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Ekwensu: The Mysterious and Misunderstood God of Chaos and Trickery

Picture of Ekwensu believed to be the Igbo Devil
Pictorial representation of Ekwensu; Igbo god of war and trickery


Introduction

Ekwensu is a deity in Igbo mythology who represents the forces of chaos and deception; he is a god of War and Victory; and also the god of bargains and trade. Ekwensu is known for his ability to disrupt the natural order of things and cause confusion and chaos. He is frequently depicted as a mischievous and unpredictable figure.

Despite his reputation for mischief, Ekwensu is regarded as a powerful and significant god figure in Igbo mythology, with a complex personality and history. He is frequently associated with the trickster archetype, which appears in many mythologies around the world. The trickster is well-known for his ability to bend and break rules, as well as to challenge the status quo in unexpected ways.

The Origins of Ekwensu

In Igbo mythology, Ekwensu is a significant and powerful god. Ekwensu was Chukwu's testing force, and together with Ani, the Earth goddess, and Igwe, the sky god, he formed the three highest Arusi of the ancient Igbo people. In fact, Ekwensu is said to be feared as much as Chukwu is respected.

Ekwensu's history is shrouded in mystery, and there are few written records of his origins. However, he is thought to be one of the oldest deities in Igbo mythology, having been worshiped for centuries.

Ekwensu's Character

Ekwensu is frequently portrayed as a cunning and mischievous figure that enjoys pulling pranks and causing mayhem. He is well-known for his unpredictability and ability to upend the natural order of things.

Ekwensu, on the other hand, is regarded as a powerful and significant figure in Igbo mythology. He is frequently summoned to help restore balance to the world and to protect people from harm. During conflict or war, he incites violence when invoked by warriors and headhunters. As a god of trade and bargains, Ekwensu is Crafty at trade and negotiations. He is often invoked for guidance in difficult mercantile situations.

He is frequently summoned to help restore balance to the world and protect people from harm. Ekwensu is also associated with healing in some traditions and is thought to have the power to cure illnesses and other afflictions. He is also regarded as a child protector, and he is frequently called upon to keep an eye on and protect children.

Despite his reputation for mischief, Ekwensu is an important figure in Igbo society, and some communities still worship him today. There are shrines and temples dedicated to Ekwensu throughout Igbo Communities in Nigeria, where people come to offer prayers and sacrifices in the hopes of gaining his favor.

The Place of Ekwensu in Igbo Society

According to elders we met before writing this blog post; Ekwensu is a god, one of many worshiped gods in Igbo land. He is a powerful deity- the god of war, who ranks alongside Ani, Amadioha, Ikéngà, and others. He is also considered the Igbo trickster god. In fact, traders admired him for his dexterity and cunning and he was invoked during negotiations and trade. Communities named after the deity exist, such as Ezike Ekwensu in Nsukka.

Ekwensu is frequently asked to assist with major life events such as childbirth, weddings, and funerals. He is also regarded as a community protector and is frequently called upon to assist with disputes and conflicts. He is the God of War and Victory, ruling over and combating the chaotic evil spirits.

When he's at war, he appears playful and laughs a lot. He enjoys breaking rules, boasting, and fooling both humans and gods. However, possession by Ekwensu can cause a person to commit heinous crimes against Chukwu or humanity. Because of his ferociousness when on a vengeance mission, Ekwensu is feared and avoided and is only summoned when the situation becomes too much for the people to handle.

Ekwensu's Transformation into the Devil

The resolutions of the Berlin Conference of 1804-1805 granted European nations the right to lay claim to African lands and resources.

Britain, which had engaged in trade with coastal cities before and during the nineteenth century, declared bold intentions to covet resources and rule over indigenous peoples all over Africa.

They arrived armed with guns. Many African tribes resisted the British invaders, resulting in lengthy wars. Many African tribes including the Igbo put up a valiant fight against the British's superior firepower.

One such war was the Ekumeku war; which lasted for over 30 years; with the British suffering so many defeats.  The Ekumeku warriors meticulously used guerrilla tactics to attack the British Royal company, which was determined to penetrate Igbo land.

When European missionaries couldn't defeat us, they wondered what kind of power our forefathers possessed that made them win their armies despite having much superior power.

The Ekumeku warriors were sworn to secrecy and during times of such great conflict, they like other Igbo societies had no option but to summon the deity called Ekwensu- the god of war, to come to possess them and help them in defeating the European invaders.

With time, they found out about Ekwensu, and the British changed tactics. Than use guns and the army in capturing us, they used religion. Missionaries were called in, their purpose was to dissuade us from worshiping our gods and worship theirs instead.

They could only defeat us after the missionaries demonized Ekwensu and our people started destroying the shrines dedicated to it.

