West African Mythology

Visit the links to learn about the myths of West Africa related to objects in the sky, and aspects of their world.

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<a href="/mythology/shango_storm.html&edu=high">Shango</a> was the forth king of the ancient Oyo Empire, the West African center of culture and politics for the Yoruba people.After his death, he became known as the god of <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/tstorm/tstorm_lightning.html&edu=high">thunder and lightning</a>. In artwork, such as this wood carving, he is often depicted with a double ax on his head, the symbol of a thunderbolt, or he is depicted as a fierce ram.<p><small><em>Image Courtesy of the Hamill Gallery of African Art, Boston, MA</em></small></p>

Explore West African Mythology

Yoruba: Olokun

Olokun, the sea god of the Yoruba people lives in a palace under the sea with human and fish ...Read more

Yoruba: Shango

Shango was the fourth king of the ancient Oyo Empire, the West African center of culture and ...Read more

Yoruba: Olorun

Olorun is the chief god of the Yoruba pantheon. For the Yoruba people, he is the owner of ...Read more

Fon: Mawu

Mawu is the supreme creator god according to the Fon people of Abomey (Republic of Benin). ...Read more

Fon: Liza

Liza is a deity of the Fon people who live in West Africa. Liza is associated with the Sun, ...Read more

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Chinook
xChinook : A dry down-slope wind which occurs on the downwind side of a mountain range. It is a rain shadow wind which results from the subsequent (adiabatic) warming of air which has dropped most of its moisture on windward slopes.

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Research Highlights

Geologists Uncover Major Ancient Human Ancestor in South Africa

Researchers working in South Africa have discovered two remarkably well-preserved fossil skeletons of an ancient human ancestor dating to almost two million years ago. The discovery is described in two...Read more


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