Igbo people (known as Orureshi in Idoma, or Iwa ji, Iri ji, Ike ji, or Otute depending on dialect) is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people that is held at the end of the rainy season in early August.

References

* Von Forslun, T. (2021). Encyclopedia of the Divine Feminine: Goddess of 10,000 Names. Storbritannien: Xlibris AU. Earth goddesses Fertility deities Fertility goddesses Igbo deities Igbo goddesses Justice deities Justice goddesses Underworld deities Underworld goddesses {{Deity-stub