Misconception: Ekwensu is not Satan

We grew up hearing Ekwensu being the Igbo interpretation of the Christian Satan. If someone did something bad, they would be labeled as an Ekwensu; one doomed to hell; which was quite terrifying as a kid.

With some little research, both from books and interaction with elders in our community, we discovered Ekwensu was viewed and revered by the ancient Igbo people as so many things; including as the god of War who ruled over nature's chaotic forces in his more violent aspects.

In fact, there are people and villages in Igboland named after Ekwensu;  Obiekwensu, the community of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, in Abia state. In Enugu State, there is a community called umunkwensu.

He is regarded as a violent spirit who incites people to commit violent acts when summoned. As a result, when there is peace after a war, the chaotic aspect of Ekwensu is often banished from the people, lest he promotes more wars. So, Ekwensu is summoned, he does not go around looking for who to tempt.

First and foremost, Ekwensu is not in hell. In heaven, Ekwensu did not start a war. There is no Devil, no heaven or hell, and no demons or angels in Igbo mythology. There are only gods with varying degrees of power and characteristics. Then came the Europeans, who believed their religion was superior to others which were viewed as evil and pagan.

When the Europeans brought Christianity to Africa, they ran into one problem: they couldn't find a Devil in our mythology, because there is no devil in the African spiritual pantheon.

The British then copied the approach of Emperor Constantine, of Roman Empire, who infused pagan practices, festivals, and rituals into Christian religion, all in the bid to gain more converts. Going forward, any civilization Christianity missionaries tried to colonize and convert, they took the existing indigenous concepts that bore only a passing resemblance to their own and distorted them to fit the mold of the concept they were attempting to convey. As a result, Chukwu became the supreme God. To complete the spiritual binary of the Christian faith, Ekwensu was turned to the devil. This began the seemingly unending journey of demonizing Ekwensu.

Maybe the misinterpretation of Ekwensu is based on a misunderstanding of his personality and background. While Ekwensu is associated with chaos and deception, he is also a powerful and important god in Igbo society, with a complex and nuanced personality. In contrast, Lucifer, or the devil, is frequently depicted as a purely evil figure with no redeeming qualities or positive associations. When the Igbos are going to war or face a difficult commercial situation, they invoke the energy of Ekwensu. Ekwensu causes no trouble; he is an obedient servant who only works when called upon, as his name implies (Ekwe-Nsu).

Furthermore, Ekwensu is not associated with the Christian concept of sin, nor is he regarded as a fallen angel or a rebel against God. Rather, he is a natural and integral part of Igbo mythology, with his own set of beliefs and practices that are inextricably linked to Igbo culture and society.

Regardless of these differences, the Christian interpretation of Ekwensu as a demonic figure has persisted in some circles and remains a source of contention and misunderstanding. 

Conclusion

In Igbo mythology, Ekwensu is a fascinating and enigmatic figure. He represents the forces of disruption and unpredictability as the god of chaos and trickery. Despite his reputation for mischief, Ekwensu is regarded as a powerful and important figure in Igbo society, and many people still worship him today.

What's more surprising, confusing, and annoying is that the Europeans who demonized our deities venerate, promote and worship theirs. Hercules and Thor are two movies based on their deities. Our daughters are named Diana, Helen, Cassandra, and our sons are named Jason, Hector, and Alexander; these names are all based on Greek mythology (Omenani ndi Greece).

It may interest you to know that, except for Earth, the planets are named after European gods.

1. Mercury, the Roman god of travel

2. Mars, the Roman god of war

3. Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty

4. Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods

5. Saturn is the Roman god of agriculture

6. Uranus is the ancient Greek god of the sky

7. Neptune is the Roman sea god

8. Pluto represents the Roman god of the underworld, also known as Hades in Greek mythology

You may also be interested to know that many top foreign companies are named after their ancient gods and heritage; for example, Nike is the goddess of speed/strength/victory in Greek religion. Hermes was the Greek god of commerce, fertility, travel, and swindling. These people recognize the value of history, heritage, and culture, and they find ways to honor and preserve their ancient heritage and identity.

Be you a religious or non-religious person, we daily call on the names of ancient gods. This is because every day of the week has been named after pagan gods

Sunday - Sun's day

Monday - Moon's day

Tuesday - Tiu's day

Wednesday - Woden's day

Thursday - Thursday

Friday - Freya's day

Saturday - Saturn's day

But to us Igbo and Africans, our ancestors are demons, devils, and diabolic, not because they're inherently diabolic, but because someone thousands of miles away with little or no knowledge of your ancestors told you they're demonic, justified by a Bible they wrote and gave you. You can’t venerate your ancestors, but you do theirs.......all the Saints you pray to, it’s all ancestor worship.

Know Thyself!!!!

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